AAL Shipping has expanded its fleet by ordering two more 32,000 deadweight (DWT) heavy lift Super B-Class vessels, increasing the total to eight ships. The new vessels, named m/v ‘AAL NEWCASTLE’ and ‘AAL MUMBAI,’ will have a maximum heavy lift capability of 800 tonnes, compared to the 700 tonnes capacity of the existing fleet. This addition brings AAL’s total fleet tonnage to 831,800 DWT.
The announcement was made at a press conference in Rotterdam on May 21, 2024, where AAL also launched a global fundraising initiative, ‘The AAL Back to the Future Appeal,’ to support the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.
Kyriacos Panayides, CEO of AAL, emphasized the strategic importance of this expansion to enhance service levels across major shipping lanes worldwide. The maiden voyage of the first Super B-Class vessel, ‘AAL LIMASSOL,’ set a new record with over 77,000 freight tonnes of cargo, demonstrating the fleet’s capacity to handle larger and more complex shipments.
Additionally, AAL’s fundraising campaign will feature a replica of the DeLorean time machine from the ‘Back to the Future’ movies at Breakbulk Europe 2024, encouraging donations to the Parkinson’s research foundation.
Felix Schoeller, Director of AAL, highlighted the initiative’s significance, drawing parallels between the innovative fleet and the iconic movie car, and urging industry support for this vital cause.
