Multipurpose and project heavy lift carrier AAL Shipping, in partnership with Peters & May, has successfully transported 38 private yachts – the largest of which was 32 meters long – on deck in a single sailing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Southampton, UK, and Antwerp, Belgium.
The cargo covered an area of 2,500 square meters – about half the size of a football field – and was carried aboard the ‘mega size’ 31,000 dwt AAL Melbourne, with her 39,500-cubic meter intake capacity and weather deck space of 3,000 square meters.
Marc Willim, General Manager of AAL’s Chartering Department, commented: “With 25-years’ experience delivering tramp chartering solutions and operating scheduled liner services on busy trades around the world, we have carried our fair share of pleasure craft.
“Only a few months ago, we transported an 86-meter long aluminum superyacht hull from China to Australia, the largest single floating cargo piece that we have ever carried.
“Similarly, 38 yachts with an average length of 16 meters on deck requires well-planned stowage engineering and lashing, a first-class crew and a very special ship.”
He added: “At a time when the global shipping community is concerned about the ability of multipurpose and project (MPP) carriers to deliver service and schedule integrity, this sailing is an example of AAL’s own increased frequency through the US.
“In a boost to the region’s shippers, in June we have multiple MPP vessels calling US West Coast, Gulf and East Coast Ports and ready to serve market needs.”
Dave Holley, Chief Executive Officer of Peters & May, concluded by saying: “Moving this many yachts in one go is always full of challenges and we are very careful which carrier we choose for such a voyage.
“AAL provided us with a timely solution and the whole operation went extremely smoothly. We are now looking forward to our next transatlantic voyage.”
The AAL Melbourne recently transported two giant jib cranes, each weighing 900 metric tons from Taicang, China, to Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates.
Tuesday, June 9, 2020
