SINGAPORE-based multipurpose shipping operator AAL has taken top honours at this year’s Asian Freight, Logistics and Supply Chain Awards (AFLAS).

The project heavy-lift carrier was awarded ‘Best Shipping Line – Project Cargo’ held at the Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund on June 25, to coincide with transport logistic China.

Founded in the Netherlands in 1995 and since 2009 headquartered in Singapore, German-owned AAL has won a plethora of awards in the project heavy lift, breakbulk and dry bulk sectors over 25 years.

The annual awards organised by Asia Cargo News recognises leading service providers from airlines, ports, logisticians, 3PLs and shipping lines, amongst other supply chain industry stakeholders.

“This honour is particularly important to us at AAL,” said Jack Zhou, GM and chief representative of AAL China, who attended the ceremony to collect the trophy. “We are all acutely aware of the challenges that have faced shipping lines all over the globe in the past year.

“I am especially pleased to have several of my AAL China colleagues with me tonight, to help share in this achievement.  They can be very proud of their contributions to our daily operations and the hard work that goes into the safe and efficient handling of the very complex and valuable cargoes that we carry around the world.”

AAL says its continued success at the AFLAS Awards mirrors its commitment to the Asian market, where it’s had a representative office in Shanghai since 1998.

AAL operates two Asia-Australia semi-liner services, one to the West Coast and one to the East Coast, employing its familiar S- and A-class vessels with lifting capacity of up to 700 tonnes.