Feature, Freight News, Logistics, Sea

AAL Moves 12,000 Tonnes for US Power Project

[ August 28, 2026   //   Gary Burrows ]

AAL Shipping has completed a 12,000-freight-ton shipment of heavy power generation equipment from Asia to Houston for a major U.S. natural gas power development.

The project cargo movement comprised 195 individual units transported aboard the 31,000-deadweight-ton AAL Kobe, one of AAL Shipping’s A-Class multipurpose heavy-lift vessels.

The vessel’s onboard cranes, with maximum lifting capacity of 700 tonnes, allowed AAL to conduct self-sustained loading and discharge operations without relying entirely on shoreside heavy-lift equipment.

For project cargo movements, that capability can provide greater control over loading and discharge schedules while reducing exposure to terminal equipment availability and congestion.

“Customers choose AAL because of our extensive experience delivering complex power generation projects,” said Henrik Hansen, general manager, AAL Americas. “Our teams plan and execute these operations with precision, even in challenging operating conditions, ensuring timelines are maintained and cargo integrity is protected.”

The Houston delivery comes as power generation and grid infrastructure investment creates significant demand for oversized and heavy-lift transportation in the U.S., particularly along the Gulf Coast.

Natural gas supplied approximately 43 percent of U.S. electricity generation, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, while development of new and upgraded generating capacity is continuing as utilities seek additional generation to meet growing electricity demand and support grid reliability.

The scale of power generation components is also influencing the vessels deployed in the project cargo trades. AAL is expanding its heavy-lift capability with its Super B-Class multipurpose vessels, which feature strengthened decks and tandem lifting capacity of up to 800 tonnes.

The larger vessels allow multiple heavy and oversized components to be consolidated into individual sailings, an increasingly important consideration as power generation, energy and industrial projects require movement of larger cargo units.Nearly 200 individual units were transported aboard the 31,000-deadweight-ton AAL Kobe, one of AAL Shipping’s A-Class multipurpose heavy-lift vessels. PHOTO: AAL Shipping

Tags: AAL Shipping