AAL Shipping continues to deepen its focus on the Indian market with the deployment of the 31,000 dwt AAL Kembla, a premier heavy-lift project carrier. The vessel recently completed a high-profile operation, transporting complex project cargoes from India to the Americas.
The AAL Kembla—part of AAL’s renowned A-Class fleet—arrived at Adani Hazira Port in late September as part of the company’s monthly Europe – Middle East/India – Asia Liner Service. The ship loaded two major shipments destined for New Orleans, USA, and Salina Cruz, Mexico, before continuing its journey along the Asia – Americas Trade Route.
The project involved transporting 29 packages, coordinated through AAL’s local Indian agent, Merchant Shipping Services. For Salina Cruz, the 1,636 cbm shipment included power plant equipment produced in Hazira, featuring individual units weighing up to 200 tonnes. The second shipment, headed to New Orleans, comprised oversized Air Furnace Lower Shells, totalling 2,010 cbm and with unit weights of 75 tonnes each.
Equipped with 700-tonne heavy-lift cranes, the AAL Kembla expertly handled the challenging cargo. The team conducted meticulous planning to ensure the safe and efficient loading of the heavy units into the ship’s holds and on deck. Despite a constrained schedule at Adani Hazira Port, loading operations began at 6:00 am and continued until midnight to meet tight timelines.
Karim Smaili, General Manager Middle East at AAL Shipping, highlighted the strategic importance of India in AAL’s global service network: “We offer distinct monthly connections from Europe to India and India to the US Gulf, linking major trade hubs globally. The success of these operations underscores our capabilities in managing complex project cargo and reaffirms India’s role as a critical hub for our services.”
Smaili also praised the collaboration among all stakeholders involved in the operation: “This project demonstrates the strength of AAL’s network in India and our seamless coordination with Merchant Shipping Services. Despite the tight berth schedule, the cargoes were stowed and secured efficiently, reinforcing our commitment to providing reliable services for even the most demanding logistics challenges.”
