AAL Shipping (AAL), the premium project heavy-lift carrier, is ready to take delivery of the second of eight vessels in its Super B-Class newbuilding series, ‘AAL Hamburg’.

The 32,000 dwt, dual fuel multipurpose heavy lift vessel is equipped with three heavy lift port side cranes (350 tonnes capacity each and 700 tonnes maximum lift) and the latest innovation from the AAL Engineering Team, the ‘AAL ECO-DECK’.

The retractable weather-deck system, which can be fitted on all Super B-Class vessels, increases the clear stowage space on deck to over 5,200 sq m. AAL Hamburg will soon join her sistership AAL Limassol—the first vessel in the series—trading on key routes from Asia to Europe, America, and Australia.

AAL Hamburg’s maiden voyage will see the vessel transport a mix of project cargo, including ducts and panels, boiler parts, transformers and accessories, as well as four barges weighing approximately 5,600 tonnes in total, for which the ECO-DECK will be deployed.

Christophe Grammare, AAL Managing Director, comments: “The delivery of AAL Hamburg, as well as the success of AAL Limassol’s record-setting maiden voyage, is the realisation of a long-term strategy initiated several years ago to have a highly capable fleet suited to serve the variety of cargo types and industries that our customers represent.”

According to him, the parent company Schoeller Holdings has been committed to investing in a modern fleet of vessels for AAL, «ensuring that new vessels take us into the future in an environmentally friendly manner and in full compliance with all current and upcoming international regulations.”

The third-generation newbuilds from AAL will see eight Super B-Class vessels join the fleet, following the order of two additional vessels in May. The latest two vessels on the order—AAL Newcastle and AAL Mumbai—will have an increased maximum heavy lift capability of 800 tonnes. The remaining vessels in the series will be delivered between now and 2026.