AAL releases 2024 sustainability report highlighting the growing importance of ESG measures across its global operations

June 13, 2025

Picture caption: AAL Limassol, the first Super B-Class vessel to be delivered to AAL's fleet, pictured on its maiden voyage from ports in Asia to Europe in September 2024. It safely transported over 89,000 freight tons, a record for AAL and a first for an MPV of this deadweight. First loading in China, cargo included a dismantled crane, transformers, rotor houses, trucks, and two 135 m-long barges, weighing 1,650 and 1,425 tonnes each. In Tuticorin, India, the ECO-DECK was deployed to load a further 15 wind turbine blades (30.6 tonnes each) with the vessel's heavy-lift cranes being used to stow them alongside the barges credit:AAL

Project carrier AAL Shipping has today published its Sustainability Report 2024, prepared in line with Global Reporting Initiative standards. The report highlights the project carrier’s achievement of 95% of its Environmental, Social & Governance targets across its land and sea operations worldwide.

Picture caption: Heinrich Schoeller, Chairman, AAL

In the report’s opening chapter, AAL Chairman Heinrich Schoeller emphasised the importance of continued improvement in ESG performance, stressing that building a sustainable and responsible future ensures long-term value for all stakeholders across the company’s value chain. He also credited AAL’s progress to the enduring partnerships it has cultivated over its three decades of operation – with customers, regulators, suppliers, local communities, and its staff.

Casting a lens over its global operations, the report details AAL’s commitment to its Environmental responsibilities. The carrier achieved an overall reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to 2021, despite operating a larger fleet and employing more people across its office network. Progress in this key ESG area was attributed to the introduction of new, more fuel-efficient ‘Super B-Class’ vessels and reduced electricity consumption across several offices.

Picture caption: Steward Chen, Research and Analytics Manager, AAL

“2024 marked a major milestone in our decarbonisation journey with the delivery of the first four vessels of our eight-strong Super B-Class fleet,” said Steward Chen, AAL’s Research and Analytics Manager.

“Built with methanol-ready engines, next-generation hull coatings, and advanced route optimisation software, these 32,000-deadweight heavy lifters are servicing larger and more complex cargoes across dynamic sectors like offshore energy. We can now transport more cargo units per voyage, reducing the number of sailings required and lowering overall GHG emissions.”

Picture caption: AAL’s Performance and Optimisation Control Room

On the Social front, AAL spotlighted its ethnically, culturally, and socially diverse workforce, supported by a range of internal systems and external initiatives. These included sponsored postgraduate and professional development courses, as well as extensive community outreach activities focused on employee well-being and meaningful local engagement.

Picture caption: Super B-Class vessel, AAL Hamburg, carrying a shipment of three fully assembled Gottwald ESP 10 mobile harbour cranes in an open hatch sailing configuration – the first for this vessel type – from the Netherlands to ports in Mexico and Chile. Each of the 642-tonne cranes measured 80.3 m long (including the jib), 15.5 m wide, and 58.2 m tall

Regarding Governance, the company further strengthened its Due Diligence, Sanctions, and Anti-Corruption policies, reinforcing its commitment to ethical operations and increased transparency across its value chain. AAL is also an active member of the Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN) and reported zero incidents of corruption, international sanctions breaches, or cybersecurity violations in 2024.

In the same year, AAL was awarded Silver at the Asia Sustainability Reporting Awardsand its 2024 report developed in collaboration with Grow Sustainability Consulting.