BBC Chartering has put its newly built 13,000 dwt multipurpose triple-decker, BBC Leer, into service as it sailed from the Taizhou shipyard in China. The vessel headed to the Morimatsu facility in Nantong according to its AIS data.

BBC Chartering confirmed in a brief statement that the first voyage of BBC Leer is Nantong as its first port of loading. From Nantong, it is heading to the St Lawrence Seaway in Canada via the Panama Canal.

This newly designed series represents a significant advancement in the ocean transportation of project and heavy-lift cargo, according to BBC Chartering. The vessels boast several features that optimize cargo handling and environmental performance.

The BBC Leer and its sister vessels are equipped with two Liebherr LS 250 shipboard cranes, each with a lifting capacity of 250 metric tons (mt), for a combined lifting capacity of 500 mt. The bridge and crew accommodation are positioned at the front of the ship, allowing for an unobstructed 2,830 square meters (sqm) of weather deck space ideal for project cargo handling.

The two box-shaped cargo holds offer nearly 26,000 cubic meters (cbm) of cargo space on a floor area exceeding 4,900 sqm when utilising the two tween decks. This design prioritises below-deck cargo capacity compared to existing tonnage, leading to a potential 30 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per freight ton carried.

The main, large triple-deck cargo hold can accommodate project cargo units up to 104.3 meters long and 18.2 meters wide below deck. Hatch covers and tweendecks are designed to handle loads of up to 4.0 mt/sqm, while the tanktop can handle loads of up to 20.0 mt/sqm, with specific areas supporting even higher loads of 25.0 mt/sqm. Notably, the vessels are certified to operate with open hatches, further enhancing cargo handling flexibility.

While designed for worldwide trading, the BBC LakerMax-class vessels maintain the ability to navigate both the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes, offering access to key North American markets.