SAL Heavy Lift and Jumbo Shipping have commissioned the Chinese Wuhu Shipyard to build four (plus two optional) next-gen heavy lift ships of the Orca Class.
The first pair of the 149.9 by 27.2 m, 14,600 dwt vessels are scheduled for delivery in mid-2024. These will be exclusively involved in transporting offshore wind turbine components in a long-term commitment with Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy.
The other two will start serving Jumbo-SAL-Alliance's clients as of H1 2025.
The ships will have a box-shaped single cargo hold. Provided the hatch covers with a capacity of 10 t/m2 are not utilised for stowing super-heavy deck cargoes, such as 3,000 t cable carousels, the vessels can accommodate over-height loads in the hold and sail with open hatch covers up to full scantling draft.
Each Orca will be equipped with two 800t Liebherr cranes specifically designed for this ship type, with lifts up to 1,600t in tandem mode. "Despite extremely high crane pedestals of more than 11 m, the overall crane height and thereby the vessel's air draft remains at just about 38 m. This makes it possible for the vessel to pass Kiel Canal and enter strategically important ports worldwide. The fully electric cranes are perfect for the vessel's intelligent energy management and recovery system. This is based on a battery storage system that can be used together with conventional gensets in hybrid mode, or in combination with the vessel's shore power connection for fully electric port operations," Sebastian Westphal, SAL Heavy Lift's CTO, explained.
The newbuilds will have the 1A ice class and hold Polar Code certification, while their hull and equipment will have reduced design temperature - all for operating in cold conditions safely.
The heavy lifts will feature dual-fuel engines: using methanol once it is widely available and sailing on green methanol towards offering carbon-neutral transport solutions. The propulsion system will also feature a diesel-electric booster function.
Thanks to the Sustainable Modernisation of Coastal Vessels funding from the German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport, the vessels' power trains will utilise pioneering technology. It will reduce NOx emissions by some 10% below the IMO Tier 3 level and undercut EEDI Phase 3 CO2 footprint by 21%.
"The Orca vessels are 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. 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," Dr Martin Harren, Owner and CEO of SAL Heavy Lift and the Harren Group, highlighted.
He furthered, "As a signatory to the 'Call to Action for Shipping Decarbonization', our Group has committed to the decarbonisation of shipping activities by 2050. I am proud that this newbuilding order shows how we are keeping our promise for significant, concrete action."
"We developed and optimised various vessel details, especially in relation to the hull form and propulsion system, in close cooperation with the renowned Naval Architecture faculty at the Hamburg University of Technology. Recent tank performance tests revealed that we have created one of the world's most efficient hull forms for a vessel of this size - outmatching all existing heavy lift and MPP vessels," Jakob Christiansen, Head of Research & Development, Retrofit & Newbuilding at SAL Heavy Lift, underlined in this regard.
Michaël Kahn, Jumbo Shipping's Owner, also said, "One can say that these ships mark the beginning of a new era for the Jumbo-SAL-Alliance - no exaggeration. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the newbuilding design team at SAL for their great cooperation. I am very impressed with their passion and technical expertise. The ships will help bring us even closer together."
Christian Johansen, Global Commodity Manager - Ports & Transportation, Offshore at Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, commented, "We are excited to continue and build on our strategic partnership with SAL Heavy Lift with their Orca Class programme. We see their ultra-efficient profile and carbon-neutral potential as a perfect fit with our aim of decarbonising our supply chain. As companies, we share a lot of the same values - and we are happy to embark on this journey together with SAL."
His colleague Thomas Mortensen heading Transport Project Execution, added, "We are especially impressed with the flexibility these new vessels represent. Our business is complex, challenged by rapid globalisation as well as the increasing size and weight of our turbine components. The need for flexibility is higher than ever, and the Orcas meet several of our anticipated medium- to long-term transportation challenges. Best-in-class intake, speed and lifting capabilities are all key factors in our decision to work with SAL on the two first Orcas."
Photo: SAL Heavy Lift