Neptune Pireas - IMO 1034084

 

NEPTUNE PIREAS is a new-generation Greek-flagged Pure Car and Truck Carrier – PCTC, delivered to Neptune Group in April 2026 and the first vessel of the company's ambitious Genesis Project fleet-renewal programme.

Built at Fujian Mawei Shipyard in China to a Deltamarin design, the 177.8-metre ship can carry approximately 4,200 vehicles and incorporates LNG dual-fuel propulsion together with batteries, solar panels and shore-power capability.

The name PIREAS is deliberately symbolic: Neptune Group selected it in honour of Piraeus, the port where the company's story began more than fifty years ago.

The vessel made her first European commercial call in June 2026 and arrived for the first time at her namesake port, Piraeus, in July.

Vessel Details

Name: NEPTUNE PIREAS

IMO: 1034084

MMSI: 241994000

Call Sign: SVEE4

Type: Pure Car and Truck Carrier – PCTC

Flag: Greece

Home Port / Registry Records: Piraeus

Operator: Neptune Lines

Group: Neptune Group of Companies

Registered Owner: SNC Thetis Leasing 1

Builder: Fujian Mawei Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., China

Design / Engineering: Deltamarin

Yard Number: MW467-1

Project: Genesis Project

Class: DNV

Delivered: 27 April 2026

Gross Tonnage: approx. 54,671–55,492 GT depending on register

Deadweight: approx. 11,250–13,481 t depending on source/register

Length Overall: 177.80 m

Beam: 33.40 m

Design Draught: approx. 8.4 m

Vehicle Capacity: 4,200 CEU

Decks: 12

Liftable Decks: 2

Dedicated New-Energy Vehicle Decks: 3

Fuel: LNG dual-fuel

Battery Pack: 500 kWh

Additional Energy Systems: Solar panels, shaft generator, shore-power connection

Service Speed: approx. 18 knots

Current Status: Active

Genesis Project

NEPTUNE PIREAS represents the beginning of a completely new generation for Neptune Lines.

When delivered in April, she was described as:

the first of four Genesis Project newbuildings.

The programme was subsequently expanded.

By July 2026, Neptune Group officially described PIREAS as:

the first of six vessels

in the expanded Genesis Project.

Built at Fujian Mawei

The delivery ceremony took place on:

27 April 2026

at:

Fujian Mawei Shipyard, China.

Neptune Group Chair:

Melina Travlos

attended the event together with company and shipyard representatives.

The ship's godmother is:

Mariana Travlou.

Why the Name PIREAS

The vessel's name has unusual significance.

Neptune Group states explicitly that:

PIREAS

was chosen because Piraeus is:

the historic centre of Greek shipping,

the company's home maritime environment,

and the port from which the Neptune story began more than fifty years ago.

The company's traditional:

eye symbol

is also prominently displayed on the bow.

4,200 Vehicles

NEPTUNE PIREAS can accommodate approximately:

4,200 CEU / cars.

The ship has:

12 vehicle decks,

including:

2 liftable decks

and:

3 decks specifically designed for new-energy vehicles.

This allows the ship to handle a flexible mixture of:

passenger cars,

electric vehicles,

commercial vehicles,

trucks,

and other rolling cargo.

LNG Dual-Fuel

One of the most important differences from older Neptune vessels is the propulsion concept.

NEPTUNE PIREAS has:

LNG dual-fuel capability,

allowing operation using:

liquefied natural gas,

or conventional marine fuels.

This provides operational flexibility as emissions regulations evolve.

Battery and Solar Systems

The design also incorporates:

500 kWh battery capacity

solar panels

shaft generator

and:

shore-power capability.

The latter allows the vessel to connect to electricity from shore where infrastructure is available, potentially reducing onboard emissions while alongside.

First European Call

After delivery in China, NEPTUNE PIREAS sailed west.

Her first European port call took place at:

NLS Port-La-Nouvelle, France

on:

8 June 2026.

During this single call the vessel discharged approximately:

4,000 new vehicles,

demonstrating almost the full scale of her carrying capability.

First Arrival at Piraeus

The most symbolically important call came one month later.

On:

8 July 2026

Neptune Group announced the first arrival of:

NEPTUNE PIREAS at Piraeus.

The company described the occasion as a return to the place:

“where Neptune's story began more than 50 years ago.”

PiraeuShips in 2026

PiraeuShips documented the ship during this first year and published the dedicated:

NEPTUNE PIREAS – IMO 1034084

entry in:

July 2026.

