May 17 - AAL has appointed project freight forwarder Central Oceans as its commercial agent representing Hong Kong and South China.
Wolfgang Harms, deputy managing director of the shipping line, explained that Central Oceans will represent the commercial interests of AAL's tramp and projects and liner services divisions across southern China. In Hong Kong, the company will also function as port and husbandry agent.
Bram van Olphen, managing director of Central Oceans in Hong Kong, added: "The project cargo market inbound Hong Kong is buoyant, with huge infrastructure projects ongoing and planned - the second quarter of 2015 alone saw construction activity grow by 14.5 percent to HKD55.2 billion (USD7.1 billion).
"Outbound, South China is a very convenient and competitive gateway for the rest of Asia, US West Coast and Europe, and we are already actively planning for projects through to 2017."
Sylvia Mak, who has been with Central Oceans since its agency operations began, will manage joint activity for the cooperation with AAL. Based in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, she will liaise with AAL's regional hub office in Shanghai.
