Record crane delivery by AAL
AAL Shipping has delivered three fully assembled Konecranes port cranes from the Netherlands to Mexico and Chile aboard the Super B-Class vessel "AAL Hamburg". Each crane weighs around 642 t and measures over 60 m in height.
Due to their size, AAL used an open hatch sailing setup – a first for this vessel type – reducing air draft by 16 m and enabling transit through the Panama Canal. Two cranes were loaded in Schiedam, the third in Westdorpe. The cargo was secured on the tank top deck using the vessel's own 700 t heavy lift cranes.
The 9,900 nm voyage shortened transit by 2,800 nm compared to alternative routes. AAL and Konecranes praised the collaboration, highlighting the engineering precision and time-saving benefits. The shipment showcases AAL’s capability to handle ultra-large cargo efficiently and safely. (ah)