From four to six sisters
The newbuild programme that AAL Shipping (AAL) launched with the initial order of four 32,000 deadweight (DWT) multipurpose vessels in November 2021 has now been extended.
Classifying the new units as ‘Super B-Class’, the Singaporean liner designed the vessels jointly with its sister company, Columbia Shipmanagement (CSM). The Super B-Class will be able to safely accommodate more than 60,000 freight tonnes (frt) of cargo on a single sailing.
The carrier, which currently operates a fleet of 25 heavy lift multipurpose vessels (MPVs), has now increased its order to six vessels. Yahaya Sanusi, deputy head of AAL’s transport engineering department and the main naval architect, pointed out that the "three heavy lift cranes positioned along the vessels’ port side will feature 350 t lift each and combinable up to 700 t max."
The vessels will be equipped for dual fuel and methanol propulsion. Five of the sisters will be named after major breakbulk ports: “AAL Antwerp”, “AAL Hamburg”, “AAL Houston”, “AAL Dubai” and “AAL Dammam”, while the sixth vessel will carry the name “AAL Limassol”, in tribute to the town where AAL’s story first began in 1995. (sh)