Sperry Marine sets new standard for heavy-lift ship navigation

Sperry Marine has delivered its first VisionMaster integrated bridge system for SAL Heavy Lift’s new Orca Class vessels, marking a major step in high-performance and sustainable project cargo shipping. The first ship in the series, Elise, entered service after a ceremony in Hamburg on 6 November.

The 14,600 dwt vessel combines heavy-lift capability with advanced green technologies, including twin all-electric 800-tonne cranes, hybrid propulsion, shore-power connection for zero-emission port operations, and methanol-ready systems. Built to Ice-class 1A and Polar Code standards, Elise is designed for safe operations in extreme environments. Also, includes high-latitude routes.

Sperry Marine’s VisionMaster system equips the ship with advanced situational awareness and autonomous support features. The setup includes VNC watch modes, allowing the crew to operate key tools, such as ice radar, directly from the conning position. Raw radar data feeds into the Rutter Sigma S6 Ice Navigator for enhanced ice detection.

The vessel also carries Sperry’s Fiber Optic Gyrocompasses and integrated inertial navigation technology. This ensures stable heading performance even during GNSS interference or signal spoofing. It is the first newbuild to receive Sperry’s NAVISTAR satellite compass and a full suite of new 27-inch VisionMaster Net Panel PCs.

Engineers also integrated Orca AI’s camera system into the bridge platform, boosting visual awareness. The bridge package includes SperrySphere voyage planning, XDi multifunction repeaters, and the NAVIPILOT 4500N autopilot, which adapts to vessel dynamics to cut fuel use and reduce bridge workload.

“The Orca Class represents a new era in heavy-lift shipping,” said Sebastian Westphal, Managing Director at SAL Heavy Lift. “These vessels set a benchmark in precision, safety, and sustainability.”

Sperry Marine completed the installation through a two-yard build process spanning Wuhu and Weihai shipyards in China.

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