AAL Shipping has leveraged its project heavy-lift expertise to deliver multiple complex cargo shipments for INEOS Project One, one of the world’s most sustainable ethane cracker developments. Located at the Port of Antwerp, the USD 4 billion facility will produce 1.5 million tonnes of ethylene annually and is set to have the lowest carbon footprint of any cracker plant in Europe.

The first cargo shipment undertaken by AAL for the project was a 277-tonne, 51-metre-long distillation column, manufactured in Southern Europe. The heavy-lift unit was shipped onboard the 31,000-deadweight A-Class heavy lifter ‘AAL PUSAN’ from Avilés, Spain, to Khalifa Port, Abu Dhabi, for final preparation before its onward journey to the INEOS site in Antwerp.

“This operation was textbook,” commented Yahaya Sanusi, Deputy Head of Transport Engineering at AAL. “Our engineering team was involved from the outset, and we collaborated closely with cargo stakeholders to complete all structural integrity assessments and due diligence well in advance. The column was delivered with four robust eight-metre saddles, simplifying the deck load spreading and enhancing safety and handling efficiency.”

Ethylene is a vital raw material used in wind turbines, solar panels, medical equipment, high-durability construction materials, textiles, and lightweight automotive components. INEOS Project One represents the largest capital investment in Europe’s chemical sector in the last two decades. Its state-of-the-art technology will enable it to become the most energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable ethylene production facility in Europe. Operations are scheduled to begin in 2026.

Following its first project shipment, AAL transported an additional 3,675.34 metric tonnes of convection modules and supporting components from Gijon, Spain, to Antwerp. The cargo spanned more than 9,600 cubic meters and was carried aboard the newbuild 32,000-deadweight Super B-Class vessel, ‘AAL ANTWERP’, in a single dedicated tramp sailing for Kuehne + Nagel M.V. Netherlands.

Marc-Oliver Brockmann, Commercial Manager, AAL Europe added, “It’s not uncommon for large-scale industrial projects like INEOS Project One to involve multiple sailings over extended timelines and for several charterers,” Sanusi added. “On this project, we undertook operations for two different customers. Both were clear in their requirements: high-capacity heavy-lift vessels with ample cargo hold space and reliable onboard gear with extended outreach. The unique adaptability and scale of our A-Class and Super B-Class vessels – along with dependable transit times and the flexibility of our scheduled liner and custom tramp services – ensured that AAL was not only the right partner but one that delivered on every project demand.”