9 ships worth 1.5 billion US dollars! European roll on/roll off giants are still brewing big orders

According to the Shipping Industry Network, Italian shipping tycoon Emanuele Grimaldi confirmed in his speech at the 26th Euromed conference in Athens that the Grimaldi Group is preparing a new shipbuilding plan worth $1.5 billion, with plans to order 9 new generation passenger roll on/roll off ships (Ropax).

Specifically, Emanuele Grimaldi revealed that European roll on/roll off giant Grimaldi Group has ordered 27 various types of roll on/roll off ships in the past two years, and has received 7 so far, with 20 more under construction. If the proposed 9 new generation passenger roll on/roll off ships are added, Grimaldi Group's new shipbuilding orders will increase to 36, worth over $4.5 billion.

Emanuele Grimaldi said, "We have ordered 5 series of roll on/roll off ships from 5 shipyards, with a total investment of over 3 billion US dollars

He said, "If we order 9 more Ropax, the investment will increase by over 1 billion dollars

Grimaldi Group is one of the most famous shipping companies in Italy, headquartered in Naples. Grimaldi Group covers shipping, ports, logistics and other businesses, with offices in 25 countries and regions worldwide. The group has 5 major companies: Grimaldi Lines, Atlantic Container Line (ACL), ferry company Minoan Lines, Finnlines, and Malta Motorways of the Sea.

17 ammonia reserved PCTC

The Grimaldi Group's large-scale orders include 17 9000 car motor ships (PCTC), 6 multi-purpose roll on/roll off ships, 2 hybrid roll on/roll off ships, and 2 Ropax ships for Finnlines.

In October 2022, Grimaldi Group signed a contract with China Merchants Heavy Industries (Jiangsu) to reserve 10 9000 vehicle ammonia PCTCs, with a total value of 1 billion US dollars. This series of new ships is designed specifically for transporting electric vehicles, equipped with large lithium batteries, as well as solar panels and shore power systems, which can achieve zero emissions when docked. In addition, the new ship will be equipped with an air lubrication system and feature innovative propulsion systems and optimized hull design.

In 2023, Grimaldi Group placed an order for seven 9000 vehicle ammonia reserve PCTCs at Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding. This ship type was designed by Shanghai Shipbuilding Design Institute, with a total length of 200 meters, a width of 38 meters, and a loading capacity of 9000 vehicles. It can transport electric vehicles, traditional cars, and other types of heavy roll on/roll off cargo. The new engine equipped on this series of ships can significantly reduce fuel consumption, and is equipped with various energy-saving devices such as twisted rudder, hub cap fins, and energy-saving ducts, which have the advantages of low energy consumption and green environmental protection.

In short, recently, car ship operators have been working hard to counter various bad news. In addition to the recent decision by the European Union to impose tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, it also includes over 200 new shipbuilding orders, which has led many analysts to believe that the boom cycle of the automotive ship market is coming to an end
In fact, car ship operators including Andreas Enger, CEO of H ö egh Autolines, and Lasse Kristoffersen, CEO of Wallenius Wilhelmsen, do not seem concerned, emphasizing that the market will remain strong for a longer period of time.

They pointed out that China's electric vehicle exports have reached six figures, and the imposition of tariffs cannot resist the enthusiasm of consumers. The Chinese export market alone requires over 110 ships. At the same time, due to the shortage of transportation capacity, there are still a large number of cars being transported through containers and bulk carriers, which will also absorb some new shipbuilding orders.