Unlike many PiraeuShips entries that document ships years or decades into their careers, this record captures NEPTUNE PIREAS essentially as:

a brand-new vessel.

Still Active

The ship immediately entered commercial Neptune Lines operations.

September 2026 tracking recorded voyages involving ports such as:

Gemlik

Constanța

Marseille

Sète

Valencia

Tanger Med

Vigo

and:

Casablanca.

PiraeuShips Record

NEPTUNE PIREAS was recorded by PiraeuShips during the first months of a vessel designed to represent a new generation of Greek vehicle transportation. Delivered by Fujian Mawei Shipyard in China on 27 April 2026, the 177.8-metre Greek-flagged PCTC is the first ship of Neptune Group's Genesis Project and offers capacity for approximately 4,200 vehicles. Designed by Deltamarin, she combines LNG dual-fuel capability with a 500-kWh battery system, solar panels and shore-power technology. After completing her first European commercial call at Port-La-Nouvelle in June, where she discharged around 4,000 vehicles, NEPTUNE PIREAS arrived for the first time at the port that inspired her name in July 2026. The PiraeuShips footage therefore preserves the very beginning of the career of a ship deliberately created as a modern tribute to Piraeus and the next chapter in Neptune Lines' fleet history.

Original video footage © PiraeuShips. All rights reserved.

 

 

GRANDE EUROPA – IMO 9138381

Veteran Grimaldi Euro-Med Vehicle and Ro-Ro Carrier

GRANDE EUROPA is a large Italian vehicle and multipurpose Ro-Ro carrier built by Fincantieri at Castellammare di Stabia in 1998 for the Grimaldi Group.

Delivered in March 1998, she was the first of a new generation of highly flexible Grimaldi Euro-Med vessels designed to carry cars, trucks, trailers, containers and project cargo simultaneously.

Almost three decades later, GRANDE EUROPA remains under the same name, the same Italian flag and the same Grimaldi commercial identity.

Despite the arrival of a new generation of much larger 9,000–9,800 CEU Grimaldi PCTCs, the 1998-built vessel remains fully active in 2026, now regularly employed between Northern Europe and West Africa.

Vessel Details

Name: GRANDE EUROPA

IMO: 9138381

MMSI: 247206000

Call Sign: ICGE

Type: Vehicle Carrier / Ro-Ro / Multipurpose Carrier

Flag: Italy

Port of Registry: Palermo

Built: 1998

Builder: Fincantieri – Castellammare di Stabia, Italy

Yard Number: 5987

Delivered: 12 March 1998

Owner / Manager: Grimaldi Euromed S.p.A. / Grimaldi Group

Class: RINA

Historical Gross Tonnage: 51,714 GT

Current AIS / Port Register GT: approx. 51,823 GT

Deadweight: 18,461 t

Length Overall: approx. 181.2–183.3 m depending on registry convention

Beam: 32.25 m

Draught: 9.40 m

Container Capacity: approx. 716–750 TEU

Maximum Car Capacity: approx. 4,650 cars

Cargo Decks: 11

Main Engine: Sulzer 7RTA62U

Current Published Power: approx. 15,545 kW

Historical Design Speed: approx. 20–21 knots

Current Status: Active.

Built at Castellammare di Stabia

GRANDE EUROPA was constructed by:

Fincantieri

at:

Castellammare di Stabia.

Her yard number was:

5987.

She was delivered to Grimaldi in:

March 1998.

The vessel was followed by closely related ships including:

GRANDE MEDITERRANEO

and:

GRAN BRETAGNA.

A Major Grimaldi Investment

When introduced, GRANDE EUROPA represented a major technological and capacity increase for the Grimaldi:

Euro-Med Service.

Contemporary Grimaldi material described the new ships as among the most technologically advanced Ro-Ro units then operating between Northern Europe and the Mediterranean.

11 Cargo Decks

GRANDE EUROPA was designed with:

11 cargo decks,

including movable / hoistable sections.

A sophisticated internal ramp system allowed the ship to carry different types of cargo simultaneously.

This included:

cars,

commercial vehicles,

trailers,

containers,

heavy Ro-Ro cargo,

and project vehicles.

4,650 Cars

The original maximum theoretical vehicle capacity was approximately:

4,650 passenger cars.

Alternatively, the ship could carry large volumes of:

Ro-Ro freight

and:

containers.

