AAL transports 38 yachts from the US to Europe

Award-winning multipurpose (MPP) and project heavy lift carrier AAL Shipping, in partnership with Peters & May, has successfully transported 38 private yachts – the largest of which was 32 m long – on deck in a single sailing from Fort Lauderdale, US, to Southampton, UK, and Antwerp, Belgium.

The cargo covered an area of 2,500 m2 – about half the size of a soccer pitch – and was carried aboard the ‘mega size’ 31,000 dwt AAL Melbourne, with her 39,500 cbm intake capacity and weather deck space of 3,000 m2.

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 86m long aluminium 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 16m 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 MPP carriers to deliver service and schedule integrity, this sailing examples AAL’s own boosted 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 tonnes from Taicang, China, to Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates.