Project heavy lift carrier, AAL Shipping (AAL), has cut the first steel for the last vessels in a series of six Super B-Class heavy-lift MPP vessels. The steel cutting, held on April 8, marked the start of construction of the multipurpose vessel at the CSSC Huangpu WenChong Shipyard in China.

AAL said that the last vessel in the series to start construction will carry the name of AAL Dammam. This vessel is part of five vessels named after major breakbulk ports, together with AAL Antwerp, AAL Hamburg, AAL Houston and AAL Dubai. The sixth vessel will be named AAL Limassol as a tribute to the town where AAL’s journey began in 1995.

These third-generation heavy-lifters are said to be the most capable MPPs on the water, according to AAL. With a capacity of over 42,000 cbm of cargo, they are equipped with three 350 mt heavy lift cranes that can be combined for a maximum lift of 700 mt. The vessels boast 3,880 square meters of clear weather deck space, along with extendable pontoons on the starboard side to increase cargo stowage capacity.

Below deck, there are two large box-shaped cargo holds optimized for dry bulk, featuring adjustable triple decks and no center-line bulkhead. The superstructure positioned forward allows for unobscured sailing visibility and no height restrictions on cargo.

Furthermore, these vessels are designed to sail with open hatch covers, enabling the safe stowage of exceptionally tall and over-dimensional units in the hold space.

The first vessel in the series, the AAL Limassol was launched already in December and its sea trials are set to begin in April, before delivery scheduled in May.