Briese Schiffahrts GmbH & Co. KG has marked another milestone with its 13,000 dwt Lakermax multipurpose newbuild fleet. Another vessel in the series is nearing delivery. 

The company said in a brief statement that BBC Dubai is the latest of the LakerMax vessels to pass sea trials. BBC Dubai’s sea trials have come only a couple of months after BBC Houston and BBC Genoa went through the same testing phase.

Briese Schiffahts and BBC Chartering will take delivery of a total of 15 LakerMax MPPs through to 2026. BBC Leer, the first vessel in the series was already delivered earlier this year, entering service in June.

According to BBC Chartering, this series of triple-deckers represents a significant advancement in the ocean transportation of project and heavy-lift cargo. The vessels boast several features that optimize cargo handling and environmental performance.

These 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.