Contemporary specifications gave approximately:

3,320 lane metres

or:

750 TEU

under alternative cargo configurations.

Modern port databases give:

716 TEU,

which reflects the current registered container-capacity convention.

Flexible Cargo Mix

One reason GRANDE EUROPA has remained commercially useful for so long is that she is not restricted to carrying cars alone.

Her configuration allows Grimaldi to combine:

new vehicles,

commercial vehicles,

trailers,

containers,

machinery,

and oversized project cargo.

That flexibility differentiates the vessel from many pure car carriers designed almost exclusively around vehicle decks.

Main Engine

GRANDE EUROPA is powered by a:

Sulzer 7RTA62U

low-speed diesel.

Current Hamburg port information gives propulsion power of approximately:

15,545 kW.

Historical figures quote service speeds around:

20–21 knots.

Piraeus Connection

Piraeus formed part of the original:

Grimaldi Euro-Med network.

Contemporary company descriptions of the service listed Piraeus alongside ports including:

Antwerp

Southampton

Alexandria

Limassol

Ashdod

Izmir

Palermo

and:

Salerno.

GRANDE EUROPA therefore has a genuine historical relationship with the port rather than merely an isolated modern call.

Almost Three Decades with the Same Name

One of the striking elements of the vessel's history is continuity.

She has remained:

GRANDE EUROPA

throughout her career.

She also remains:

Italian flagged

and associated with:

Grimaldi.

That degree of continuity is increasingly unusual for a cargo vessel approaching three decades of service.

51,714 or 51,823 GT?

The original PiraeuShips profile gives:

51,714 GT.

This is also the historical Grimaldi / shipbuilding figure.

Current VesselFinder and Port of Hamburg databases instead show:

51,823 GT.

The updated profile should therefore preserve:

51,714 GT as the historical registered figure

while noting that current databases use approximately:

51,823 GT.

Current Trade – Europe and West Africa

GRANDE EUROPA remains in normal commercial service during:

2026.

The Port of Hamburg recorded a call on:

11 July 2026.

Her present route network includes ports such as:

Hamburg

Le Havre

Leixões

Dakar

Nouakchott

Conakry

Lomé

Luanda

Pointe-Noire

Douala

and:

Antwerp.

September AIS records also showed the vessel moving between:

Antwerp

and:

Dakar.

A New Generation Arrives

The contrast with Grimaldi's current newbuildings is striking.

The group's latest PCTCs delivered in 2026 are around:

220 metres long

and carry:

9,000–9,800 CEU.

GRANDE EUROPA therefore represents an earlier generation of Grimaldi vehicle logistics — but one that remains useful enough to continue trading beside ships almost twice her original car capacity.

PiraeuShips in 2026

PiraeuShips published the dedicated:

GRANDE EUROPA – IMO 9138381

entry in:

March 2026.

The original page recorded:

Italian flag

1998 build

approximately:

183 m length

51,714 GT

and:

Grimaldi Euromed ownership and management.

PiraeuShips Record

GRANDE EUROPA was recorded by PiraeuShips during the remarkably long career of one of Grimaldi's original large Euro-Med multipurpose vehicle carriers. Delivered by Fincantieri at Castellammare di Stabia in March 1998, the ship was designed around 11 highly flexible cargo decks capable of carrying cars, trucks, trailers, containers and project cargo in different combinations. Originally capable of accommodating up to approximately 4,650 cars or around 750 TEU depending on configuration, GRANDE EUROPA helped establish a generation of Grimaldi Euro-Med services linking Piraeus and the Mediterranean with Northern Europe. Still sailing under the Italian flag and retaining her original name in 2026, she now continues regular Grimaldi operations between Europe and West Africa, making her a rare example of almost three decades of uninterrupted identity and service with the same shipping group.

Original video footage © PiraeuShips. All rights reserved.

 

 

 

 

SEA CARYATIS – IMO 9166625

ex VALENTINE I / VALENTINE – Greek-owned Ro-Ro / PCTC under Luxembourg flag

SEA CARYATIS is a Japanese-built Ro-Ro cargo vessel completed by Kawasaki Heavy Industries at Sakaide in 1999, today operated by the Piraeus-based Mediterranean Car-Carriers Line – MCCL.

For almost a quarter of a century the vessel was known as VALENTINE, operating extensively in northern European freight trades before spending her final two years under that identity with New Zealand's Interislander.

