SAL Heavy Lift’s fleet expansion program is progressing at pace as the company signed a new construction deal with Wuhu Shipyard for the fifth Orca Class heavy-lift MPP. According to the company, the latest addition will be named Vera, after Capt. Westphal’s wife, and is due to be delivered mid-2025.

At the same time, Wuhu Shipyard held a keel laying ceremony for the second Orca Class vessel currently under construction, MV Frida.

“The Orca Class is setting new standards in global heavy-lift shipping. They represent the new benchmark both in terms of their technical capabilities and modern climate-friendly propulsion systems,” Martin Harren, Owner and CEO of SAL Heavy Lift, SAL Engineering and the Harren Group, said in an earlier statement. “The ships will be the most efficient vessels in their class, with consumption and emission figures far superior to any existing heavy-lift vessel today.”

The vessels will be equipped with dual-fuel engines and can be run on methanol as an alternative fuel. As soon as green methanol becomes available in key ports, the Jumbo-SAL-Alliance will be able to offer their customers carbon-neutral transport solutions following the sustainability goals of the Harren Group. In addition to the optimized hull form, the innovative engine and propulsion concept including a booster function offers a hybrid setup with the widest available range of economic speed settings and redundancy, while also reaching a maximum vessel speed of about 18.5 knots.

The vessels measure 149.9 m x 27.2 m and provide a capacity of 14,600 dwt. Despite their compact outer dimensions, the vessels have a box-shaped single cargo hold with the largest dimensions in their class. Provided the hatch covers with a capacity of 10 t/m² are utilized for stowing super-heavy deck cargoes, such as 3,000 t cable carousels, the vessels can accommodate over-height cargo in the hold and sail with open hatch covers up to full scantling draft. The vessels will feature Ice class notation 1A, a Polar Code certification and the reduced design temperature of the hull and equipment allow the ships to safely operate in cold conditions as well.

The latest order placed with Wuhu Shipyard meeans that SAL Heavy Lift has exercised its first option of two, extending its order to five Orca Class vessels. All five Orcas are part of a funding programme of the German Federal Ministry of Digital Affairs and Transport to promote sustainability and emission reduction in the maritime industry.