AAL’s fourth methanol-ready MPP ship debuts in China

Singapore-based shipping company AAL Shipping has reached the halfway mark in its latest fleet expansion program as it named its fourth methanol-ready dual-fuel Super B-class vessel in China.

The 32,000 dwt multipurpose heavy lift vessel AAL Antwerp was named at the CSSC Huangpu-Wenchong Shipyard in Guangzhou on November 15, 2024.

Capable of transporting over 90,000 freight tons of cargo and boasting a combined lifting capacity of 700 tonnes, the vessel is engineered to accommodate an extensive range of cargo types, from heavy lift project equipment to breakbulk and dry bulk all at the same time.

Following its formal debut, the brand-new vessel will immediately embark on its maiden voyage, joining sister ships AAL Limassol, AAL Hamburg, and AAL Houston in servicing project cargo customers between 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,” Frank Mueller, General Manager Oceania at AAL Shipping, commented.

“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.”

As disclosed, the remaining vessels in the Super B-Class series will be delivered between now and 2026, including the AAL Newcastle and AAL Mumbai which will have an increased maximum heavy lift capability of 800 tonnes.