On October 22, Chinese shipbuilder Shanghai Waigaoquiao Shipbuilding (SWS), part of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), officially named and delivered the 9,000 CEU car carrier “GRANDE MELBOURNE” built for Italy’s GRIMALDI Group.
Luigi Pacella Grimaldi, Director of Intercontinental Car Carriers at Italy’s GRIMALDI Group, stated that the vessel delivered today, the “GRANDE MELBOURNE”, is named after the Port of Melbourne.
This vessel is an environmentally friendly vessel with a standard loading capacity of 9,000 vehicles. The seven newbuilds jointly constructed by both parties will be delivered successively by 2027. This delivery further deepens the cooperation between GRIMALDI and Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding, which is crucial for GRIMALDI’s fleet expansion and technological advancement.
Xu Sha, Deputy General Manager of SWS, stated that the GRANDE MELBOURNE inherits and enhances the technology and craftsmanship of its two predecessors, demonstrating the shipbuilder’s strength in standardized, serialized, and rhythmic construction of 9,000 CEU carriers.
This delivery marks a new starting point for future cooperation between the two parties. SWS will continue to adhere to high standards and rigorous requirements in advancing subsequent projects, building more exceptional vessels for GRIMALDI and continuously improving the quality of its products and services, working together to create a new future for the maritime industry.
The GRANDE MELBOURNE is the sixth car carrier delivered by SWS this year. To date, Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding has delivered a total of 24 new vessels this year.