Singapore-based AAL Shipping (AAL) has purchased two heavy-lift 33,000dwt W-Class multipurpose vessels (MPVs), namely AAL Mars and AAL Merkur, from the second-hand market.
These ships were operating within AAL’s global fleet on a commercial management basis.
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As reported by VesselsValue, the 2011-built AAL Mars and 2010-built AAL Merkur were taken over for $10.3m and $10.9m, respectively.
In addition, the company announced the progress of its third-generation multipurpose shipbuilding programme.
Under this programme, AAL will add at least four mega-size heavy-lift MPVs to its fleet.
These carriers will feature optimised multipurpose cargo intake, better handling capacity, heavy lifting gear and ‘innovative’ design.
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By GlobalDataEach 32,000dwt vessel will feature three heavy-lift cranes, which will be 350t each and have a maximum lift of 700t.
The ships will be constructed in line with upcoming International Maritime Organization (IMO) CO₂ emissions regulations.
Furthermore, they will be equipped with new technologies to support the company’s digitalisation and sustainability strategies.
AAL managing director Kyriacos Panayides said: “AAL drew upon 26 years of multipurpose heavy-lift operational experience to design innovative vessels that would not only accommodate all today’s multipurpose cargo types but also handle the growing size of project cargo components being planned for key industry verticals, like wind.
“The newbuilds will be deployed in support of our customers’ large-scale global projects both on our regular monthly trade routes between the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Asia and our bespoke tramp solutions worldwide.”
During the last eight months, AAL acquired two heavy-lift G-Class MPVs, AAL Galveston and AAL Genoa, of 25,800dwt each.
The company also bought two ‘mega size’ W-class MPVs of 33,000dwt each, namely AAL Paris and Grey Fox.
So far, AAL’s owned fleet has increased to 569,600dwt, with the company controlling 80% of its existing 711,200dwt operating fleet.
