AAL Shipping has handled the transport of a 28 m-high, 255 t shiploader on the Asia–Europe Trade Lane aboard the AAL Singapore, linking Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia and Europe.
The unit was carried on a 31,000 dwt A-Class vessel and discharged at Foremost Milling Corporation in Bataan, the Philippines. Given the cargo’s size and handling requirements, the discharge was completed via a tandem lift using the vessel’s port-mounted 700 t maximum combi-lift cranes. Two counterweights were used to stabilise the lift, taking the gross lift to 312 t.
Nicola Pacifico, Global Head of Engineering at AAL Shipping, said the shiploader introduced complex engineering challenges around lifting. A vertical lift from the pad eyes was required to avoid structural risk, while the operation was managed under height and clearance limitations linked to a nearby generator and an access platform.
The Intra-Asia trade corridor is described as the world’s fastest-growing regional trade segment, with intra-regional trade rising 43% over the past four decades and accounting for more than half of the region’s total trade. Southeast Asia is shifting from labour-intensive industries toward advanced manufacturing in electronics, semiconductors and automotive manufacturing.
The release also points to the ‘China Plus One’ strategy, with companies diversifying supply chains across multiple Asian markets. ASEAN manufacturing value has grown steadily since 2016, and intra-ASEAN trade rebounded 7% in 2024 to nearly $3.56 trillion in combined imports and exports.
The shiploader will operate at the Mariveles Grain Corporation terminal as part of its end-to-end grain handling system. With a discharge capacity of 10,000 tonnes per day, the unit is intended to support grain import logistics and the local food industry.
Across Southeast Asia, more than $110 billion in port infrastructure projects are underway. Globally, port spending is projected to reach $207 billion by 2030. Against this backdrop, AAL Shipping said demand is rising for specialised heavy-lift and multipurpose vessel capacity as project cargo becomes larger and more complex. Andrew Mangan, Chartering Manager at AAL Shipping Australia, noted the fleet’s lifting capacity, stowage flexibility and self-sufficiency, alongside regular monthly services across Asia’s major trade lanes.
