AAL Shipping’s 31,000 dwt AAL Kembla recently delivered heavy lift cargoes from India to the Americas.
AAL Kembla docked at Adani Hazira port in late September on the carrier’s Europe – Middle East/India – Asia monthly liner service. It was tasked with loading shipments bound for New Orleans, USA, and Salina Cruz, Mexico, respectively, which would connect with AAL Kembla’s next voyage on the carrier’s Asia – Americas trade route.
The cargoes were booked in coordination with AAL’s local agent in India, Merchant Shipping Services, and comprised 29 packages in total. For Salina Cruz, the 1,636 cu m shipment included power plant equipment manufactured in Hazira, with individual unit weights of 200 tonnes. The second shipment, bound for New Orleans, comprised air furnace lower shells, totalling 2,010 cu m with individual weights of 75 tonnes.
Karim Smaili, general manager Middle East at AAL Shipping, explained: “We have distinct services that offer monthly connections from Europe to India, and India to the US Gulf, connecting with major trade hubs around the world to provide extensive coverage for the region.”
He added: “As the available time at the berth at Adani Hazira port was strictly constrained, we needed to complete the loading operations efficiently and safely. We worked from 6am to ensure we had sufficient daylight hours to load the heavy packages, working until midnight to ensure all cargoes were stowed and secured ready for departure.”
