AAL Shipping (AAL), a provider in the project heavy-lift carrier sector, has celebrated the official naming of AAL Antwerp, the fourth vessel in its pioneering eight-ship, third-generation Super B-Class fleet.
This milestone marks the halfway point of AAL’s ambitious fleet expansion program and aligns with its commitment to delivering sustainable, high-capacity shipping solutions tailored to the evolving needs of the multipurpose (MPP) heavy-lift shipping industry. The occasion also serves as a prelude to AAL’s upcoming 30th-anniversary celebrations in 2025.
The 32,000 dwt ‘AAL Antwerp’, a methanol-ready multipurpose heavy lift vessel, was named on 15 November during a formal ceremony at the CSSC Huangpu-Wenchong Shipyard in Guangzhou, China, attended by distinguished guests from the local MPP supply chain.
With the capability to transport over 90,000 freight tons of diverse cargo and a combined lifting capacity of 700 tonnes, the vessel is designed to handle an array of cargo types, from heavy lift project equipment to breakbulk and dry bulk, simultaneously. AAL’s fleet is renowned for its ability to manage multi-cargo operations efficiently, supported by expert chartering, operations, and engineering teams that optimize economies of scale for shippers.
Following the ceremony, AAL Antwerp will commence its maiden voyage, joining sister ships AAL Limassol, AAL Hamburg, and AAL Houston in servicing project cargo routes connecting Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas.
“With so many unknowns surrounding the global shipping sector moving into 2025, this milestone illustrates AAL’s own clear mission to provide our multipurpose cargo customers with unmatched sailings integrity, adaptability, and competitive solutions,” commented Frank Mueller, General Manager of Oceania at AAL Shipping.
The remaining vessels in the Super B-Class series, including the AAL Newcastle and AAL Mumbai, are scheduled for delivery between now and 2026. These upcoming ships will feature an enhanced maximum heavy lift capacity of 800 tonnes.
Mueller added, “The building and employment of one of the project sector’s largest and youngest fleets does not represent the full extent of our investment in developing our service offering. We have active training programmes to nurture the skills of our teams at every level and provide them with state-of-the-art systems and process – all of this within a framework of sustainability and good governance.”
