Breakbulk News

Regulators have now fined ocean carriers Wallenius Wilhelmsen Ocean (WWO), NYK RORO, and “K” Line a total of $63 million for price fixing on vehicle shipping services on routes to Australia.

As congestion and rate pressure continue to squeeze the container market, some breakbulk cargo is shifting out of boxes back to ro/ro.

Toepfer Transport's MPV/HL rate forecast climbs to $7,146 as optimism grows in the breakbulk market amid a new US presidential administration seen as favorable to renewables.

A microprocessor chip shortage and new COVID-19 spread could slow recovery by hampering vehicle production.

New contracts firm up heavy transport and heavy lift firm Fagioli’s 2021 outlook despite the pandemic-driven industry-wide downturn of 2020.

In a further sign of a tumultuous market, UHL's newest "Eco-Lifter" will deliver containers to Europe on its maiden voyage.

A state-wide commitment to renewables is behind a massive increase in project cargo tonnage at the Northern California port of Stockton.

High box rates and congestion woes are driving container-side shippers to the breakbulk sector for relief.

With the addition of dedicated installation capacity, SAL will target European offshore development, maintenance, and decommissioning.

Rising short-term charter rates and recovering cargo volumes are leading ro-ro carriers to reactivate ships in cold lay-up since early 2020.

A congested container shipping market is pushing cargo toward breakbulk shipping as Toepfer Transport's MPV/HL rate forecast climbs to $7,005, signaling recovery from 2020's COVID-19 slump.

Former SAL executive Justin Archard has departed the super-heavy-lift carrier and will be a founding partner with Hamburg-based One World Shipbrokers.

Breakbulk and project logistics providers are adapting to a market in which the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated a shift away from traditional oil and gas projects and toward more carbon-neutral energy sources and related industries.

US-based project forwarders say they’re struggling to secure capacity as rebound demand and multipurpose and heavy-lift capacity is tapped by container lines in reaction to even stronger container demand.

Fluor grinds its way out of a long run of financial trouble, but the EPC is facing an anxious oil and gas segment struggling with COVID-19-driven demand declines and an evolving market.

Indices forecast rising rates for MPPs through the end of the year as breakbulk demand improves and container shippers searching for alternatives underpin a strengthening market.

Escalating box rates and tight capacity in the container carrier market are pushing service providers to bring in ships from the multi-purpose sector.

The European Commission's Green Deal will add 288 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind capacity to Europe's grid by 2050, along with 40 GW in tidal and floating solar energy generation.

Faced with the COVID-19 pandemic, shrinking investment in capital projects, and a slow-but-game-changing global shift towards a lower-carbon future, the industry is again recalibrating its project logistics relationships.

In the short term, EPCs see a painful gap growing in the oil and gas “project pipeline” because capital projects worth billions of dollars were delayed, with a few canceled or downsized.

Wallenius Wilhelmsen turns in a positive third quarter as pent-up demand boosts auto sales while high and heavy cargo wavers.

Multi-purpose carrier G2 Ocean's African and Indian semi-liner breakbulk services, established just as COVID-19 exploded, are flourishing despite lockdowns.

The contract market is improving for F-type 12,500-dwt multipurpose ships, while spot rates remain volatile, according to Toepfer Transport.

UHL, one of very few carriers currently adding newbuildings to the multipurpose fleet, is scheduled to receive eight new F900 ships through December 2021, with the first ship scheduled for delivery in December.

The project industry is cutting logistics staff in the face of a looming “project pipeline” shortfall, concentrating specialized know-how into fewer hands.

An ability to handle out-of-gauge cargo and a unique inventory management system distinguish supply chain logistics platform e2log from the competition.

Gulf Stream Marine adds Alabo Street Wharf to its string of US Gulf breakbulk terminals and positions itself to handle out-of-gauge cargo with a focus on transshipment to the Midwest.

China Navigation Company creates Swire Projects to take advantage of an improving outlook for the project market and brings aboard three ex-Zeamarine executives.

The former head of SAL Heavy Lift’s marine projects will lead the chartering team at global forwarder DSV, which is handling global logistics for wind turbine manufacturer Vestas.

Svend Andersen comes out of retirement to take a stake in the US-based carrier Intermarine and explore new trade possibilities in the Americas.

Less stringent lockdowns, for now, during COVID-19’s second wave mean stronger global trade, as renewables continue to be a bright spot for the multipurpose/heavy-lift (MPV/HL) sector.

As Toepfer’s Multipurpose Index shows signs of modest recovery, SAL’s purchase of Intermarine has the potential to leverage shipping synergies.

SAL and ex-BBC Chartering CEO Svend Andersen take ownership stakes in Intermarine as Andersen returns to the MPV/HL market.

The car trade will soon be back to pre-COVID levels, according to Grimaldi’s CEO, as the company incorporates 17 green, high-tech newbuildings into its ranks and the European vehicle market adapts to green tech and decarbonization.

As East Coast states commit to generating 29,000 MW of offshore electricity by 2035, ports and terminals scramble to position themselves for the coming project cargo boom.

The ports of Baltimore, Maryland, and Brunswick, Georgia, have reported a sharp uptick in roll-on, roll-off (ro-ro) cargo since June as consumer demand returns and dealers restock vehicle inventories.

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down automobile manufacturing and consumer demand, vehicle volumes in and out of European ports were well below prior year levels.

Risk of excess capacity in the global roll-on, roll-off (ro-ro) fleet remains high even as sales improve, as car and high and heavy volumes are not expected to return to 2019 levels until 2023.

Although the specific port rotation of the semi-liner service will depend on the cargo mix, Japan will now be a regular call for MPV/HL carrier Chipolbrok thanks to a new business relationship with third-party logistics provider and agent Crane Worldwide.

As COVID-19 hamstrings the capital projects outlook, engineering, procurement, construction, and maintenance company (EPC) Fluor is pivoting to leveraging its supply chain buying power, know-how, and network for external clients.