With a high service speed of up to 20 knots, vessels under SAL agency are able to offer extremely short transit times, imperative for time-sensitive cargoes. Apart from their high speed, all 14 vessels are characterized by their lean structure and low draft making them highly flexible and well equipped to reach even less accessible ports. With their crane capacity of up to 1,400 mtons SWL, the vessels are able to rely on their own equipment for loading and discharging in most ports world-wide.

In addition, all vessels are fully equipped with an inventory that includes forklifts, spreader bars, lifting beams, lashing and securing materials. All equipment on board is approved/classified by the Germanischer Lloyd (or equivalent), one of the world's leading certification and classification societies.

Four new buildings of type 176 have been delivered in the course of 2008 and early 2009. By the end of 2010 / beginning of 2011, two more new buildings will be added to the fleet. These vessels will feature 2 x 1,000 mtons SWL and will maintain the unrivalled speed of 20 knots.