192 Units Weighing 14 Tons Apiece Stowed on AAL Brisbane’s 3,000-m2 Upper Deck
By Simon West
AAL Shipping has deployed its 31,000-dwt heavy-lift vessel AAL Brisbane to transport 192 units of UN3480 lithium-ion battery energy storage system (BESS) cargo from Taicang, China to Newcastle, Australia.
The units, each weighing 14 tons and measuring three meters long, were stowed on the vessel’s 3,000-square-meter upper deck across the hatch covers, in full compliance with IMO dangerous goods regulations.
The move was part of wider project involving the transport of some 720 units for one of Australia’s most significant grid-connected battery development projects.
“A critical step in preparing the IMO-classified cargo for loading is the completion of all required ‘hot work’, including welding the D-rings used for lashing,” said Jack Zhou, AAL’s general manager and representative for China.
“For loading, it was essential that the stowage positioning and lashing plan was executed by our crew and Caro Superintendent (CSI) with precision to ensure the safe and efficient transportation of these units.”
According to AAL, the scale of BESS deployment is expected to increase in the coming years, driving demand for specialized transport solutions. The carrier last year shipped nearly 3,000 BESS units across 29 separate voyages.
As containerized options for the heavy and sensitive units are phased out, reliance is increasing on MPV vessels with the deck strength, crane capacity and technical expertise needed for their safe handling.
“As BESS unit sizes grow, regulations tighten and demand accelerates, AAL remains committed to investing in fleet capability, safety expertise and schedule reliability to support our customers and the wider clean-energy supply chain,” Zhou said.
AAL will be exhibiting at Breakbulk Europe 2026 on 16-18 June.