AAL Shipping (AAL) has delivered its third Super B-Class vessel, the AAL Houston, which is part of its eight-vessel third-generation new building fleet. This 32,000 dwt dual-fuel multipurpose heavy lift vessel is set for her maiden voyage after a formal naming ceremony held at the CSSC Huangpu-Wenchong Shipyard in Guangzhou, China, on September 12. The event was attended by representatives from AAL Shipping, Columbia Shipmanagement, and other distinguished guests.
Vessel Design Optimized for Heavy Lift and Project Cargo
The AAL Houston, named after AAL’s key operational hub in the Americas, has been engineered to meet the future demands of the heavy lift and project cargo sectors. Like her sister vessels, AAL Limassol and AAL Hamburg, the AAL Houston can carry up to 90,000 freight tons of project and breakbulk cargo. The ship is equipped with three port-side cranes, each capable of lifting a maximum of 700 tonnes.
Additionally, the vessel features an innovative accommodation block positioned at the fore, enhancing visibility when transporting oversized cargo. The AAL ECO-DECK, a retractable weather deck extension system, increases deck space to 5,200 m², further boosting cargo capacity.
Collaborative Expertise in Vessel Design
The vessel’s advanced design is the result of close collaboration between parent company Schoeller Holdings, AAL, Columbia Shipmanagement (CSM), SDARI, and the CSSC Huangpu-Wenchong Shipyard. This partnership has spanned decades, from the construction of AAL’s first-generation vessels in 2002 to the current Super B-Class series.
Heinrich Schoeller, Founder and Chairman of Schoeller Holdings, highlighted the progression: “The Super B-Class represents the culmination of all the experience gained from our first- and second-generation vessels. These ships are completely new, designed to meet the evolving demands of the future.”
Preparing for the Future of Heavy Lift Shipping
Kyriacos Panayides, Global CEO of AAL, emphasized the challenges faced during the newbuilding project. “The key dilemma was balancing current market demands while anticipating future needs. We’re at the intersection of environmental change and a rapidly evolving project landscape. The maiden voyages of the AAL Limassol and AAL Hamburg have already broken cargo records, proving that we’ve raised the bar with these vessels.”
Panayides added that the Super B-Class ships will strengthen AAL’s global trade routes while providing long-term employment opportunities for onshore and offshore projects. “This investment positions us to offer our customers not just capacity, but reliability in building their own schedules,” he said.
Future Additions to the Super B-Class Fleet
The AAL Houston will soon join her sister vessels in key trade routes linking Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Australia, supporting a range of industries. Her maiden voyage will carry a variety of project cargo, including HRSG modules, transformers, plant equipment, and barges. AAL plans to expand its fleet further, with the AAL Newcastle and AAL Mumbai, which will feature an even greater maximum heavy lift capability of 800 tonnes, expected to join the fleet by 2026.
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Source: AAL Shipping
