Mar 12 | 2021
(Europe) Gibraltar and Gladstone to Join Fleet
Multipurpose line AAL Shipping is set to take delivery of two G-Class heavy-lift vessels, expanding its core fleet to 720,200 deadweight tonnes, or dwt.
"We are delighted to have secured these vessels. Large heavy-lift multipurpose ships of this caliber and lifting capability represent a small fraction of the global MPP fleet, and AAL is uniquely well experienced in optimizing their operations and harnessing their strengths in order to generate value for our customers’ global trading demands,” said Kyriacos Panayides, managing director of AAL Shipping.
‘Much Needed Capacity’
Both vessels have previously served in the AAL fleet and will enter service by the end of March. The Pacific Action will be renamed the AAL Gibraltar this week and is joined by the AAL Gladstone.
“They will add much needed capacity to a portfolio of multipurpose shipping services that have grown exponentially over the past 12 months,” Panayides added.
AAL is a member of Cypriot investment group Schoeller Holdings and operates a specialist multipurpose fleet with heavy-lift capabilities. The firm is an exhibitor at Breakbulk events.
Growing Optimism
The vessels feature total cargo intake of 35,705 cubic meters, with four large cargo holds, three tweendecks and a maximum lift capacity of 240 tonnes.
"The G-Class are large 25,800 dwt MPVs, that complement our fleet profile. Global trading is only now emerging from the negative impact of Covid and also important multipurpose cargo sectors like oil and gas are still pressured. However, there is growing optimism and the recent surges in the container and commodity markets have demonstrated the importance of being flexible and ready to serve cargo demand and from wherever it may come,” said Marc Willim, general manager of AAL Shipping’s chartering team.
The Gibraltar and Gladstone will operate alongside sister vessels AAL Genoa and AAL Galveston, supporting AAL’s established monthly liner services, regular trade routes and tailormade tramp chartering solutions.
"Since February 2020, we have built a scheduled monthly liner service between Europe, Middle East and Asia, a regular monthly tramp service between Asia and the Americas and frequent sailings from Asia to Europe – all this in addition to our Asia-Australia Liner Services and global Tramp Chartering operations. It has been an extremely busy and sustained period of growth for AAL and these new ladies will help to drive that momentum forward," Panayides said.
The firm predicts a strengthening economic outlook and industry confidence across Europe, Middle East, Asia and the Americas, highlighting activity in the energy, steel, infrastructure, bulk and general cargo sectors.
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