The newly launched Vancouver International Maritime Centre (VIMC) is claiming its first success attracting multi-purpose owner AAL to set up an office in the Canadian city.

Singapore-headquartered AAL is the first international company to be attracted by VIMC, which officially launched in London and Athens earlier this month. The government of British Colombia is pumping in $3m into VIMC to push Vancouver as an international maritime centre.

"Within a just a few months, the Vancouver International Maritime Centre has already begun to attract international shipping companies to Vancouver," said Michael de Jong, Minister of Finance for the Province of British Columbia.

Commenting on the decision to set up an office in Vancouver Bernard Huizenga, business manager for AAL Canada said: “It is an extremely welcoming jurisdiction and offers international shipping companies like AAL great opportunity for growth and development."