Austral Asia Line expands fleet

Expanding beyond the Australian and Asian regions, Austral Asia Line (AAL) takes delivery of its 12th newbuilding, the AAL Hong Kong.

AAL's newbuilding programme enhances the company's heavy-lift capabilities. It comprises 14 superheavy-lift vessels, including 10 of the largest multipurpose vessels - the A class, with a lifting capacity of up to 700 tonnes. AAL's management expertise and fleet support key industries, such as infrastructure development, construction, mining and energy.

"We have a large knowledge base and have installed a first-class engineering team in Singapore and our regional offices in Australia and China," says managing director Namir Khanbabi. AAL offers regular services and dedicated volume solutions to its clients with small and large shipments.

Committed to consistently providing superior shipping solutions to customers and underlining its value statement, AAL is pursuing ISO 9000, ISO 14000 and ISO 18000 certifications. The certifications demonstrate AAL's high regard for quality, safety and the environment.

Strengthening its European and American routes, AAL has established its continental port offices in Germany and the United States. The company asserts its leading position in Asia-Pacific through commercial offices in Seoul, Brisbane, Perth and Shanghai, along with its corporate headquarters in Singapore and an extensive network of agencies.

AAL's strategic expansion and capital investments have provided it with new trading ventures and other opportunities, and have widened AAL's customer base. A recent contract is expected to precipitate a new service dealing with specific markets and exports to and from British Columbia and the United States West Coast (USWC).

"Our strengthening presence in China and the commencement of operations in British Columbia and USWC capture a new market within Asia-Pacific and offer a connection to our regular services into Australia," Khanbabi says. AAL envisions itself as the global partner of its clients and to be the preferred carrier for the project, heavy-lift and break bulk industry in any part of the world.

Austral Asia Line
Website: www.australasialine.com