Breakbulk carriers

A global economy hammered by pandemic control measures and an oil price war is bad news for the MPV/HL sector, maritime consultancy Drewry reports.

Cosco delivered a 3,700-mt bridge to Sweden even as the oil price crash hamstrings the spot market for the heavy transport sector.

With information on ISPM 15 violations still difficult to come by, shippers are investigating and educating wood packaging materials (WPM) makers, increasing requirements for heat treatments, and turning to non-WPM materials for dunnage.

Global car and roll-on, roll-off (ro-ro) carrier Wallenius Wilhelmsen Group is laying up ships and sending others to the scrap yard to preserve cash and liquidity as the spread of coronavirus causes automotive production to shut down worldwide.

As export markets in China thaw following the reopening of manufacturing facilities closed due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), project owners face short-term vessel shortages and carriers fear a potential drop in demand due to falling oil prices.

Multipurpose carrier G2 Ocean is expanding in Africa and Asia to support the joint venture company’s quest to double project cargo’s contribution to annual revenues.

Project cargo bound for industrial projects is trapped in China due to measures to control coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), triggering project delays and endangering a normally reliable cargo market.

MPV/HL carrier Zeamarine files for insolvency in Bremen court as the Zea Gold is arrested for bunkers on board.

Within just a few days in early December, Bremen-based multipurpose/heavy-lift (MPV/HL) carrier Zeamarine saw the sudden departure of founder Jan-Hendrik Többe and CCO Dominik Stehle, prompting the firm to bring in restructuring expert Sven Lundehn.

Evolution continues in the MPV/HL fleet as AAL adds a global semi-liner service and an ex-Zeamarine executive plans a new US Gulf breakbulk service.

Richard Seeg has been named CEO of the newly-revived Intermarine brand, which will operate the Americas Line project and breakbulk cargo service out of Houston and New Orleans.

Officials say the funding will help complete the Oregon river port’s partially finished breakbulk terminal and expedite project cargoes for two ambitious wind energy projects in the state.

Zeamarine sheds its most modern ships as United Group strengthens its position in a slowly improving market.

Economic uncertainty eases, but overcapacity and changes in fleet makeup continue to pressure the MPV/HL sector.

German super-heavy carrier SAL announces C-suite additions and a digitization push as the outlook for 2020 stabilizes.

The Port of Duluth-Superior sees growth opportunities in wind, breakbulk, and project cargo, and is investing heavily in Clure Terminal.

A busy renewable energy sector and stable oil and gas markets have collided with persistent overcapacity in the multipurpose/heavy-lift (MPV/HL) sector, causing rate growth to sputter and stall.

Harren & Partner, owner of heavy-lift carrier SAL, has purchased three secondhand ships and is also testing an innovative combustion system for retrofitting on other ships in the fleet.

The Gearbulk/Grieg Star G2 Ocean partnership will continue to build its project cargo business as the JV transitions in its executive ranks, with the departure of chief executive Rune Birkeland at year-end.

German tax and crisis management expert Sven Lundehn has been brought in to manage the Bremen-based carrier, as top executives leave and founder Jan Hendrik Többe makes an exit.

Outsiders can find vessel chartering in the breakbulk sector exasperatingly opaque. In part three of a six-part special report on the topic, JOC.com takes a look at how SAL Heavy Lift manages its business, which is seeing a boost in vessel use this year from energy projects.

Outsiders can find vessel chartering in the breakbulk sector exasperatingly opaque. In part two of a six-part special report on the topic, JOC.com takes a peek behind the curtain at BBC Chartering, which boasts the largest fleet in the sector.

Harmonizing Zeamarine's liner and tramp services is high on new regional director's list of priorities.

Carrier G2Ocean says it plans to double the project cargo portion of total revenues by 2023.

Cooperation between super-heavy carriers is a sign of a strengthening project market.

With imports on the rise, domestic US steel prices are rolling downhill in 2019 and analysts expect that trend to continue well into next year.

Multipurpose/heavy-lift carrier AAL adds tonnage and adopts a new transaction management system.

C-suite changes continue at the Bremen-based multipurpose/heavy-lift carrier Zeamarine.

Ulrich Ulrichs takes the helm of prominent global MPV/HL carrier BBC Chartering as Svend Andersen steps down.

In a surprise move, Zeaborn co-founder Ove Meyer joins a string of executives to leave the carrier group, now one of the largest in the multipurpose/heavy-lift fleet.

Two key components of the under-construction Amur gas processing plant were delivered to the project site in Russia’s remote far east; it will be another four or five years before all oversized cargo arrives on location.

Ulrich Ulrichs, former CEO of Rickmers-Linie, which has since been absorbed by Zeaborn, will become CEO at BBC Chartering following a transition period.

Pending antitrust approval, Zeaborn Group will take full ownership of the Zeamarine joint venture, consisting of Zeaborn Chartering, Rickmers Line, and Intermarine, after buying out New Mountain Capital’s interest.

Heavy-lift carrier AAL recently moved two tunnel-boring machines, essential equipment for major metro rail projects, from Nansha, China, to Sydney and Melbourne, Australia.

Carriers continue to consolidate the multipurpose/heavy-lift (MPV/HL) fleet in the wake of Hansa Heavy Lift’s untimely exit.

Megaproject logistics, which often involves moving huge pieces of equipment through remote ports, brings with it a unique set of risks and challenges that traditional liner carriers simply aren't equipped to handle.

Despite a recent uptick in activity in the oil and gas industry, SAL Heavy Lift tells JOC.com any new vessels must be versatile enough to handle multiple types of cargo.

The fuel efficiency of Zeamarine's newbuildings will be advantageous, and it will also be looking at scrubber technology and durability, Zeamarine president and CEO Andre Grikitis said.

Before selling individual assets, Hansa Heavy Lift’s owner had tried to sell the company.

Effective in February, Stehle will focus on business development, key accounts, and managing large projects, as well as supporting organizational restructuring efforts that began earlier in 2018.