News & Events

January 2020 – Award-winning multipurpose and project heavy lift carrier, AAL, has opened its 25^th year of operations with the successful delivery of a cargo of six RTGs (rubber tyred gantry cranes) in a single sailing from the Port of Taicang to the South Florida Container Terminal (Port Miami), onboard its mega-size 31,000dwt vessel, the AAL Newcastle. The cargo was shipped along AAL’s Asia – Americas service, which offers regular sailings and flexible port calls along the trade.

The RTGs measured 25m x 14m x 26m each and weighed circa.150t – manufactured by Taicang’s, Rainbow-Cargotec Industries Co., Ltd (RCI) for deployment at the fast-growing South Florida Container Terminal at Port Miami. The complicated loading and discharge operations of these units took several days in each port respectively, due to the careful manoeuvering and securing of the units on the deck of the Newcastle, to ensure optimum stowage capability and cargo safety.

Stone Shi, Sales Manager for AAL China, who fixed the cargo and personally oversaw loading in Taicang, commented; “The planning and engineering of this operation took several months and was executed perfectly by the Master and crew of the AAL Newcastle, working in conjunction with our excellent engineering and operations teams. Loaded at the end of November and discharged in Miami within 48 hours of the New Year, this was AAL’s first major delivery of 2020 as we celebrate our 25^th year of operations.”

Jack Zhou, General Manager and Chief Representative of AAL in China, added; “This operation highlights our growing capability on this in-demand route and the flexible tonnage we have in position. Every square metre of the AAL Newcastle’s vast 3,000m² weather deck space was harnessed to accommodate these RTG units and, with a completely full underdeck storage of other breakbulk cargo loaded on the same sailing, we made full use of her significant 40,000cbm cargo intake capacity.

“Our thanks go to the hard-working crew of the AAL Newcastle and our teams in China and Miami, who put aside their New Year celebrations to make sure our customer’s schedule was met – a point of appreciation among all project stakeholders, who were quick to thank AAL for our dependability and professionalism.”

In strict accordance with the above regulation, AAL has migrated its entire fleet to the use of fuel with a sulphur content of 0.5% or less. This fuel comprises variants such as Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (LSFO), Ultra Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (ULSFO) and Low Sulphur Marine Gasoil (LS-MGO) – all currently more expensive than standard marine fuel. In this respect, adoption of same has had profound implications on the economics of our daily operations.

As a result of our increased bunkering costs, associated with the migration to low sulphur fuel, the BAF surcharge for breakbulk cargo booked on AUEC & AUWC liner sailings from 01st Jan 2020 will be raised by USD 6.00 per RT (new total BAF USD 16.00 per RT).

There will also be an increase in Container BAF Prices with 20` BAF increasing to USD 480 per unit and 40`/48` increasing to USD 960 per unit.

The above will come into effect on AAL’s Liner Services as of the following Sailings:

In the meantime, we thank you for your continued support and for joining AAL in helping to deliver a new era of sustainable shipping for our industry and the global community.

Please do not hesitate to contact us, with any queries related to this matter.  
Yours faithfully,

The AAL Management Team
Brisbane, 18^th December 2019

The AAL Bangkok recently provided the perfect ocean transport solution for a leading yacht transport and boat shipping company, representing a select group of private owners seeking a Caribbean climate for their pleasure cruising this winter. AAL’s specialist heavy lift S-Class vessel (19,000 dwt) loaded a compiled cargo of 12 floating craft in Genoa, Italy, and successfully transported same to the Virgin Islands and Port Everglades.  The 3,500m² cargo included a 51-metre super yacht, weighing 400t, which proved short work for the Bangkok’s heavy lift cranes and their combined 700t max lift.

Pavao Kopic, AAL’s Chartering Manager in Houston commented that due to the nature and value of the cargo (insured for close to 100 million US dollars), the customer chose AAL for its reliability track record and the significant lifting capability and cargo intake volume of the S-Class fleet.

The cargo was transported via AAL’s growing Europe-US service, which features multiple tonnage options and regular sailings.