Acquired by Greek interests in 2023, she briefly became VALENTINE I and underwent an extensive conversion at Perama before emerging in July 2024 as:

SEA CARYATIS.

A further important development followed in October 2025, when SEA CARYATIS became the first Greek-owned commercial vessel officially registered under the Luxembourg flag. She remains fully active in 2026.

Vessel Details

Current Name: SEA CARYATIS

Former Names: VALENTINE I, VALENTINE

IMO: 9166625

MMSI: 253000158

Call Sign: LXAS9

Type: Ro-Ro Cargo / PCTC

Current Flag: Luxembourg

Port of Registry: Luxembourg

Built: 1999

Builder: Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Sakaide, Japan

Yard Number: 1485

Completed: 26 February 1999

Current Owner: Sea Experience Marine

Operator / ISM / Commercial Manager: Mediterranean Car-Carriers Line S.A. – MCCL, Piraeus

Class: Lloyd's Register

Current Published Gross Tonnage: approx. 28,631 GT

Historical Gross Tonnage: 23,987 GT

Deadweight: 9,729 t

Length Overall: 162.49 m

Beam: 25.20 m

Draught: approx. 6.50 m

Historical Lane Metres: approx. 2,307 m

Historical Trailer Capacity: approx. 156

Passenger / Driver Accommodation: 12

Main Engines: 2 × Kawasaki-MAN B&W 7L40/54

Total Main Engine Power: 9,840 kW

Speed: approx. 17.5 knots

Major Conversion: 2024, Perama

Current Status: Active.

Built as VALENTINE

The ship was completed by:

Kawasaki Heavy Industries at Sakaide

on:

26 February 1999.

She entered service as:

VALENTINE.

The vessel belonged to a successful Kawasaki-built Ro-Ro family intended for high-capacity European freight operations.

Her machinery consisted of:

2 × Kawasaki-MAN B&W 7L40/54 diesel engines

with a combined output of:

9,840 kW.

European Ro-Ro Career

VALENTINE spent most of her early life in northern European freight services.

She was associated with:

Cobelfret

and later:

CLdN Ro-Ro,

operating between major freight ports around the:

North Sea

and:

English Channel.

Although the ship retained the same VALENTINE name for more than twenty years, she sailed under several European registries during that period.

2,307 Lane Metres

The original Ro-Ro configuration provided approximately:

2,307 lane metres.

Published historical figures include space for approximately:

156 trailers

or several hundred cars depending on cargo configuration.

The vessel was essentially designed as a freight ship rather than a passenger ferry, with accommodation for only around:

12 passengers / drivers.

Interislander – New Zealand

In 2021, VALENTINE entered one of the most unusual chapters of her career.

She transferred to:

New Zealand

to operate for:

Interislander.

The vessel was brought into the fleet to increase freight capacity while the ferry KAIĀRAHI was unavailable following a gearbox failure.

VALENTINE could carry both:

road freight

and:

rail freight.

She remained with Interislander until 2023.

Sold by KiwiRail

KiwiRail announced the vessel's sale in:

2023.

Ownership subsequently passed to Greek company:

Sea Experience Marine Enterprises

of the MCCL Group.

The sale brought the vessel from the South Pacific into an entirely new Mediterranean career.

VALENTINE → VALENTINE I

Following the 2023 sale, the vessel was renamed:

VALENTINE I.

She transferred to the:

Panama flag.

In early 2024 she arrived at:

Perama

for extensive conversion work.

She was photographed there on:

27 February 2024

while already described as a new MCCL vessel.

Major Conversion at Perama

The former VALENTINE underwent a substantial transformation in the Greek ship-repair zone.

The work was carried out largely by:

Greek companies at Perama

and adapted the veteran freight Ro-Ro for MCCL's vehicle-transport operations.

Contemporary Greek shipping reporting described the project as a conversion toward:

PCTC – Pure Car and Truck Carrier

configuration.

VALENTINE I → SEA CARYATIS

In:

July 2024

the ship received her current name:

SEA CARYATIS.

The principal identity sequence therefore became:

VALENTINE → VALENTINE I → SEA CARYATIS.

The new name reflected her completely new Greek-owned chapter.

First Piraeus Appearance as SEA CARYATIS

SEA CARYATIS was documented at:

Piraeus Roads on 4 August 2024,

shortly after acquiring her new name.

At the time she still sailed under the:

Panama flag.

Panama → Luxembourg

The most important subsequent change took place in:

October 2025.

