AAL Shipping (AAL) has successfully completed the transportation of 125,175 revenue tonnes (RT) of wind turbine components for the King Rocks Wind Farm in Western Australia, demonstrating its heavy-lift capabilities by completing the entire project in just two sailings.
The project was executed using AAL’s 32,000 DWT Super B-Class vessel, AAL Antwerp, and 31,000 DWT A-Class vessel, AAL Shanghai, enabling the company to consolidate cargo that would traditionally require three or four voyages. The optimized transportation strategy delivered significant cost savings, improved schedule efficiency, and reduced environmental impact.
The final shipment saw AAL Antwerp arrive at Bunbury carrying 91,739 RT of wind energy cargo, including 51 wind turbine blades measuring up to 80 metres in length and weighing over 36 tonnes each. The blades were stowed up to six units wide and five tiers high, showcasing the vessel’s high cargo intake capacity and advanced stowage capabilities.
Together with an earlier voyage by AAL Shanghai, the company transported all wind turbine blades and towers required for the 17-turbine, 105 MW King Rocks Wind Farm located near Hyden, Western Australia.
Renate Poppe, Regional Operations Manager, AAL Shipping Australia, said the project highlights the company’s engineering expertise and modern fleet capabilities in supporting renewable energy developments.
“Despite the sheer size and volume of the components involved, by optimising cargo stowage and vessel utilisation we were able to consolidate what would traditionally require multiple sailings into just two voyages, delivering tangible financial and schedule benefits for our customer while maintaining the highest standards of safety and cargo care,” Poppe said.
The King Rocks Wind Farm will generate 105 MW of renewable energy—enough to power around 70,000 homes—and forms an important part of Western Australia’s energy transition strategy. The project is also expected to create approximately 200 jobs during construction and throughout its anticipated 30-year operational life.
AAL also highlighted the complexity of the discharge operations at Bunbury, where upper-tier blades stacked five levels high required meticulous planning to address port crane height and outreach limitations.
Nicola Pacifico, Global Head of Engineering at AAL Shipping, said the challenging discharge operation was completed safely and efficiently within nine days, reflecting the company’s focus on engineering precision, operational excellence, and cargo safety.
The successful completion of the King Rocks Wind Farm transportation project further strengthens AAL Shipping’s position as a leading global provider of heavy-lift and project cargo solutions for the rapidly growing renewable energy sector.
