Mar 08 | 2019
Targeting a fleet increase through roadshows with shipowners to attract more ships to its commercial management services.
Kyriacos Panayides, the company’s managing director, revealed to Breakbulk that AAL is looking to expand its fleet to 30 to 40 vessels through an increase in commercially managed ships, dependent upon market conditions.
AAL, which is headquartered in Singapore, currently has a fleet of 23 ships. “Looking at our fleet profile and at our service models, we have tried to get commercial control of ships which are a similar type to our current fleet,” Panayides said.
Speaking exclusively to Breakbulk, he added that AAL has strategically positioned itself in “a niche position” in the sector to reduce competition. “We have placed ourselves in the megasize fleet (+30,000 deadweight-tonnes) and we have been successful in expanding our fleet with similar-size ships.”
According to Panayides, AAL’s largest investment lies “in building good, suitable ships and spending above the benchmark in terms of maintenance.”
He confirmed that AAL is part of a project with parent group Schoeller Holdings that has introduced an onshore control room to monitor ships’ performance from the shore.
“There are considerable savings to be had through optimized trimming and route-planning,” Panayides said.
He added that he is positive about the outlook for the MPV sector next year, especially in light of more wind market growth and new oil and gas projects.
“On the supply front, there is still sentiment that 2020 will be the year for us,” he said, noting that AAL has gained a lot more market share from the wind energy industry.