SEA CARYATIS transferred to the:

Luxembourg flag.

The Embassy of Luxembourg in Athens officially announced that she had become:

the first Greek-owned commercial vessel registered under the Luxembourg flag.

A Return to an Earlier Flag

The move was particularly interesting historically.

The Luxembourg authorities noted that the vessel had already sailed under the Luxembourg flag during part of her former:

VALENTINE

career.

Her 2025 registration therefore represented both:

a new milestone for Greek-Luxembourg maritime cooperation

and:

a return of IMO 9166625 to a familiar registry.

Still Active in 2026

SEA CARYATIS remains fully active in 2026.

Recent AIS records have shown her operating throughout the:

Mediterranean,

including voyages involving:

Tunisia

Astakos

Cyprus

and other regional vehicle and Ro-Ro ports.

Current tracking confirms:

Luxembourg flag

MMSI 253000158

and:

Call Sign LXAS9.

Piraeus Connection

The vessel's modern career is strongly linked to Piraeus.

She was:

acquired by Greek interests,

converted at Perama,

managed commercially by Piraeus-based MCCL,

and renamed SEA CARYATIS during this Greek-controlled chapter.

PiraeuShips published the dedicated:

SEA CARYATIS – IMO 9166625

entry in:

May 2025,

when the vessel was still recorded under the Panama flag.

PiraeuShips Record

SEA CARYATIS was recorded by PiraeuShips during the beginning of an entirely new Greek-controlled chapter in the career of a veteran Japanese-built Ro-Ro. Completed by Kawasaki Heavy Industries at Sakaide in 1999 as VALENTINE, the vessel spent more than two decades in northern European freight service before operating for New Zealand's Interislander between 2021 and 2023. Sold to Sea Experience Marine and MCCL interests, she returned to the Northern Hemisphere as VALENTINE I, underwent an extensive conversion at Perama in 2024 and emerged as SEA CARYATIS. In October 2025 the ship achieved another distinction by becoming the first Greek-owned commercial vessel registered under the Luxembourg flag. Still fully active in 2026, the PiraeuShips footage documents the beginning of a major new identity in a career already extending beyond a quarter of a century.

Original video footage © PiraeuShips. All rights reserved. 

 

 

Grande Spagna - IMO 9227924

 

IMO number	9227924
MMSI	247056200
Name of the ship	GRANDE SPAGNA
Vessel type	Car carrier
Operating status	Active
Flag	Italy
Gross tonnage	37726 tons
Deadweight	12590 tons
Length	176 m
Breadth	31 m
Year of build	2002
Builder	ULJANIK SHIPYARD - PULA, CROATIA
Classification society	REGISTRO ITALIANO NAVALE
Home port	PALERMO
Owner	GRIMALDI GROUP - NAPOLI, ITALY
Manager	GRIMALDI GROUP - NAPOLI, ITALY

Hoegh Detroit - IMO 9312470

Name	HÖEGH DETROIT
Type	Roll-On/Roll-Off carrier - Vehicle carrier PCTC - Pure Car Truck Carrier
IMO-number	9312470
Call sign	LAHE6
Flag	Norway
Port of registry	Oslo
GT	68.871 t
DWT	Summer: 27.100 t
NT	25.912 t
Length	228,77 m overall 223,91 m between perpendiculars
Breadth	32,29 m extreme
Draught	10,01 m
Freeboard	3.967 mm
Depth	13,70 m
Speed	20,5 knots
Built	2006 2008: Conversion: Lengthening of vessel 28,80 m mid body section
Keel laid	09.09.2005
Launch date	01.01.2006
Date of completion	17.03.2006
Builder	Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., Ltd. 1, Ajoo-Dong Geoje-Si 656-714 Republic of Korea
Yard number	4439
Hull material	Steel
Hull type	Single hull
Propellers	1x Fixed propeller
Boilers	1x Exhaust gas smoke tube AV-7 1x Vertical shell type Mission OS Builder: Aalborg
Generators	3x MAN B&W Holeby 7L28/32H each 1.470 kW at 720 rpm diesel generatorsets
Emergency generator	1x Cummins L10 diesel generatorset
Bow thruster	1x 1.800 kW
Car capacity	6.545
Number of decks	12
Ramp	Max. door width: 15,00 m Max. door height: 5,00 m Max. ramp capacity: 150 t
Anchor equipment	Length: 715,00 m Diameter: 84 mm
Manager	Höegh Wallem Ship Management Pte. Ltd.
Operator	Höegh Autoliners Oslo Norway
Registered owner	Höegh Autoliners Shipping AS
Latest data adjustment	26 September 2017

