Sperry Marine, known for its innovation in navigation solutions for maritime vessels, has successfully implemented the first of five VisionMaster integrated bridge systems aboard a new fleet of cutting-edge ships. These ships are currently being delivered to a leading owner-operator specialising in project cargo shipping.
The vessel, named Elise, is the inaugural ship among SAL Heavy Lift's new 'Orca Class' ships, each offering a 14,600 dwt capacity. Designed to merge exceptional sustainability performance with the ability to handle extremely large cargo, such as some of the world's largest wind turbines, Elise was officially launched into service during a ceremony in Hamburg on 6 November 2025.
Ice-class 1A standards
DNV-class vessels boast a sleek hull shape, twin 800-tonne capacity all-electric cranes
Constructed to adhere to Ice-class 1A criteria and Polar Code regulations, these DNV-class vessels boast a sleek hull shape, twin 800-tonne capacity all-electric cranes, and a high-efficiency hybrid propulsion system.
They also feature shore power connections to facilitate zero emissions while in port and are prepared for methanol as a marine fuel in anticipation of future green e-methanol availability.
Enhanced safety and efficiency
According to Sebastian Westphal, Managing Director of SAL Heavy Lift, "The Orca Class represents a new era in heavy lift shipping, combining advanced technology with a strong focus on efficiency and sustainability."
These ships set new standards in safety, precision, and innovation within this specialised shipping field. A close collaboration between SAL and Sperry Marine during the dual-yard construction phase ensured that the VisionMaster Integrated Bridge System met all operational and safety criteria, even under challenging scenarios.
Advanced navigation systems
Video data from the VisionMaster Net extra Facilities X-Band navigation radar is integrated into the Sigma S6 Ice Navigator
Elise's advanced Integrated Bridge System (IBS) incorporates VNC (Virtual Network Computing) watch modes, allowing crew members to manage critical tools like the ice radar directly from the conning position.
Video data from the VisionMaster Net Additional Facilities X-Band navigation radar is integrated into the Rutter Sigma S6 Ice Navigator, significantly enhancing ice detection capabilities.
Cutting-edge technological integration
The vessel is also fitted with Sperry Marine's advanced Fibre Optic Gyrocompasses (FOGs), delivering precise heading data and maintaining stability, even when external GNSS signals are compromised. FOGs provide reliable operation during GNSS disruptions through an integrated Inertial Navigation System (INS) model and offer early warnings of potential signal tampering.
"This ship is also the first newbuild equipped with Sperry Marine's new NAVISTAR satellite compass solution, which ensures precise and reliable heading data—even at high latitudes," says Pascal Göllnitz, Product Line Manager – Integrated Bridge Systems at Sperry Marine.
Intelligent voyage planning
Advanced 7-inch XDi multifunctional repeater displays have been utilised, providing customised information pages
The navigation solution also features SperrySphere, a sophisticated onboard voyage planning tool offering speed, usability, and intelligent route optimisation.
Additionally, advanced 7-inch XDi multifunctional repeater displays have been utilised, providing customised information pages tailored to specific operational needs, making them ideal for overhead console applications.
Innovations in autopilot technology
The comprehensive IBS package includes Sperry Marine's 'self-adaptive' NAVIPILOT 4500N autopilot, which adjusts to vessel characteristics and environmental conditions dynamically, improving fuel efficiency and reducing bridge crew workload.
"Elise enters service equipped with Sperry Marine's latest navigation technologies," adds Göllnitz, citing the collaborative efforts between SAL's and Sperry Marine’s teams during an unusual build project that began in Wuhu Shipyard and concluded in Weihai.
Sperry Marine, a pioneer in navigation solutions for seagoing vessels, has completed the first of five VisionMaster integrated bridge system installations on board a new generation of ships under delivery to one of the most advanced owner-operators in project cargo shipping.
Elise is the first of SAL Heavy Lift’s new 14,600 dwt ‘Orca Class’ vessels to combine market-pioneering performance on sustainability with the ability to handle ultra-large loads including some of the world’s biggest wind turbines. The first in class ship enters into service after a formal ceremony overseen by SAL in Hamburg on 6 November 2025.
Ice-class 1A requirements
Built to Ice-class 1A requirements and Polar Code standards, these DNV-classed ships are distinguished by their optimised hull shape, twin 800t capacity all-electric cranes, high efficiency hybrid propulsion, shore power connection to achieve zero emissions in port, and full readiness to use methanol as a marine fuel.
They are designed to meet the stringent demands of heavy lift shipping while minimising carbon emissions, and provide the basis for zero-emission operations once green e-methanol is available.
Safety and operating performance requirements
“The Orca Class represents a new era in heavy lift shipping, combining advanced technology with a strong focus on efficiency and sustainability,” said Sebastian Westphal, Managing Director, SAL Heavy Lift. “These vessels are equipped to establish a new benchmark for safety, precision, and innovation in this highly specialised shipping sector.”
SAL and Sperry Marine worked closely through a two-yard build project to ensure that the VisionMaster Integrated Bridge System selected for the Orca Class meets all safety and operating performance requirements, even in the most challenging conditions.
VisionMaster Net Additional Facilities
Elise’s advanced Integrated Bridge System (IBS) features VNC (Virtual Network Computing) watch modes, allowing watchkeepers to access critical tools such as the ice radar directly at the conning position. Raw video data from the VisionMaster Net Additional Facilities X-Band navigation radar is seamlessly fed into the Rutter Sigma S6 Ice Navigator, enhancing ice detection capabilities.
Through VNC, the ice radar display can be flexibly operated from the conning position, ensuring greater situational awareness and operational efficiency.
Integrate Orca AI’s camera system
The vessel is also equipped with Sperry Marine’s advanced Fibre Optic Gyrocompasses (FOGs), which deliver highly accurate heading data and maintain stability even when external GNSS signals are jammed or spoofed. Leveraging an integrated Inertial Navigation System (INS) model, FOGs provide continuous and reliable performance during GNSS disruptions, while also giving operators early warning of potential signal manipulation.
“This ship is also the first newbuild equipped with Sperry Marine’s new NAVISTAR satellite compass solution, which ensures precise and reliable heading data - even at high latitudes - and the first newly built vessel to feature a complete installation of the cutting-edge 27" VisionMaster Net Panel PCs,” said Pascal Göllnitz, Product Line Manager – Integrated Bridge Systems, Sperry Marine.
“The platform’s adaptability to evolving customer requirements was further demonstrated when we responded to SAL’s last-minute request to integrate Orca AI’s camera system into VisionMaster Net, adding a layer of situational awareness.”
Intelligent route optimisation
The Sperry Marine solution also includes SperrySphere, a powerful onboard voyage planning tool that combines speed, ease of use, and intelligent route optimisation, along with advanced 7-inch XDi multifunctional repeater displays.
These highly flexible displays were deployed with customised information pages tailored to the customer’s specific operational needs, making them ideal for overhead console applications and beyond.
Vessel characteristics and changing conditions
The IBS package furthermore contains Sperry Marine’s new ‘self-adaptive’ NAVIPILOT 4500N autopilot, which dynamically adjusts to vessel characteristics and changing conditions, resulting in measurable fuel savings and reduced bridge workload.
“Elise enters service equipped with Sperry Marine’s latest navigation technologies after a strong collaboration between SAL and Sperry Marine’s engineering, project management and support staff to coordinate an unusual build project that started at Wuhu Shipyard and was completed in Weihai,” added Göllnitz.
