Feature, Freight News, Sea

AAL ups Super B order to six

[ February 22, 2022   //   Chris ]

AAL Shipping has increased its order for four Super B-Class 32,000 deadweight (DWT) multipurpose ships announced in November to six.

The vessels, designed by AAL’s engineering and commercial teams working alongside sister company, Columbia Ship Management, can carry over 60,000 freight tonnes. A clear weather deck space of 146 x 26 metres has extendable pontoons that can increase stowage space further, as well as allowing certain cargoes to safely overhang the deck when required, like wind blades.

With the bridge and accommodation block positioned forward, crews will have unobscured sailing visibility and no physical restriction on cargo height. The vessels can also sail with open hatch covers, enabling tall and over-dimensional units to be stowed safely in hold space. Despite its size, the Super B-Class will have a low 6.5 metre minimum draft, allowing AAL to call at smaller and more remote ports.

Three cranes along the vessels’ port side will offer 350 tonnes lift each and combinable up to 700t. The cranes are also designed with a wider outreach of 35.7 metres at higher lifting capacity and render far more flexibility and options when loading large and / or heavy units.

The Super B-Class will be dual fuel and methanol ready.

Five of the class will be named after major breakbulk ports: AAL Antwerp, AAL Hamburg, AAL Houston, AAL Dubai and AAL Dammam. The sixth vessel will bear the name AAL Limassol where AAL’s story first began in 1995.

Tags: AAL Shipping