A Shanghai shipyard has christened and handed over the Grande Tianjin, the first 9,000-car ro-ro it built for an Italian commercial group. The delivery also marks the yard’s 600th vessel in 25 years — an average output of about 27 ships and roughly 4.637 million deadweight tonnes per year, a run the company says continues to push China’s shipbuilding benchmarks.

Measuring 200 metres long with a 38-metre beam, the Grande Tianjin offers a standard capacity of 9,000 cars across 14 vehicle decks. It’s designed to carry electric vehicles, conventional fuel models and heavy ro-ro cargo alike, with dedicated openings and lashing arrangements to secure loads.

The Italian owner praised China’s speed and quality, and flagged the export potential for Chinese new-energy vehicles. The group’s director estimated that more than six million Chinese cars will go overseas in 2025, with over ten percent headed for Europe, and said the company has already placed orders for more than 70 ships from China through 2030, investing in excess of $6 billion.