AAL Shipping (AAL) has completed the transport of all 188 steel bridge segments for Melbourne's North East Link (NEL), one of Australia's largest road infrastructure projects, concluding a demanding campaign that reinforces AAL's position as a trusted logistics partner for major infrastructure projects.

Delivered across nine consecutive sailings over almost a year, the campaign tested schedule discipline. AAL's chartering and operations teams secured vessel space at short notice throughout, working through port congestion, typhoons, gale-force winds and dense fog to maintain a near-perfect on-time delivery record voyage after voyage. Strict zero-damage and biosecurity requirements were met at every stage, including a freshwater wash-down of all deck cargo ahead of each Melbourne arrival, ensuring every segment reached the principal contractor, Eastern Freeway Burke to Tram Alliance (EBTA) in pristine condition.

Working closely with EBTA, AAL managed the entire scope of the project, loading at Taicang Port, China, and discharging at Appleton Terminal and Webb Dock, Australia. In total, the operation moved 60,500 revenue tonnes of prefabricated bridge segments, with the largest single piece measuring 48.6m long, 6.9m wide and 3.3m high, and weighing up to 113 tons.

“EBTA confirmed full satisfaction with AAL's performance across the program, noting that minor delays caused by force majeure typhoon events were well managed and clearly communicated throughout.” Commented Jack Zhou, General Manager and Chief Representative, China, AAL Shipping.

Zhou continued “China continues to be a key growth market for AAL and a critical hub for many of our customers' supply chains. Our Shanghai team worked hand-in-hand with the principal contractor throughout the project, adapting to a fast-changing construction timeline while meeting the client's exacting standards. It reflects the confidence our customers place in AAL to deliver complex project cargo and heavy lift solutions safely, efficiently and reliably."

The North East Link campaign builds on AAL's expanding track record supporting major Australian infrastructure programmes, including its recent transport of Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) components for Victoria's Suburban Rail Loop project, and further cements the China–Australia trade lane as one of the busiest and most established corridors in AAL's Asia–Oceania liner network.

"This liner program, transporting critical over-dimensional infrastructure cargo from China to Melbourne, demonstrates the strength, flexibility and reliability of our service offering in support of Australia's major infrastructure pipeline. The cargo required specialised heavy lift capability, flexible stowage and close supply chain coordination to keep project milestones on track throughout a long-running delivery schedule," said Chris Yabsley, Chartering Manager, Australia, AAL Shipping.

The completion of this campaign follows AAL's recognition as Best Shipping Line – Project Cargo at the 2026 AFLAS Awards in Shanghai, underscoring both China's growing importance as a manufacturing and export hub for infrastructure and renewable energy components, and AAL's standing as the carrier repeatedly entrusted with the industry's most demanding, long-duration project cargo campaigns.