AAL has launched a Europe–Far East service, offering regular sailings and flexible port calls between Northern Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and the Far East.
The default routing from Europe will be via the Mediterranean, with options to sail via West Africa or the Middle East Gulf depending on demand. AAL is aiming to establish monthly calls from Antwerp, Rotterdam and Hamburg as well as additional loading ports in the Mediterranean.
Eike Muentz, AAL Europe’s general manager, commented: “We have actually been operating [19,000 dwt] S-Class and other vessel sizes on the trade between Europe and Asia since the start of the year and have built up the sustainable cargo flow and broad market interest to justify employing more S-Class vessels permanently on the trade.
“With multiple cargo stowage configurations on deck and under (in secure holds) – along with a significant 700-tonne maximum lift [capacity] – we can accommodate a huge variety of cargo types from large and heavy project cargo, to breakbulk, steel and dry bulk commodities.”
Muentz added: “When called upon we can also draw upon any of the other vessel classes within our fleet, even the ‘mega size’ heavy lift A-Class (31,000 dwt) and W-Class (33,000 dwt).”
