Grimaldi Euromed has started the process of selling the pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) Grande Italia to a non-EU buyer and transferring its registration to Australia.
A notice on the Palermo Port Authority harbour-master’s office website was published yesterday.
The request covers the vessel’s removal from the Italian flag for sale to non-EU nationals, followed by entry in the Australian non-EU naval register. The available notice does not identify the buyer or specify when the transaction is expected to close.
The sale, delivery and change of registration had not been confirmed at the time of reporting. Vessel tracking data continued to list Grande Italia under the Italian flag.
Grande Italia was under way from Laem Chabang, Thailand, to Taicang, China. Automatic identification system data showed the vessel sailing through Southeast Asia at 17.4 knots, with arrival in Taicang expected at 08:00 on September 19.
The 176-metre vessel has capacity for approximately 4,600 vehicles and can operate at speeds of up to 20 knots. It has a beam of 31.1 metres and deadweight of 12,594 tonnes.
Uljanik built Grande Italia at Pula in 2001. The vessel forms part of the Grande Benelux class operated within the Grimaldi Euromed fleet.
Completion of the planned disposal would remove Grande Italia from both the Italian registry and Grimaldi’s fleet. The available reporting did not include statements from Grimaldi Euromed, the proposed buyer or Australian authorities.