Project cargo specialist AAL Shipping has delivered 83 wind turbines, over a two-year period, to the Wambo Wind Farm in Queensland.
Located approximately 200km northwest-by-west of Brisbane, the project will add more than 500 megawatts of energy to the Queensland energy system, and will be able to power about 312,000 homes when it is fully operational in 2026, according to the wind farm operator. The project is a 50/50 venture between a renewable energy investor and a Queensland-government owned electricity generator.
AAL Shipping transported all of the wind turbines from China to Brisbane, which were later transported by truck to the site. The ocean carrier reports that it completed 18 sailings using vessels from its 31,000 deadweight, 25,800 deadweight, and 19,000 deadweight heavy lift ships. The combined sailings used nine different multi-purpose heavy lift ships, AAL reports.
“Around 312,000 homes will now be powered by clean energy sources as a direct result of the team’s hard work on this long-term project. Australia has the potential to generate 82 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2030, and I am proud of our work to support the transition and strengthen Australia’s energy security,” said Frank Mueller, AAL’s General Manager Oceania.
Andrew Mangan, Chartering Manager at AAL Oceania, commented, “Our Engineering and Operations teams have a proven track record with handling complex cargoes and always open to exploring new ways of optimising cargo care and operational safety.
“On the wind blade shipments, we employed revolutionary synthetic lashing chains and slings made from a super-strong, lightweight fibre that resists abrasion and even floats on water. Unlike traditional steel chains – which can swing during lashing and risk damaging cargo – synthetic lashings significantly reduce that risk. Their light weight also improves crew safety and time efficiency, particularly when securing blades at height. We are now expanding the use of this technology in support of our customer operations.”
Mueller concluded, “As with many projects of this nature, shifting timelines were a challenge. However, we successfully adapted vessel deployments and sailing schedules to meet all changing demands. This flexibility reflects our long-term commitment to increasing both the efficiency and frequency of our regular Asia–Australia sailings”.
