SAL Heavy Lift plans to double its “Orca” class: the Hamburg-based shipping company has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Chinese Wuhu Shipyard for five further multi-purpose heavy-lift vessels.
The agreement concluded during the SMM in Hamburg covers five vessels, each with a deadweight tonnage of 14,600 dwt. Should these develop into firm construction contracts, the series being built jointly by SAL and Wuhu would grow to a total of ten vessels.
SAL, a subsidiary of the Bremen-based Harren Group, had initially placed firm orders for four vessels in 2022 and agreed two options. At the end of 2023, the shipping company, which is part of the Harren Group, exercised one of the options, thereby increasing the first series to five vessels. Three of these – the ‘Elise’, the ‘Frida’ and the ‘Patricia’ – have already been delivered. The ‘Patricia’, which was taken delivery of in June, transported Vestas wind energy components from Asia to Europe on her maiden voyage. ‘Elise’ and ‘Frida’ were chartered out on long-term contracts following their delivery.
The “Orca” vessels, which are around 150 metres long, feature a large single cargo hold and can carry oversized cargo with the hatch deck open. Two heavy-lift cranes achieve a lifting capacity of up to 1,600 t when operating in tandem. The technical specifications also include a hybrid propulsion system and an energy management system. The dual-fuel vessels are prepared for a future conversion to methanol operation.
Their range of operations primarily includes offshore wind components, industrial plant modules and other heavy project cargo. SAL operates within the Jumbo-SAL-Intermarine Alliance, whose combined fleet comprises more than 50 vessels.
