AAL SHIPPING has completed delivery of 188 steel bridge segments for Melbourne’s North East Link, moving 60,500 revenue tonnes of prefabricated cargo across nine consecutive sailings over almost a year.
The operation involved loading at Taicang Port in China and discharging at Appleton Terminal and Webb Dock in Melbourne for principal contractor Eastern Freeway Burke to Tram Alliance (EBTA).
The largest segment measured 48.6 metres long, 6.9 metres wide and 3.3 metres high, with individual pieces weighing up to 113 tonnes.
AAL said its chartering and operations teams secured vessel space at short notice as the construction schedule changed. The sailings encountered port congestion, typhoons, gale-force winds and dense fog, with the company reporting a near-perfect on-time delivery record.
According to AAL, all segments arrived without damage and met the project’s biosecurity requirements. Deck cargo underwent a freshwater wash-down before each arrival in Melbourne.
AAL Shipping general manager and chief representative for China, Jack Zhou, said EBTA had expressed satisfaction with the company’s performance.
“EBTA confirmed full satisfaction with AAL’s performance across the programme, noting that minor delays caused by force majeure typhoon events were well managed and clearly communicated throughout,” Mr Zhou said.
“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 deliveries follow AAL’s recent transport of tunnel boring machine components for Victoria’s Suburban Rail Loop project.
AAL Shipping chartering manager for Australia, Chris Yabsley, said the bridge cargo required specialised heavy lift capability and coordination throughout the delivery schedule.
“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,” Mr Yabsley said.
“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.”
AAL said the China–Australia trade lane remained one of the busiest and most established corridors in its Asia–Oceania liner network.
The company also reported receiving the Best Shipping Line – Project Cargo award at the 2026 AFLAS Awards in Shanghai.