Premium project heavy lift carrier, AAL Shipping, has held a formal naming ceremony for its fifth Super B-Class vessel, the ‘AAL Dubai’. This latest addition not only enhances AAL’s third-generation newbuilding fleet but also commemorates the company’s 30th anniversary, reaffirming its unwavering commitment to innovation and excellence in global project shipping.

The 32,000 dwt ‘AAL Dubai’ – a state-of-the-art multipurpose heavy lift vessel that is methanol-ready – was officially named on March 12 at the CSSC Huangpu-Wenchong Shipyard in Guangzhou, China in the presence of invited dignitaries from across the local MPP supply chain.

Named after one of the Middle East’s premiere project cargo hubs, where AAL has had a regional office since 2015, the ceremony follows closely on the heels of the Breakbulk Middle East exhibition held in Dubai. At the exhibition, delegates discussed the region’s heavy lift and project cargo potential, with several infrastructure developments and energy projects ongoing and planned. Naming one of the eight Super B-Class vessels after this important maritime hub reinforces AAL’s commitment to the region and its localised shipping services to customers.

“The Middle East market is going from strength to strength for the project sector, last year enjoying unprecedented levels of capital expenditure across all industries,” said Liew Teck Liong, Chief Financial Officer at AAL. “In 2024 alone, a record-breaking USD264 billion worth of contracts were awarded – a 6.5% increase from the previous year. Naming one of our new Super B-Class vessels after Dubai underscores our dedication to the region, aligning with both the 10th anniversary of our Dubai office and the 30th anniversary of the company.”

The AAL Dubai is engineered to transport a vast array of cargo, including heavy lift project equipment, breakbulk, and dry bulk, all on a single voyage. With a combined lifting capacity of 700 tonnes, this next-generation vessel is designed to offer superior efficiency, cargo flexibility, and economies of scale to shippers worldwide.

The vessel will now embark on its maiden voyage, joining sister vessels ‘AAL Limassol’, ‘AAL Hamburg’, ‘AAL Houston’, and ‘AAL Antwerp’ in serving project cargo customers across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas.

“We are now over the halfway mark with our Super B-Class deliveries, and those already in service are exceeding our expectations,” added Liew. “With these vessels, we have achieved both company and industry firsts, and we look forward to redefining what a heavy lift, multipurpose vessel can accomplish as we deploy them for complex cargo challenges.”

Later this year, AAL will take delivery of the ‘AAL Dammam’, which will be shortly followed by the ‘AAL Newcastle’ and ‘AAL Mumbai’ that have an increased maximum heavy lift capability of 800 tonnes.