AAL Shipping (AAL) has unveiled the look of its mega size 32,000 deadweight (DWT) Super B-Class heavy lift vessels ahead of next year's launch of the first ship, ‘AAL LIMASSOL’.

The global carrier has released a short film highlighting the design and technical innovations and specifications that will make this highly anticipated, third-generation MPV fleet the most advanced in the multipurpose cargo sector.

In a statement, AAL noted that the Super B-Class design was a collaboration between AAL's engineering and commercial teams and sister company, Columbia Shipmanagement (CSM) — the vessels were designed to be the most efficient and competent MPVs in the water and harness all of our engineering team's expertise in handling heavy lift, breakbulk, and dry bulk cargo since 1995.

AAL said each Super B-Class vessel can safely accommodate over 42,000 CBM of cargo, big and small, on a single sailing.

The significant clear weather deck space of 146 x 26 metres will feature a unique, retractable deck extension system – the ‘AAL ECO-DECK’, designed by AAL's engineering team that can increase stowage space even further.

It said that 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 extremely tall and over-dimensional units to be stowed safely in hold space.

And, despite significant cargo intake volume and its 180-metre length, the hull design of the Super B-Class will deliver a 6.5-metre minimum draft, allowing AAL to call far smaller and more remote ports – perfect for employment on dedicated, large projects.

AAL further said that three heavy lift cranes positioned along the vessels' port side will feature 350t lift each and combinable up to 700t max — enabling cargo loading at both the fore and aft of the vessel and optimising deck space and capacity.

Under the deck, there will be two box-shaped cargo holds, one 68 x 25 metres, and the other 38 x 25 metres and with a height of 15.6 metres, among others.

IMO-compliance vessels

"Overall, the Super B-Class will meet the highest possible automation and emission standards, as well as comply with IMO regulations on emissions and sustainability for environmental protection," the breakbulk, heavy lift and project cargo service provider added.

The vessels are dual-fuel and methanol ready and run on MAN main engines of 7,380 kW — supported by two 1,700 kW and one 1,065 kW auxiliary diesel generator.

They are NOx Tier III compatible with HPSCR, EEDI phase 3 compliancy, featuring a projected service speed of 14.5 knots.

AAL said the mega-size vessels will also feature modern ballast water treatment systems and innovative hull coating that delivers greater fuel efficiency and reduced CO2 emissions.

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

AAL noted that the sixth vessel (and first of the new fleet to be launched in 2024) will proudly bear the name AAL Limassol, in tribute to the town in Cyprus where AAL's story first began in 1995.