AAL Shipping is taking delivery of two additional G-class multipurpose heavy lift vessels – AAL Gibraltar (formerly Pacific Action) and AAL Gladstone.
The two ships have both served in the AAL fleet in the past and will re-join its roster later this month.
The vessels boast a total cargo intake 35,705 cu m, four large cargo holds, three tweendecks and a maximum lifting capacity of 240 tonnes. They will join two sisterships already in AAL’s fleet – AAL Genoa and Pacific Alert (to be named AAL Galveston).
Kyriacos Panayides, managing director of AAL, said: “We are delighted to have secured these vessels. Large heavy lift multipurpose ships of this calibre and lifting capability represent a small fraction of the global multipurpose fleet and AAL is uniquely well experienced in optimising their operations and harnessing their strengths in order to generate value for our customers’ global trading demands. They will add much needed capacity to a portfolio of multipurpose shipping services that have grown exponentially over the past 12 months.
“Since February 2020, we have built a scheduled monthly liner service between Europe, Middle East and Asia; a regular monthly tramp service between Asia and the Americas; and frequent sailings from Asia to Europe – all this in addition to our Asia- Australia Liner Services and global tramp chartering operations.”
Marc Willim, general manager of AAL’s chartering team, added: “The G-class are large 25,800 dwt multipurpose vessels, that complement our fleet profile. Global trading is only now emerging from the negative impact of Covid and also important multipurpose cargo sectors like oil and gas are still pressured. However, there is growing optimism and the recent surges in the container and commodity markets have demonstrated the importance of being flexible and ready to serve cargo demand and from wherever it may come.
“We are seeing market economies begin to strengthen and rebuild in confidence across Europe, Middle East, Asia and the Americas and trade war machinations of 2020 resolve. Energy, steel, infrastructure, bulk and general cargoes are all trading worldwide.”
