Innovative heavy-lift newbuildings for SAL-Jumbo Alliance

The Hamburg-based shipping company SAL Heavy Lift and its Dutch partner Jumbo Shipping have ordered four heavy-lift vessels of the new "Orca" class from the Chinese Wuhu shipyard and have secured an option to build two more units. The design of this new innovative ship class was developed by SAL Heavy Lift in close co-operation with the Shipbuilding Department of the Hamburg-Harburg University of Technology. The 149.9 metre long and 27.2 metre wide ships with a high ice class have a load capacity of 14,600 tdw. With their two all-electric 800-tonne cranes, they are designed to transport particularly heavy and bulky cargo, which can be picked up with the hatch covers open and stowed in the box-shaped single cargo hold if required. Propulsion is provided by methanol-capable dual-fuel engines. The maximum speed is given as 18.5 knots.