AAL Completes Nine-Voyage Steel Bridge Transport Solution For Melbourne’s North East Link

AAL Shipping has successfully completed the transportation of all 188 steel bridge components for Melbourne's North East Link (NEL), one of Australia's largest road construction projects. This accomplishment marks the end of a challenging nine-voyage campaign that took place over nearly a year.

Throughout the journey, AAL's chartering and operations teams faced numerous challenges, including port congestion, typhoons, gale-force winds, and dense fog. Despite these obstacles, the team managed to maintain an impressive on-time delivery record, securing vessel space at short notice and navigating through various adverse conditions.

To ensure the highest quality standards, AAL adhered to strict zero-damage and biosecurity requirements. Before each arrival in Melbourne, a comprehensive freshwater wash-down was performed on all deck cargo. This meticulous process guaranteed that every bridge segment reached the principal contractor, Eastern Freeway Burke to Tram Alliance (EBTA), in pristine condition.

The operation involved loading the bridge segments at Taicang Port in China and unloading them at Appleton Terminal and Webb Dock in Australia. In total, the campaign transported 60,500 revenue tonnes of prefabricated bridge components, with the largest single piece measuring 48.6m in length, 6.9m in width, and 3.3m in height, weighing up to 113 tonnes.

Jack Zhou, General Manager and Chief Representative for AAL Shipping in China, expressed his satisfaction with the project's outcome. He noted that minor delays caused by force majeure typhoon events were effectively managed and communicated throughout the campaign.

Chris Yabsley, Chartering Manager for AAL Shipping in Australia, highlighted the company's growing presence as a key player in China-Australia trade. The North East Link campaign further solidifies AAL's reputation for delivering complex project cargo and heavy lift solutions safely, efficiently, and reliably.

This achievement also reinforces AAL's position as a trusted logistics partner for major infrastructure projects in Australia. The company's recent transport of Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) components for Victoria's Suburban Rail Loop project adds to its expanding portfolio of successful infrastructure transportation campaigns.

The liner programme, which involved transporting over-dimensional infrastructure cargo from China to Melbourne, showcases AAL's commitment to supporting Australia's major infrastructure pipeline. The specialized heavy lift capability, flexible stowage, and close supply chain coordination that were employed throughout the campaign demonstrate the strength and reliability of AAL's service offering.

AAL's recognition as Best Shipping Line – Project Cargo at the 2026 AFLAS Awards in Shanghai further underscores China's growing importance as a manufacturing and export hub for infrastructure and renewable energy components, as well as AAL's ongoing role as the carrier entrusted with handling the most demanding and long-duration project cargo campaigns.