Grimaldi deploys 9,800-unit car carrier on Asia-East Africa route
In Kenya and Tanzania, Grimaldi’s local agent, Nisomar, coordinated cargo unloading, customs clearance, and inland transport.
KENYA – Italian shipping group Grimaldi has deployed the Grande Egitto, a 220-metre car carrier, on its Asia-East Africa route, unloading 1,297 vehicles at the Port of Mombasa during its maiden voyage last week, according to the Kenya Ports Authority.
Grimaldi delivered the vessel on September 21, 2026. The Mombasa stop forms part of a service connecting Dar es Salaam with ports in China and Japan, with cargo loaded at Taicang in China and at Yokohama and Nagoya in Japan.
Vessel capacity and cargo mix
The Grande Egitto has a capacity of 9,800 car-equivalent units across 15 decks and can accommodate electric vehicles, conventional gasoline and diesel models, and vehicles running on compressed natural gas.
For this voyage, Grimaldi said it would load 4,150 cars and 6,200 linear metres of rolling cargo, including excavators, buses and trucks.
Emanuele Grimaldi, an executive at the Italian group, said the vessel is intended to provide regular, flexible connections while keeping its environmental impact low. According to the company, the ship consumes 50% less fuel than previous-generation car carriers.
Regional distribution and port capability
KPA Managing Director William Kipkemboi Ruto highlighted Mombasa’s capacity to accommodate modern vessels. In September 2025, the Grande Shanghai, with a capacity of 9,000 car-equivalent units, transported rolling equipment from Taicang to Mombasa and Dar es Salaam.
In Kenya and Tanzania, Grimaldi’s local agent, Nisomar, coordinated cargo unloading, customs clearance, and inland transport.
The Mombasa connections serve a market beyond Kenya, with the KPA identifying Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo as served territories.
Meanwhile, the 50% fuel consumption reduction is commercially relevant because car carriers operate on long-haul routes where bunker costs represent a substantial share of voyage expenses.
Fuel efficiency improvements on newbuildings translate directly into lower per-unit freight costs, giving operators with newer fleets a cost advantage on routes with competitive rates.
Moreover, the vessel’s ability to carry electric and CNG vehicles reflects changing vehicle trade patterns. Chinese EV exports have grown sharply, and car carriers that cannot accommodate battery-powered vehicles safely are excluded from that segment.
Lastly, Grimaldi’s specification positions it to carry the full range of vehicles moving from Asia to East Africa, where demand for affordable Chinese vehicles has grown.
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