Italy’s Grimaldi Group is planning a major shipbuilding project and intends to order 11 new vessels from Chinese shipyards; it has already signed a letter of intent with the shipbuilders.
Signed a Letter of Intent for 10 Ultra-Large Vessels
A Grimaldi spokesperson confirmed that the group recently signed letters of intent (LOIs) with China Merchants Shipbuilding Industry and Guangzhou Shipyard International—a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation—for the construction of five 10,000 CEU PCTCs and five 11,000 CEU PCTCs.
If these LOIs progress to formal shipbuilding contracts, the vessels will become the largest PCTCs in Grimaldi’s fleet. Currently, the largest PCTCs in the group’s fleet were built by China Merchants Heavy Industries Haimen Shipyard (CMHI Haimen Shipyard): the “Grande Pacifico” and the “Grande Egitto,” delivered on August 10 and September 24, 2026, respectively, each with a capacity of 9,800 vehicles. Three additional vessels of the same class are scheduled for delivery by 2027.
It is understood that CMHI Haimen Shipyard and Grimaldi previously signed contracts for ten 9,000 CEU PCTCs in 2022 and 2023. The shipowner subsequently increased the capacity of five of these vessels to 9,800 CEU. The Grande Pacifico is the first of these vessels to be upgraded from 9,000 CEU to 9,800 CEU, and its delivery marks a significant milestone for Grimaldi.
It is also worth noting that, should this new shipbuilding project come to fruition, it would mark the first collaboration between Grimaldi and Guangzhou Shipyard International. However, this is not the first time Grimaldi has partnered with CSSC; as early as 2023, Grimaldi placed an order with SWS (Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding) for seven 9,000 CEU PCTCs—a deal valued at over $630 million. These vessels have since been fully delivered and are slated for deployment on routes serving Europe, North Africa, the Near East, and the Far East.
Letter of intent for an additional ro-pax vessel
As a long-standing client of China Merchants Shipbuilding, Grimaldi has disclosed that, following an order for nine methanol dual-fuel ro-pax vessels placed with China Merchants Jingling Shipyard (Weihai) in April 2025, the two parties have signed a memorandum of intent for the construction of one additional vessel of the same type. Upon delivery, these new vessels will be deployed within the fleets of Grimaldi Euromed, Minoan Lines, and Finnlines. The initial nine vessels are scheduled for delivery between 2028 and 2030, with a total contract value of $1.3 billion.
According to previous reports, the series of methanol dual-fuel ro-pax vessels under construction at China Merchants Jingling Shipyard (Weihai) feature two distinct designs: the “Next Generation Med” class and the “Hansa Superstar” class. The specific vessel types for the newly added letters of intent have not yet been disclosed.
The “Next Generation Med” class measures 229 meters in length, offers 3,300 lane meters, and has the capacity to carry over 300 vehicles and up to 2,500 passengers. The “Hansa Superstar” class measures 240 meters in length, offers 5,100 lane meters, and is equipped to carry 90 vehicles and accommodate up to 1,100 passengers across 320 cabins.
As early as September, Grimaldi revealed that it was preparing plans to expand its fleet. Emanuele Grimaldi, the group’s Managing Director, stated: “Despite the uncertainties in the geopolitical landscape, the group remains committed to investing in fleet renewal, expanding our maritime network, strengthening existing routes, and launching new ones to support global trade.” He noted that the group is currently in advanced discussions with shipyards regarding projects for car carriers and ConRo (roll-on/roll-off container) vessels, while emphasizing that—given the unprecedented demand for new tonnage across all vessel types—securing shipyard slots has become a significant challenge.
Public records show that Grimaldi, headquartered in Naples, Italy, was founded in 1947 and is a leading global operator of RoRo vessels, car carriers, ro-pax vessels, and ConRo vessels. It currently operates 99 vessels and holds 12 firm vessels at Chinese shipyards—specifically, nine ro-pax vessels at China Merchants Jingling Shipyard (Weihai) facility and three 9,800 CEU PCTCs at its Haimen base—with deliveries scheduled through 2030. Including 11 letters of intent, the group’s order book will increase to 23 vessels.