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~SHIPS~DORSET~ Images of the Month for December 2024 ~ 1of2 ~ ~ AAL Paris - arriving into Poole Harbour - November 2024 

On the 18th November AAL Paris arrived at poole from Singapore with a deck cargo of containers to discharge before continuing to Germany. This was one of the largest cargo ships to berth at Port of Poole requiring Fowey-based tug Cannis travelling along the south coast to provide it’s 32-ton bollard pulling power to assist at the bow while local tug Herbert Ballam took the stern. As AAL Paris entered Poole Harbour and completed an initial turn south of Brownsea Island, Ships Dorset contributor Frazer Hockey captured the first of our two featured photos clearly showing her container cargo destined for Poole. The second image from 20th November was taken as AAL Paris departed Poole bound for Bremen with the bright morning sunshine reflecting from the empty foredeck, now without its container stack. 

~SHIPS~DORSET~ Images of the Month for December 2024 ~ 2of2 ~ ~ AAL Paris - departing Port of Poole - November 2024 

The shipping company AAL was founded in the Netherlands in 1995 and is now headquartered in Singapore. It's fleet of 29 ships comprises a range of vessel sizes with flexibility in design, configuration and equipment to carry any cargo type ... breakbulk, heavy lifts, dry bulk, containers and general cargo … and all at the same time. The fleet ranges from 19,000 to 33,000 deadweight tonnage ... heavy lift capabilities go from the AAL Paris’ 110 metric tonnes up to 800 tonnes on their latest new builds … all the ships in the fleet have been built since 2010. 

Key Dimensions for AAL Paris … Gross Tonnage = 22,860 … Length = 179m … Beam = 28m … 5 cargo holds (with removable tween decks) … Grain capacity up to 39,000 cubic metres …  Container capacity for 1,000+ TEU (of which 420 TEU can be stowed on deck) ... in service since 2011.

To view previous "Images of the Month" click our Image Archive link ...