AAL SHIPPING has grown its multipurpose cargo vessel fleet over the past months with several new acquisitions.
Last month the company took delivery of AAL Gunsan (ex-BBC America). Delivery of its sister vessel, AAL Geelong (ex-BBC Valparaiso) was taken several months ago.
These are the last of four 25,800 deadweight multipurpose heavy-lift sister vessels (classified by AAL as G-class) secured through an acquisition transaction signed in 2021 by AAL/Schoeller Holdings Group.
Also, the AAL/Schoeller Holdings Group recently acquired AAL Moon – a 33,000 DWT multipurpose vessel built in 2010 (classified by AAL as W-Class). This vessel previously served in the AAL fleet under commercial management since 2017.
AAL chief executive officer Kyriacos Panayides said the acquisitions are in line with the company’s continued fleet strategy to employ large MPVs which, through their significant cargo intake volumes, offer our shippers greater economies of scale on every sailing.
“They also expand our multipurpose operating fleet to 864,800 DWT, of which 90% is now fully controlled by AAL/Schoeller Holdings Group,” Mr Panayides said.
“This authority that AAL has over its operating fleet is important to the long-term sustainable expansion and deployment of our vessels; the strengthening of our global service model; and the frequency and flexibility demanded by our diverse global customer base. The vessels are being positioned across the world, in service of our monthly liner, regular trade lane, and tramp chartering operations.”
