EXTENDING THE LIMITS: WATCH NICOLA PACIFICO TALK THROUGH THE BENEFITS OF THE ‘AAL ECO-DECK’

AAL’s ground-breaking retractable weather deck extension system is being fitted aboard all
Super B-Class vessels joining the AAL Shipping fleet, bringing with it significant financial and environmental benefits for cargo shippers.

What makes AAL Shipping’s (AAL) Super B-Class heavy lift fleet of eight 32,000 dwt vessels so unique for its global multipurpose and project cargo customers? In addition to having three heavy lift cranes along its port side, with a maximum lifting capacity of 800 tonnes; an uninterrupted deck; and two large holds capable of loading much larger units, these vessels come equipped with the latest innovation from the AAL Engineering Team: the ‘AAL ECO-DECK’. Below, AAL’s Head of Transport Engineering, Nicola Pacifico, talks us through the ground-breaking retractable weather deck extension system and the financial and environmental benefits its offers cargo shippers. Click here to watch the video.

SPECIFICATIONS:

• The combined area of the hatch cover deck and the flushed AAL ECO-DECK totals more than 5,000 sq m. Compared to the 2,690 sq m on the A-Class vessels (with a similar deadweight), that’s an increase of around 85%.
• With the AAL ECO-DECK on the starboard side and the platform strip on the portside, the width of the deck of the Super B-Class increases from 25.5 m to 34.8 m. This is an increase of over 36%.
• A carrying capacity of 2,250 tons.

Depending on the cargo, we can install either one, two or as many as 5 panels in line. The sequence is not fixed, so that depending on the cargoes only the required number of panels are installed. When not in use, the panels can be dismantled and are simply stored or used elsewhere on the vessel, for instance as tween or triple decks in either of the ship’s two holds.

HOW WILL IT HELP CUSTOMERS? 

• Significant economies of scale, with more cargo onboard helping to offset voyage costs. 
• With the AAL ECO-DECK, we can optimise the deadweight without increasing the gross tonnage of the vessel. In other words, when transporting heavy and oversize cargoes, intake is comparable to a much bigger vessel, whereas the energy consumption and emissions are those of a far smaller vessel. 
• Reduction in the number of voyages required to complete a multiple sailing project operation, thus significantly reducing costs, fuel, time and emissions. 
• With the wider deck area, large, heavy cargoes can be stowed transversely on deck instead of longitudinally, allowing a more compact stowage and therefore more cargo.  
• Allowing flexible loading sequences during loading: with a larger clear deck space/capacity, we can accommodate last minute changes in the delivery sequence of cargoes. 
• Offers the opportunity for ship-to-ship transfer with the AAL ECO-DECK protruding to the second ship, which may offer an alternative, easier transfer method. 
• Protrusion of the AAL ECO-DECK on land can also bring the deck closer to cargo delivery trucks and other vehicles – an interesting potential solution to overcome possible rail lines or strips next to the pier’s edge, enhancing offloading procedures.

With AAL Limassol already demonstrating the benefits of the AAL ECO-DECK – taking on barges, wind turbine blades, modules, trucks, transformers and a dismantled crane – we look forward to rolling out the technology on the further seven Super B-Class vessels and bringing the enhancements in cargo intake, efficiency, flexibility and sustainability to customers.