 

Altair Leader - IMO 9539171

IMO number	9539171
MMSI	432817000
Name of the ship	ALTAIR LEADER
Vessel type	Car carrier
Operating status	Active
Flag	Japan
Gross tonnage	60394 tons
Deadweight	18572 tons
Length	199 m
Breadth	32 m
Year of build	2011
Builder	MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES LTD - KOBE (JPN). YARD NO. 1292
Classification society	NIPPON KAIJI KYOKAI (NKK)
Home port	TOKYO
Owner	NYK LINE - TOKYO, JAPAN
Manager	NYK LINE - TOKYO, JAPAN

Grande Torino - IMO 9782675

 

IMO number	9782675
MMSI	247379500
Name of the ship	GRANDE TORINO
Vessel type	Car carrier
Operating status	Active
Flag	Italy
Gross tonnage	65255 tons
Deadweight	15853 tons
Length	199 m
Breadth	36 m
Year of build	2018

Leo Spirit - IMO 9620695

 

IMO number	9620695
MMSI	373057000
Name of the ship	LEO SPIRIT
Vessel type	Car carrier
Operating status	Active
Flag	Panama
Gross tonnage	60825 tons
Deadweight	16758 tons
Length	199 m
Breadth	32 m
Year of build	2012
Builder	SHIN KURUSHIMA TOYOHASHI SHIPBUILDING - TOYOHASHI, JAPAN
Classification society	NIPPON KAIJI KYOKAI (NKK)
Owner	MIZUHO SANGYO - IMABARI, JAPAN
Manager	NISSAN MOTOR CAR CARRIER - TOKYO, JAPAN

Hoegh Copenhagen - IMO 9420057

 

IMO number	9420057
MMSI	257368000
Name of the ship	HOEGH COPENHAGEN
Vessel type	Car carrier
Operating status	Active
Flag	Norway
Gross tonnage	68392 tons
Deadweight	21108 tons
Length	228 m
Breadth	32 m
Year of build	2010
Builder	DAEWOO SHIPBUILDING & MARINE ENGINEERING CO. LTD. - GEOJE, SOUTH KOREA
Classification society	DET NORSKE VERITAS
Home port	OSLO
Owner	HOEGH FLEET SERVICES - OSLO, NORWAY
Manager	HOEGH FLEET SERVICES - OSLO, NORWAY

Manon - IMO 9179725

 

IMO number	9179725
MMSI	566184000
Name of the ship	MANON
Former names	MA 89 8 (2017, Singapore) MCNON (2017, Singapore) MANON (2011, Sweden)
Vessel type	Car carrier
Operating status	Active
Flag	Singapore
Gross tonnage	67264 tons
Deadweight	28360 tons
Length	227 m
Breadth	32 m
Year of build	1999
Builder	DAEWOO SHIPBUILDING & MARINE ENGINEERING CO. LTD. - SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
Classification society	LLOYD'S SHIPPING REGISTER
Owner	WALLENIUS MARINE SINGAPORE - SINGAPORE
Manager	WALLENIUS MARINE SINGAPORE - SINGAPORE

Grand Choice - IMO 9169316

 

IMO number	9169316
MMSI	357247000
Name of the ship	GRAND CHOICE
Vessel type	Car carrier
Operating status	Active
Flag	Panama
Gross tonnage	50309 tons
Deadweight	16669 tons
Length	179 m
Breadth	32 m
Year of build	1999
Builder	SHIN KURUSHIMA TOYOHASHI SHIPBUILDING - TOYOHASHI, JAPAN
Classification society	KOREAN SHIPPING REGISTER
Owner	CIDO SHIPPING - HONG KONG, CHINA
Manager	CIDO SHIPPING KOREA - PUSAN, SOUTH KOREA

Grande Florida - IMO 9782716

 

Thalatta - IMO 9702455

 

THALATTA is a large Post-Panamax Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC) operated within the Wallenius Wilhelmsen fleet. Built in South Korea in 2015, she was the second vessel of Wilhelmsen’s new-generation HERO – High Efficiency Ro-Ro series, following Thermopylae. The ship was specifically designed to combine very high vehicle capacity with the ability to carry heavy and oversized Ro-Ro cargo, while improving fuel efficiency and reducing emissions per transported unit.

