Briese Schiffahrts’ fleet of 13,000 dwt Lakermax multipurpose newbuild vessels is continuing to grow with the latest delivery of BBC Genoa. The vessel has been put into operation at the start of this month and is getting ready to undertake its maiden voyage from China to the Caribbean. 

The BBC Genoa is an identical sister vessel to BBC Leer and BBC Houston, owned and managed by Briese Schiffahrts, and comes with a lifting capacity of up to 500 tons with her two Liebherr LS 250 cranes from Liebherr Maritime Cranes.

The delivery of BBC Genoa follows a recent milestone the company hit in the construction of its LakerMax series. At the end of August, the company’s fifth LakerMax, BBC Dubai completed its sea trials. The company will have a total of 15 of these vessels delivered through 2026.

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.

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.