Just six months after United Heavy Lift launched the UHL FRESH, the Hamburg-based heavy lift shipping company is now strengthening its environmentally friendly F900 Eco-Lifter fleet with another newbuild: The UHL FABLE is the 19th vessel to complete this series, which was further developed and is operated by United Heavy Lift. With the F900 Eco-Lifters, the globally active shipping company is setting new standards for environmentally friendly breakbulk and heavy lift shipping, making a significant contribution to the energy transition.

On Monday, 15 July, the UHL FABLE was named at the Baakenhöft Terminal near the Elbphilharmonie concert hall in the Port of Hamburg in a festive ceremony attended by 400 invited guests.

"We are very happy to be naming yet another vessel in our home port of Hamburg," said Andreas Rolner, Managing Director of United Heavy Lift, at the ceremony. "The UHL FABLE completes our F900 Eco-Lifter fleet, which stands for United Heavy Lift’s commitment to promoting sustainable shipping. It is the most modern and homogeneous heavy lift fleet in the world. There is a strong global demand for alternative energy sources, and we are proud to be part of the supply chain for green energy."

The maiden voyage of the UHL FABLE clearly reaffirmed this commitment: On her way from Tianjin and Dongzhao to Cuxhaven (Germany), the multi-purpose (MPP) heavy lift vessel transported a project cargo of rotor blades for onshore wind turbines for the UHL customer, Danish manufacturer Vestas Wind Systems.

Like her sister vessel UHL FRESH, which entered service in January 2024, the UHL FABLE was built at the CSSC Hudong shipyard in Shanghai, which is known for its outstanding quality. The construction time from keel laying in July 2023 to delivery to the German bridge crew led by Captain Karsten Strotmann and his first officer Pit Awe in April 2024 was just nine months.

Environmentally friendly Eco-Lifter fleet

The F900 Eco-Lifter class is designed and built according to the latest technological standards. It is equipped with state-of-the-art systems and the most economical propulsion technology. About 150 metre long, the ultra-modern UHL FABLE also features an IMO Tier III certified main engine. In accordance with the international standard, up to 95 per cent of the vessel’s NOX emissions are washed out while diesel particles are burnt off in the catalytic converters. With bunker consumption of 7 metric tons/9 knots, 10 metric tons/12 knots and 21 metric tons/15 knots, the Eco-Lifter is characterised by low bunker consumption compared to similar heavy lift vessels. As the newest addition to the now 19 vessels strong UHL F900 fleet, the UHL FABLE (like her sister vessel UHL FRESH) can also be fuelled with biodiesel, which makes the operation of the main engine climate-neutral. Overall, the carbon footprint of United Heavy Lift’s F900 Eco-Lifter fleet, which has an average age of three years, is 30 to 50 per cent lower compared to other fleets in the heavy lift sector. This makes it the most modern and environmentally friendly MPP heavy lift fleet in the world.

High demand for heavy lift services

The global shipping company United Heavy Lift has attuned its fleet to the requirements of the growing market for eco-friendly breakbulk and heavy lift ocean transport. "We are supporting the energy transition with our vessels, and the transport of onshore wind turbines is part of our core business," says Andreas Rolner. "The market for this is developing well with demand driven by the desired expansion of renewable energies. Our customers have already reserved extensive capacities for wind power: We are already 30 per cent booked in this segment until 2028."

The shipowner believes that the reason why market players are currently securing tonnage so early is that while there is high demand for heavy lifter services, hardly any new vessels are expected for this segment in the foreseeable future. "Shipbuilding sites are expensive and also scarce because they are occupied by newbuilds such as tankers or bulkers. What’s more, heavy lift vessels are also complicated to build," he adds. The tonnage and crane capacity of the UHL-F900 vessels also make the fleet suitable for cross-sectoral use like container transport.

UHL FABLE is the shipping company’s second new addition this year. United Heavy Lift is one of the leading providers of maritime transport services for heavy lift, breakbulk and project cargo. The shipping company operates a versatile fleet of 24 modern heavy lift vessels with lifting capacities of 160 to 900 metric tons, the core of which are the F900 Eco-Lifter sister vessels.

Founded in 2015, United Heavy Lift is part of the UNITED GROUP based in Hamburg’s HafenCity, and has a global team of 120 employees. The engineering with stowage plans, manuals etc. as well as commercial chartering also lie within the Group’s responsibility: both are carried out by United Engineering Solutions, also situated in Hamburg.

Naming ceremony in the Port of Hamburg

After completing her maiden voyage, the UHL FABLE has now been named at United Heavy Lift's home port with Nora-Katrin Rolner, wife of shipowner Andreas Rolner, performing the ceremonial act. The festive and cheerful event with 400 invited guests at the Baakenhöft Terminal was hosted by Northern German entertainer Annie Heger while the 30-strong shanty choir "Stader Hafensänger" provided the musical accompaniment.

Following the naming ceremony, Captain Karsten Strotmann and his bridge crew took over the vessel. Also on board are three cadets (two nautical officer's assistants and a ship’s mechanic in training), as United Heavy Lift will be training its own crew on the UHL FABLE in future, as indeed on all ships in the F900 fleet.

The UHL FABLE will continue her service to Asia fully loaded with heavy and project cargo.