Award winning multipurpose and project heavy lift carrier, AAL, has opened its 25th year of operations with the successful delivery of a cargo of six RTGs (rubber tyred gantry cranes) in a single sailing from the Port of Taicang to the South Florida Container Terminal (Port Miami), onboard its mega-size 31,000dwt vessel, the AAL Newcastle. The cargo was shipped along AAL’s Asia - Americas service, which offers regular sailings and flexible port calls along the trade.

The RTGs measured 25m x 14m x 26m each and weighed circa.150t - manufactured by Taicang’s, Rainbow-Cargotec Industries Co., Ltd (RCI) for deployment at the fast-growing South Florida Container Terminal at Port Miami. The complicated loading and discharge operations of these units took several days in each port respectively, due to the careful manoeuvring and securing of the units on the deck of the Newcastle, to ensure optimum stowage capability and cargo safety.
Stone Shi, Sales Manager for AAL China, who fixed the cargo and personally oversaw loading in Taicang, commented; “The planning and engineering of this operation took several months and was executed perfectly by the Master and crew of the AAL Newcastle, working in conjunction with our excellent engineering and operations teams. Loaded at the end of November and discharged in Miami within 48 hours of the New Year, this was AAL’s first major delivery of 2020 as we celebrate our 25th year of operations.”
Jack Zhou, General Manager and Chief Representative of AAL in China, added; “This operation highlights our growing capability on this in-demand route and the flexible tonnage we have in position. Every square metre of the AAL Newcastle’s vast 3,000m2 weather deck space was harnessed to accommodate these RTG units and, with a completely full underdeck storage of other breakbulk cargo loaded on the same sailing, we made full use of her significant 40,000cbm cargo intake capacity.
“Our thanks go to the hard-working crew of the AAL Newcastle and our teams in China and Miami, who put aside their New Year celebrations to make sure our customer’s schedule was met – a point of appreciation among all project stakeholders, who were quick to thank AAL for our dependability and professionalism.”