Month: May 2018

AAL, one of the world’s leading global breakbulk and heavy lift operators, has been named ‘Best Shipping Line – Project Cargo’ at the prestigious 2018 Asian Freight, Logistics and Supply Chain (AFLAS) Awards, held in Shanghai, China.

The AFLAS Awards are a celebration of Asia’s freight, logistics and supply chain industry, and AAL beat off intense competition from the sector’s leading carriers to win the award for the fifth consecutive year.

The award win follows a successful year for AAL in a project cargo market that has continued to endure its share of challenges. Over the last 12 months AAL has been adjusting its strategy and business practice to stay ahead of the game, with a number of significant milestones, such as new co-operations, record breaking shipments, expansion in both fleet and infrastructure, and landing in a new niche market positioning.

Jack Zhou, AAL’s General Manager in China, commented: “We are honoured to have won this award and for a record fifth consecutive year. We have been extensively involved in the Asian project cargo market for three decades, and as we’ve grown, Asia has similarly prospered. We have served many of the biggest names and most exciting industrial and infrastructure projects in the region. Such recognition of our hard work is warmly appreciated and I accept this award on behalf of the whole company.”

Kyriacos Panayides, Managing Director of AAL, commented: “To lift your quality of service to the highest level, is a long process with a hard path to follow by upgrading all aspects of the organisation. To maintain such reputable status for consecutive years, this truly reflects an incredible outstanding achievement by the AAL team, which is second to none. Noteworthy is that such performance was demonstrated in the midst of very challenging times in our markets, where quality was losing out to pricing dominance for majority of shippers.”

Last night in Shanghai, at one of Asia’s most celebrated Shipping Awards, the AFLAS Awards, AAL beat out all other leading carriers to win the prestigious ‘Best Shipping Line – Project Cargo’ honour.

Jack Zhou, AAL’s General Manager of China, collected the award on AAL’s behalf. He commented, ‘We are honoured to have won this award and for a record fourth consecutive year. We have been extensively involved in the Asian project cargo market for over 20 years and in that time have served many of the biggest names and most exciting industrial projects in the region. Such recognition of our hard work is warmly appreciated and I accept this award on behalf of the whole company.’

AAL has completed its first cargo shipment in partnership with new Spanish Representative, Marítima Davila, transporting two giant Seaport Passenger Boarding Bridges (SPBB) to PortMiami in a single sailing.

With the ink not yet dry on their exclusive nationwide agency agreement, AAL and its new Spanish Representative, Marítima Davila of Grupo Davila booked and transported an impressive cargo of giant heavy lift port infrastructure components from Barcelona to the world’s largest and busiest cruise port, PortMiami.

The cargo comprised of two giant tailor-made and fully assembled Seaport Passenger Boarding Bridges (SPBB), destined for PortMiami’s newly renovated ‘Terminal F’ where they will assist in the safe transit of many of the port’s 4.8 million annual cruise passengers.

Both walkways, measuring 32 metres long and weighing 205 tonnes each, were transported in a single sailing aboard the AAL Singapore, one of AAL’s ‘Mega-MPV’ 31,000 dwt A-Class vessels. The unique four-sectioned, telescopic SPBBs were designed by Spain’s premier seaport, airport and road transport engineering company, Adelte, and were tailor-made to the exact specifications of PortMiami’s Cruise Ship Terminal F and the ships of more than 300m from bow to stern that will be docking there.

Christophe Grammare, Commercial Director at AAL, commented: “What a great way to christen a new partnership. We are delighted how well the team at Marítima Davila and our own team at AAL Europe (Hamburg) cooperated to provide our European customer with a seamless end-to-end service that fully met the time and cost efficiencies they required.

“Even as our infrastructure grows and our capabilities expand, the need to keep customers at the forefront of our service is crucial and all our partners worldwide, like Marítima Davila, share in that commitment.”

Marítima Davila is a leader in the Spanish maritime industry with a network of offices nationwide. Jorge Sánchez, Managing Director at Marítima Davila, said: “The Davila Group is truly delighted to boost its strategic partnership with AAL. The customer’s demands and standards were fulfilled through perfect teamwork combining our own commercial skills and flexibility with the finest engineering and operations, professional crew and specialised fleet. There is already a solid understanding between us and we are confident that this mutual commitment and expertise will lead to great success in the Spanish market.”