With its inaugural sailing into Stewart World Port (SWP) on Friday 12 February, AAL is set to enhance its multipurpose trade with British Columbia’s most northern ice-free trading point and provide increased choice and convenience for its mining, forestry, oil and gas and project cargo customers. Opened in September 2015 and set in one of the most mineral rich areas of North America, SWP is not only a convenient gateway to North West BC and the Eastern Yukon, but with its deep sea berthing facility and fast transit time from North Asian ports it also provides a competitive advantage for AAL’s global customers. Felix Schoeller, General Manager of AAL’s Pacific Service, explained: “A port call option at SWP, as part of our flexible and regular Pacific Service, gives customers a wider choice that can ultimately impact the efficiency, delivery and competitiveness of their logistics operations.” AAL’s inaugural sailing into SWP featured the AAL Newcastle - one of AAL’s owned fleet of ‘A-Class’ 31,000 dwt multipurpose, heavy lift vessels - delivering project cargo. “The seamless berthing and cargo discharge was a success in every regard and a milestone for our new facility,” commented SWP’s President & CEO, Ted Pickell. “We couldn’t be more pleased.” AAL’s Pacific Service offers a monthly sailing frequency between North Asia and West Coast North America and deploys a fleet of three modern ‘A-Class’ vessels, each with a combined lifting capacity of 700 mt. These best-in-class vessels are designed and equipped to load and accommodate outsized project cargo alongside containers and break bulk cargo like steel and pulp.