In the classic 1967 film “The Graduate,” the recent college grad played by Dustin Hoffman gets one word of career path advice: Plastics.
Now, nearly half a century later, plastics are key to the petrochemical facility boom being spurred in part by oil and gas from emerging shale plays such as Eagle Ford. With reactors, crackers and other huge modules needed for production of resins and further commodities at the proliferation of new multibillion-dollar plants, the big news for 2015 at ports, especially along the Gulf Coast, can be summed up in another eight-letter “P” word: Projects.
The project cargo surge is under way, and it is anticipated to accelerate as more industrial endeavors put on hold during the global economic downturn advance and as additional equipment is required in shale play fields for oil and gas extraction.
Not only are these high and/or heavy units — weighing as much as 800 tons apiece — being moved on traditional project cargo ships, but many of the ponderous modules are being handled by roll-on, roll-off carriers, such as Hoegh Autoliners, which has established a projects division.
A growing number of ports can be expected to enter into partnerships with heavy-lift stevedoring firms, as our case with Mammoet, ensuring sufficient lift capacities, and commensurate specialized labor is in place for safe, efficient handling of the components.
In a related trend, also associated with the building of petrochemical facilities, ports should continue to see greater inbound volumes of aggregate, for use as a base at construction sites and laydown areas, as well as parking lots for construction workers. And, of course, outbound volumes of oil, gas, plastics and other petrochemical commodities are on the rise.
After years of diminished activity in the sector, the word offering promise at numerous ports is indeed projects.
Glenn A. Carlson, Executive Port Director and CEO, Port Freeport, Texas