Multipurpose shipping line BBC Chartering has shared details about its upcoming LakerMax-class of 13,000 dwt vessels that will start to be delivered from April 2024.
The first vessel – BBC Leer – is slated for delivery next month and will kickstart the 10-vessel order, with the remaining ships handed over to BBC Chartering through until 2026.
The vessels are equipped with two Liebherr LS 250 cranes, which have a combined lifting capacity up to 500 tonnes and a maximum hoist of 36 m. The bridge and crew accommodation are located at the front of the ship, with all on-deck facilities of the vessel located portside. This allows for an unobstructed 2,830 sq m of space on the weather deck.
Two box-shaped cargo holds offer room for 25,795 cu m of cargo on a floor space of up to 4,850 sq m, with two tweendecks in operation. “The higher capacity of cargo spaces below deck compared to existing tonnage allows for up to 30 percent reductions in GHG emissions per freight ton carried,” BBC Chartering explained.
The main large triple-deck cargo hold can accommodate units measuring up to 104.3 m long under deck, up to a width of up to 18.2 m. Hatch covers and tweendecks allow for loads up to 4 tonnes per sq m, while the tanktop can handle up to 20 tonnes per sq m, in parts up to 25 tonnes per sq m can be handled.
The design of the LakerMax vessels has been optimised to fit both the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes. “The BBC LakerMax-vessels are designed to adapt to the diverse needs of clients across industries. Whether transporting massive machinery, oversized components for energy projects, or critical infrastructure materials, these vessels offer a versatile solution for a wide range of cargo types,” said BBC Chartering.
The vessels will be named BBC Leer, BBC Dubai, BBC Houston, BBC Tokyo, BBC Santiago, BBC Sao Paulo, BBC Singapore, BBC Bremen, BBC Genoa and BBC Shanghai.
