AAL, one of the world’s leading global breakbulk, project cargo and heavy lift shipping operators, today announced that AAL Galveston will join its fleet on long-term time charter and add capacity to its Tramp and Projects division; providing worldwide trade for customers, with a specific focus on EU and US trades. AAL Galveston is a multipurpose, heavy lift ‘Super A-Class’ vessel, which AAL has re-classified under its own fleet classification criteria, to ‘G-Class’. At 160 meters in length and 25,800 dwt, she is highly versatile and robust, with a combined lifting capacity of 240 mt and large, strengthened cargo holds. This latest long-term charter for AAL follows a recent announcement that it will grow its fleet to over 500,000 dwt in 2015; a fleet that is already the youngest and most advanced in the breakbulk sector. “The AAL Galveston increases our service capabilities and options, in support of a highly diversified customer base and our strategy to continue to build it even further,” said Namir Khanbabi, Managing Director of AAL’s Tramp and Projects Division. “We have seen growth in some core industry sectors, particularly renewables, where logistics challenges have become greater, as components get larger and more complex to transport, and ports of loading and discharge more globally widespread. These factors demand solutions than can ensure cargo safety and project efficiency; expertise which AAL has a 20-year reputation of providing.”