AAL Shipping (AAL) has increased its initial order of four 32,000 deadweight (DWY) multipurpose vessels that it announced last November to six vessels.

In a statement, AAL said the design of the vessels – classified at the ‘Super B-Class’ – was a collaboration between AAL's engineering and commercial teams alongside its sister company, Columbia Shipmanagement (CSM).

"The carrier, which already operates a fleet of 25 heavy lift multipurpose vessels (MPVs) on busy trades globally, has now increased its order of the Super B-Class to six vessels," the multipurpose liner said, adding that it also released the first images, technical and design details of these project carriers.

Nicola Pacifico, global head of AAL's Transport Engineering Department said these new builds were designed to be the "most efficient and competent MPVs in the water."

"They will perfectly complement AAL's fleet and service profile and, in their design, we harnessed all of our engineering team's expertise in handling heavy lift, breakbulk and dry bulk cargo since 1995," Pacifico said, adding that the Super B-Class will have the capability to accommodate safely more than 60,000 freight tonnes (FRT) of cargo on a single sailing and literally any cargo big and small.

"The already significant clear weather deck space of 146 x 26 metres will feature unique extendable pontoons that can increase stowage space even further, as well as allowing certain cargoes to safely overhang the deck when required, like wind blades," he added.

AAL noted that despite significant cargo intake volume and size, the hull design of the Super B-Class will deliver a 6.5 metre minimum draft, "allowing AAL to call at far smaller and more remote ports, which is perfect for employment on dedicated large projects."

Yahaya Sanusi, deputy head of AAL's Transport Engineering Department said the vessels design, among others, will enable cargo loading at both the fore and aft of the vessel – optimising deck space and capacity and mitigating the need to lift large project cargo into just one area and move it by other means into final stowage position which is time and labour intensive.

"Overall, the Super B-Class will meet the highest possible automation and emission standards, as well as complying with IMO regulations on emissions and sustainability for environmental protection," AAL noted.

Five of the Super B-Class will be named after major breakbulk ports: AAL Antwerp, AAL Hamburg, AAL Houston, AAL Dubai and AAL Dammam.

The liner said the sixth vessel will proudly bear the name AAL Limassol, in tribute to the town where AAL’s story first began in 1995.