AAL Shipping’s groundbreaking ‘Super B-Class’ fleet reaches a pivotal stage as the AAL LIMASSOL, the first of its kind, successfully takes to the water at the CSSC HuangPu WenChong Shipyard in China. This accomplishment signifies the vessel’s progression through key construction phases, including steel cutting, keel laying, launching, and imminent sea trials.
Yahaya Sanusi, Deputy Head of AAL’s Transport Engineering Department, emphasized the significance of the launching stage. “With all major equipment installed, launching tests the water integrity and stability of the newbuild. The hull structure flexes into its normal operating mode, yielding excellent results within engineering tolerance levels. Approximately three-quarters of the onboard work is completed at this stage, allowing simultaneous assembly of additional work packages.”
The vessel, boasting a 32,000 deadweight (DWT) capacity, will undergo sea trials in April 2024 before delivery to AAL in May. Rangel Vassilev, Director of Newbuilding Projects at AAL’s sister company, Columbia Shipmanagement, highlighted the complexity of the Super B-Class build. “Tasks post-launching become more challenging, and preparation for sea trials takes over 60 days for a standard container vessel. However, the Super B-Class, with its intricate features like heavy lift cranes and the innovative ‘AAL Extendable Eco-Deck System,’ demands a meticulous process, anticipating over 120 days for equipment commissioning and mooring trials.
Sanusi outlined the upcoming steps, stating, “Mooring trials for machinery and cargo handling equipment precede the final sea-trial stage. Speed, fuel consumption, and maneuvering characteristics will be rigorously tested, providing critical insights into the vessel’s performance in water. The Super B-Class, designed to be the pinnacle of multipurpose heavy lift vessels, incorporates state-of-the-art technologies. Our construction schedule ensures thorough testing, and we are pleased with the progress, anticipating operational readiness by May ’24.”
In conclusion, AAL’s commitment to delivering premium vessels reflects in the meticulous construction and testing processes of the Super B-Class fleet. As the AAL LIMASSOL advances towards operational readiness, the maritime industry awaits the deployment of these unique heavy lift vessels.