Schoeller Holding unit AAL Shipping (AAL) hiked to six the number of its latest-design multipurpose (MPP) newbuildings in China.
Following up on an original order for a quartet of 32,000-dwt ships at Huangpu Wenchong Shipyard back in October, AAL said on Tuesday it had booked another couple.
The project cargo and heavylift specialist ordered MPPs equipped with three heavylift cranes capable of lifting 350 tons each.
Expected to be delivered in 2024 and 2025 and classified as “Super B-Class”, the ships are designed to handle larger project cargo components such as wind turbines on AAL’s liner and tramp services.
“Technical and design details of how these revolutionary premium project carriers will live up to their “super” name, AAL said in its statement.
“Literally any cargo — big or small” will fit into the ships’ holds, which feature innovations such as unique extendable pontoons, said Nicola Pacifico, Global Head of AAL’s Transport Engineering Department.
In another characteristic, the bridge and accommodation block will be positioned forward, allowing unobscured sailing visibility and removing any restriction on cargo height.
Meanwhile, a minimum draft of 6.5m will allow the ships to call at small and more remote ports, which is perfect for employment on dedicated large projects.
When AAL ordered the initial quartet in October, its managing director Kyriacos Panayides had said that fuel choice was a "big dilemma" as the infrastructure for alternative fuels such as gas was not yet ready.
On Tuesday, the company said that the ships would be dual fuel and methanol-ready.
Five of AAL’s six new ships be named after major breakbulk ports of Antwerp, Hamburg, Houston, Dubai and Dammam. The sixth will bear the name of Limassol, the Cypriot port in which Singapore-based AAl was established 27 years ago.
Benefiting from the twin recovery of container ships and bulkers, MPP owners have enjoyed record-high charter rates.
Despite the boom, AAL is one of very few companies to have placed any significant newbuilding orders in that segment.
AAL largely owes its success in clinching coveted newbuilding slots to its parent group Schoeller, which has booked hundreds of vessels in Chinese shipyards.
