SHIPPING Australia has announced it has a new member, with breakbulk and project cargo carrier AAL Shipping joining the organisation.
AAL operates regular sailings on key trade lanes, including scheduled monthly liner services between Europe, Middle East, India, Asia, and Oceania, in addition to additional and frequent sailings through the Americas and the rest of the world.
The company operates a young and large fleet of modern multi-purpose heavy lift vessels. The fleet comprises a variety of size classes that combine strong heavy lift capability (700 tonnes max), with a high volume (40,000 cubic metres max) and a range of tonnage greater than 30,000 deadweight.
AAL general manager Frank Mueller said Australia has been an important region for the company for more than 26 years.
“We are confident that our extensive and very specialised project heavy lift and breakbulk cargo experience within the Australian market will be of value to [Shipping Australia] – especially considering that our core customer base represents some of the most dynamic and important industry verticals, like mining, power generation, agriculture, and infrastructure development,” he said.
Shipping Australia CEO Captain Melwyn Noronha said AAL undertakes a critical and specialised transport task that greatly benefits Australia.
“Our major primary, manufacturing, and resources industries are wholly dependent upon seaborne breakbulk and heavy lift seaborne transport services. Safe ocean transport of huge and extremely heavy industrial equipment requires highly sophisticated engineering and project management skills and experience. It is sophistication and experience that AAL possesses in large quantities,” Mr Noronha said.
“We are very fortunate to have AAL join us as a full member. AAL’s input and insight will be invaluable to Shipping Australia in our advocacy of policies that benefit the industry.”
Mr Noronha said every new company that joins Shipping Australia strengthens the voice of oceangoing carriers and members of related industries in Australia.
“But, more importantly, as a highly functioning ocean shipping industry enables and boosts economic activity, a broadly represented ocean industry can be successful in advocating for policies that benefit all the people of Australia,” he said.
