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Posted by David Sexton
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15 August, 2025
CELEBRATIONS have taken place in Shanghai for the official naming of the Grimaldi Group’s vessel Grande Tianjin.
The event was a milestone not only for Grimaldi but also for Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Company Limited (SWS) and Leapmotor International.
The Grande Tianjin is the first of seven modern pure car & truck carrier (PCTC) vessels commissioned by the Grimaldi Group from Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Company (SWS) and China Shipbuilding Trading Company (CSTC) – two companies part of China State Shipbuilding Corporation.
Its delivery marks the 600th vessel constructed by SWS.
This event also signals the beginning of an even deeper strategic partnership between the Grimaldi Group and Leapmotor. In fact, in a few days, the Grande Tianjin is to depart from Shanghai bound for Northern Europe, carrying her inaugural cargo – which includes, among other Leapmotor vehicles, one thousand new electric SUVs.
Guests at the event included SWS president Chen Gang, Leapmotor International Group chief executive Tianshu Xin, and Grimaldi Group automotive intercontinental director Luigi Pacella Grimaldi.
Leapmotor vice president, Zhou Ying acted as vessel godmother, emphasising the growing importance of the partnership between the car manufacturer and Grimaldi.
Mr Chen Gang said Grande Tianjin was the first collaboration between SWS and the Grimaldi Group, as well as SWS first 9,000 CEU PCTC.
“To ensure the successful delivery of this project, all teams worked in close coordination. Upon verification, the vessel’s performance data fully meet the design specifications, and its quality has been highly recognized by all parties,” Mr Chen said.
Leapmotor International Vice President Zhou Ying |
Automotive Intercontinental Director of the Grimaldi Group, Luigi Pacella Grimaldi |
Mr Tianshu Xin said China’s EV innovation was “sailing to the world” and “Leapmotor is proud to be at the helm of this movement”.
“Today, with great partners such as Grimaldi, our presence spans more than 30 countries, with over 1,500 sales and service outlets worldwide, cumulative deliveries exceeding 800,000 smart EVs,” Mr Xin said.
Grimaldi Group managing director Emanuele Grimaldi said the delivery of the Grande Tianjin marked “a significant step forward in our commitment to sustainable and efficient vehicle transport”.
“In recent years, we have made significant investments to strengthen our shipping connections with China and the broader Asian area,” Mr Grimaldi said.
“Top-tier car manufacturers like Leapmotor continue to place their trust in us, and we remain dedicated to exceeding their high expectations while adapting to their evolving needs.”
With a length of 200 meters, a beam of 38 meters and a gross tonnage of about 77,500 tons, the Grande Tianjin has been designed for the transport of vehicles, both electric and powered by traditional fuels, as well as any other type of rolling cargo.
Specifically, it has a loading capacity of 9241 CEU (car equivalent units), with four decks also capable of carrying other rolling cargo, including heavy loads of up to 250 tons and as high as 6.5 meters.
The vessel is equipped with an electronica engine, specially designed for low fuel consumption, reducing emissions per transported cargo by up to half.
Additionally, it has received the ‘ammonia ready’ class notation from RINA (Italian Naval Register), certifying that it can be converted in the future to use ammonia as a zero-carbon alternative fuel.
