AAL, one of the world’s leading global breakbulk, project cargo and heavy lift shipping operators, has strengthened its foothold in the oil rich mining region of Northern Alberta, by expanding its popular ‘Pacific Service’ liner route to include the British Columbia Port of Prince Rupert. Its inaugural sailing into the Canadian port on May 10 2015 was with a cargo of process units for a major new oil sands project in Alberta.
The Port of Prince Rupert, with its newly established road and rail links, has emerged as an important new gateway for project cargo imports to the oil-rich mining area of Alberta, Canada, and the wider Pacific North West. AAL’s expanded Pacific Service will now be making regular, scheduled calls at the Port, placing AAL in a strong position to best serve major mining, energy and other projects in the region.
AAL’s Pacific Service offers a monthly frequency and a fleet of three modern ‘A-Class’ 31,000-dwt multipurpose, heavy lift vessels – each with a combined lifting capacity of 700-mt. Its inaugural sailing into Prince Rupert featured the A-Class, AAL Brisbane.
Felix Schoeller, General Manager of AAL’s Pacific Service, commented: “We have gained extensive experience in serving the oil and gas, mining and energy sectors. They rely upon us to enhance their supply chains, with added-value and reliability. By expanding our Pacific Service and port network across the Pacific North West, we multiply our customers’ options and choice – ultimately impacting on the efficiency, delivery and overall competitiveness of their projects. "