THALATTA was delivered on 7 April 2015 by Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries and immediately entered service for Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics. She measures almost exactly 200 metres in length and 36.5 metres in beam, dimensions chosen to take advantage of the expanded Panama Canal while still allowing the vessel to serve the company’s principal ports worldwide. Her total vehicle capacity is approximately 8,000 CEU, spread over 13 decks, five of which are adjustable to accommodate cargo of different heights.

The vessel also has a documented connection with Piraeus. THALATTA was photographed at Drapetsona Bay on 20 December 2015, only eight months after entering service, and she subsequently became part of the PiraeuShips archive. This means your recording preserves one of Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s then brand-new HERO-class vessels during the very first year of her commercial career.

Vessel Details

Name: THALATTA
IMO: 9702455
MMSI: 229710000
Call Sign: 9HA3538
Type: Pure Car and Truck Carrier – PCTC
Design / Class: HERO – High Efficiency Ro-Ro / Post-Panamax
Flag: Malta
Port of Registry: Valletta
Built: 2015
Delivered: 7 April 2015
Builder: Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries, Samho, South Korea
Yard Number: S722
Registered Owner: Wilhelmsen Lines Shipowning AS
Commercial Operator: Wallenius Wilhelmsen Ocean AS
Technical / ISM Manager: Wilhelmsen Ship Management AS
Classification: DNV
Length Overall: 199.97 m
Beam: 36.50 m
Summer Draught: approx. 10.61 m
Gross Tonnage: 75,283 GT
Deadweight: 23,786 t
Vehicle Capacity: approx. 8,000 CEU
Decks: 13, including 5 liftable decks
Stern Ramp Capacity: approx. 320 t
Main Engine: MAN B&W 8S60ME-C8
Main Engine Power: approx. 15,560 kW / 21,155 hp
Service Speed: approx. 20 knots

HERO-Class Design

THALATTA belongs to the HERO generation of Wallenius Wilhelmsen car carriers. The acronym stands for High Efficiency Ro-Ro, and the design was developed around greater cargo flexibility and lower fuel consumption. At 36.5 metres wide, the vessel is significantly broader than earlier Panamax PCTCs, giving her space for an additional vehicle deck and bringing total capacity to roughly 8,000 cars.

Her five adjustable decks allow the ship to carry not only passenger cars but also trucks, buses, construction machinery and other high-and-heavy cargo. The stern ramp can handle loads of around 320 tonnes, giving the vessel considerable flexibility for oversized rolling cargo.

The design also introduced several efficiency improvements, including a streamlined bow, an optimised Promas rudder/propeller arrangement and an engine designed to operate efficiently over a wider range of speeds and draughts. THALATTA was additionally delivered with an exhaust-gas cleaning system, intended to reduce sulphur emissions and particulate matter.

History

THALATTA was the second HERO/Post-Panamax vessel delivered to Wilh. Wilhelmsen in 2015, after Thermopylae. Wilhelmsen’s fleet records show both ships with an 8,000-CEU capacity, with THALATTA entering service in April 2015. They were later joined by sister ships Theben and Themis.

The ship has retained the THALATTA name, Maltese flag and Wilhelmsen association throughout her career. Current 2026 records continue to list her in active service, with Wallenius Wilhelmsen Ocean as commercial manager and Wilhelmsen Ship Management responsible for technical/ISM management.

Piraeus Connection

THALATTA’s appearance at Piraeus is particularly interesting because it occurred during her first year in service. She was documented at Drapetsona Bay on 20 December 2015, with the same Malta flag, MMSI 229710000 and call sign 9HA3538 that she retains today.

PiraeuShips Record

THALATTA was recorded at Piraeus by PiraeuShips during the first year of her career. Delivered only months earlier as one of Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s first HERO-class Post-Panamax car carriers.

Original video footage © PiraeuShips. All rights reserved.

Bergamot Ace - IMO 9403281

 

BERGAMOT ACE is a Japanese-built Pure Car Carrier / Vehicle Carrier completed in 2010 by Shin Kurushima Dockyard at Imabari. The vessel was originally delivered under the Cayman Islands flag and spent much of her early career associated with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL). She remains active today, although she now sails under the Liberian flag.

