AAL Europe has formally launched a ‘Europe – Far East Service’, to offer regular sailings and highly flexible port calls between Northern Europe (ARA range and the Baltic region), Middle East, South East Asia and over to the Far East. The service’s backbone will be the carrier’s owned and highly flexible 19,000 dwt S-Class heavy lift vessels (700t max lift) and complemented by ad-hoc sailings of its A-Class and W-Class MPV fleet, to provide customers the assurance of frequent sailings and tonnage options.

Eike Muentz, AAL Europe’s General Manager commented; “We have actually been operating S-Class and other vessel sizes on the trade between Europe and Asia since the start of the year and have built-up the sustainable cargo flow and broad market interest to justify employing more S-Class vessels permanently on the trade. With multiple cargo stowage configurations on deck and under (in secure holds) a key feature of the S-Class design – along with a significant 700 t max lift – is that we can accommodate a huge variety of cargo types from large and heavy project cargo, to breakbulk, steel and dry bulk commodities and all at the same time.”

He added; “The default routing from Europe will be via the Med, but we can also sail via West Africa or PG / Middle East depending on cargo demand. Our aim is to establish monthly calls from Antwerp, Rotterdam, Hamburg and one or two additional loading ports in the Med. When called upon we can also draw upon any of the other vessel classes within our fleet, even the ‘mega size’ heavy lift A-Class (31,000 dwt) and W-Class (33,000 dwt).”