Shipping operators AAL & Peter Döhle have announced the launch of a new global cooperation to begin in June, in which the two will share experience, resources and hardware across the world, and offer joint tramp and project cargo services to the global market. Combining 80 years of expertise, global infrastructures and 26 highly versatile vessels, the two say they are set to deliver a new dimension in multipurpose, heavy-lift shipping.

The two ocean carriers remain independent of each other, with separate ownership, operations and identities. However, across a number of key trade routes between Asia, Europe and the Americas, the pair will deploy and jointly represent the market’s youngest fleet with 26 multi-purpose heavy-lift vessels, providing tailor-made tramp and project cargo solutions to major industry sectors.

Christoph Döhle, CEO of Peter Döhle Schiffahrts-KG, says, “We are delighted to combine our tramp and project cargo resources with AAL. Both fleets of multi-purpose heavy-lift vessels perfectly complement each other and our proposed fleet mix of seven classes of large and small tonnage will deliver highly flexible, sustainable and efficient benefits for our customers and their projects.”

AAL and Peter Döhle will share operational responsibilities, with AAL handling operations east of Suez and in the Americas while Peter Döhle will oversee activity in Europe and Africa. Their combined fleet features seven modern and highly diverse classes of multipurpose heavy-lift vessels that range from 12,000 to 31,000 deadweight tonnage.