The ship measures 186.03 metres in length and 28.20 metres in beam, with a gross tonnage of 42,401 GT and deadweight of 14,996 tonnes. ClassNK lists a vehicle capacity of 4,216 cars in one loading configuration and 3,518 cars in another, reflecting the flexibility of her internal vehicle decks. Her sea-trial maximum continuous speed was 20.8 knots.

BERGAMOT ACE was delivered on 30 June 2010 as hull number 5525. She is powered by a Mitsui-built two-stroke main engine rated at 11,440 kW and remains classed by ClassNK. Current ClassNK records identify Bergamot Ace S.A. as registered owner and Nichitoku Kisen Co., Ltd. as management company.

Vessel Details

Name: BERGAMOT ACE
IMO: 9403281
Current MMSI: 636022841
Current Call Sign: 5LKR5
Former MMSI: 319740000
Former Call Sign: ZGAS5
Type: Vehicle Carrier / Pure Car Carrier
Current Flag: Liberia
Former Flag: Cayman Islands
Current Port of Registry: Monrovia
Built: 2010
Delivered: 30 June 2010
Builder: Shin Kurushima Dockyard Co. Ltd., Japan
Shipyard: Shin Kurushima Onishi Shipyard, Imabari
Hull Number: 5525
Registered Owner: Bergamot Ace S.A.
Manager: Nichitoku Kisen Co., Ltd.
Classification: ClassNK
Length Overall: 186.03 m
Beam: 28.20 m
Depth: 12.45 m moulded
Summer Draught: 8.524 m
Gross Tonnage: 42,401 GT
Net Tonnage: 12,721 NT
Deadweight: 14,996 t
Vehicle Capacity: up to approx. 4,216 cars
Main Engine: Mitsui / MAN-B&W 8-cylinder two-stroke diesel
Main Engine Power: 11,440 kW
Sea-Trial Speed: 20.8 knots

History

BERGAMOT ACE entered service in 2010 and retained the same name throughout her career. Early records list FGL Mimosa Panama S.A. as owner and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines as manager, while the vessel sailed under the Cayman Islands flag with George Town as home port.

A significant change came later when the vessel transferred to the Liberian flag. Current ClassNK and AIS records now identify Monrovia as her port of registry, with MMSI 636022841 and call sign 5LKR5. Despite the changes in registry and management, BERGAMOT ACE has retained her original name and remains in active vehicle-carrier service in 2026.

Piraeus Connection

BERGAMOT ACE is already part of the PiraeuShips archive, where she was recorded under her earlier Cayman Islands identity with MMSI 319740000, call sign ZGAS5, MOL ownership/management details and the same IMO number 9403281.

PiraeuShips Record

BERGAMOT ACE was recorded by PiraeuShips during the vessel’s earlier career under the Cayman Islands flag and MOL-related management. The recording now has additional historical value, as the ship has since transferred to the Liberian register while retaining the same name and remaining active more than fifteen years after delivery.

Original video footage © PiraeuShips. All rights reserved.

CSAV Rio Grande - IMO 9308807 (now Gold Xing)

 

IMO number	9308807
MMSI	636015992
Name of the ship	CSAV RIO GRANDE
Vessel type	Car carrier
Operating status	Active
Flag	Liberia
Gross tonnage	46800 tons
Deadweight	12315 tons
Length	182 m
Breadth	31 m
Engine type	MAN-B&W
Engine model	9L40/54
Engine power	14220 KW
Year of build	2007
Builder	XIAMEN SHIPBUILDING INDUSTRY - XIAMEN, CHINA
Classification society	DET NORSKE VERITAS
Home port	MONROVIA
Owner	ZODIAC MARITIME - LONDON, United Kingdom (UK)
Manager	ZODIAC MARITIME - LONDON, United Kingdom (UK)

Eurasian Highway - IMO 9604938

 

IMO number	9604938
MMSI	432839000
Name of the ship	EURASIAN HIGHWAY
Vessel type	Car carrier
Operating status	Active
Flag	Japan
Gross tonnage	59029 tons
Deadweight	18709 tons
Length	199 m
Breadth	32 m
Engine type	Sulzer
Engine model	8UEC60LSII
Engine power	13260 KW
Year of build	2012
Builder	IMABARI SHIPBUILDING CO. LTD., MARUGAME YARD - MARUGAME, JAPAN
Classification society	NIPPON KAIJI KYOKAI (NKK)
Home port	KOBE
Owner	TAIYO NIPPON KISEN - KOBE, JAPAN
Manager	TAIYO NIPPON KISEN - KOBE, JAPAN