A word from GPLN:                                                                                                           Newsletter Issue 90 / January-February 2023 

Dear Reader,

GPLN sponsor Wallenius Wilhelmsen sees room for cautious optimism for Breakbulk in 2023. With an economic slowdown expected, roll-on, roll-off vessels are supposed to be the safest, fastest and most cost-efficient way to transport oversized, heavy to lift or out-of-gauge cargo. Manufacturers started the new year with confidence as they are working through their backlogs due to a shortage of machines in the construction market. “The widespread parts shortages, port congestion and general supply and demand imbalances that have affected supply chains last year are expected to decrease this year and are already improving as 2023 starts,” says Robert Berg, Market Analysis and Finance Manager at Wallenius Wilhelmsen. He stresses that they won’t disappear completely because there are limited new vessel supply expected in this segment. However, the economic outlook varies from nation to nation, Wallenius Wilhelmsen says in its review. Rising energy prices, inflation and declining consumer confidence are affecting the global economy.

The need for a more sustainable world has brought a major game changer of our time, the energy transition. For the EU this has become even more urgent because of the war in Ukraine and the need to be less dependent on Russian gas. Cleaner, more sustainable alternatives, such as LNG, are being looked at. Europe is leading the way and has set itself the goal of being CO2 neutral by 2050. The agreement is to reduce CO2 emissions by 55 per cent by 2030 compared to 1990.

Up to now over 120 GPLN members have already registered for our annual global conference which will take place at the Hilton Hotel in Rotterdam from June 3-5, 2023. We are looking forward to another successful meeting with around 180 attendees from all over the globe.

Our renown Heavy Transport and Lifting Seminar is scheduled just after our meeting on June 6, 2023 at the same venue, which is also open for non-members and has still a few seats left.

All relevant details about these events are published on our dedicated pages of our website.

Furthermore, both GPLN events can be combined with Breakbulk Europe which is scheduled from June 6-8, 2023 at Ahoy Convention Center in Rotterdam.

GPLN will exhibit at this event and has secured a prime location in the main hall with a 36 sqm booth (# 1A20) which is the equivalent to 4 regular stands. In the meantime, 12 GPLN member companies from different countries will share our booth which will be another great opportunity for networking.

Best regards,

Your GPLN team

Tiel Logistics ship heavy offshore equipment 

GPLN member Tiel Logistics from the Netherlands arranged recently a shipment for a (de)mobilization for offshore equipment. This equipment was part of a project in the North Sea for Arcadis Ost 1 Offshore Wind Farm where they are working on renewable and sustainable energy. This renewable / sustainable energy improves public health and creates local jobs and a lot more benefits. In this shipment we arranged the floating cranes, pontoon freight and trucking with our own trailers, supply of mats and of course Tiel Logistics coordination.

We would like to thank all the parties involved for the smooth operation.  ‘’WE CARRY YOUR HEAVY LOADS!’’  The heaviest pieces were: 1x unit 21,20m x 5,00m x 4,06m: 460 tons / 1x unit 7,41m x 7,41m x 8,95m: 440 tons. The other 15 units were 150 tons each and below.

Furthermore, Tiel Logistics shipped recently also a Hose Bundle Winch of 47.500 kgs as breakbulk with a container carrier from Antwerp to Singapore. With a breakbulk shipment, the container carrier asked for a direct delivery, which we managed. It was safely loaded / lashed / secured on board of the container vessel. In this shipment we were involved from door to door, and after it arrived in Singapore we managed it there with our partner, as usual. Dimensions: HW15/150: 8,70m x 3,50m x 3,90m.

TSL handle Road Header

Fleet Line Shipping (FLS) win Hapag Lloyd’s Highest Customer Award

MORY-TNTE transport Super-Sized Project Cargo

CSS execute oversized project cargo

The Industrial Projects team of GPLN member Consolidated Shipping Services (CSS) from UAE successfully executed mission critical oversized project cargo for one of our premium client.CSS’ project team was contracted with the scope of trucking 10 oversized packages comprising of heavy Towers, Skids and Pressure Vessels from the fabrication yard to port and getting to the vessel chartered by CSS chartering team to the end destination. Our chartering team sourced the best heavy lift vessel for this voyage in close co-ordination with the trucking partners to make sure all cargo was safely and securely delivered under hook. CSS Industrial Project teams showed again their dedication to overcoming project hurdles and finding the best project solutions for their clients.

Green Worldwide Shipping Import Tile Manufacturing Machinery

GPLN member Green Worldwide Shipping (Green) from USA handled an International Breakbulk Project and imported over 600 tons of manufacturing equipment for one of the world’s most prolific tile producers that is expanding its global operations by building its first plant in North America.

The new plant’s aggressive construction timeline, slated for completion in late Q4 2023, necessitated the delivery of massive machinery on a tight schedule. Safely transporting three (3) 109-ton units is a skilled craft that required collaboration with vendors, local, state, and federal agencies for permitting, customs clearance, and compliance to ensure the timely delivery of this massive freight.

Green’s project experts developed a comprehensive project plan to move this breakbulk freight from the ports safely to the construction site. Active communication with stakeholders ensured the timely transport of all three 109-ton units. Green’s project team anticipated and planned for equipment shortages, preventing costly delays, and provided boots-on-the-ground oversight to verify that the commodity loading, transport, and offloading were flawlessly executed.

Green Worldwide’ s project team crafted such a thorough and ambitious plan that there were no significant issues during these moves. Green’s efforts made this a seamless process for the customer and helped their construction team remain on schedule for their ribbon-cutting ceremony later this year.

Project Overview: Mode of Transport: Breakbulk Heavy-Haul Drayage / Commodity: 600 tons of Manufacturing Machinery / Originations: Italy and India / Destination: Tennessee, USA / Project Dates: December 2022 until April 2023

MAMQ transport Transformer Main Bodies

GPLN member M. Amin M. Qaseem (Pvt) Ltd. (MAMQ) from Pakistan has recently received and delivered 2 units of different type of Auto Transformers together in one go on its Goldhofer multi modular hydraulic trailers from Guddu Power Station to Shiekhupura & Rawat Grid Stations. Both heavy-lift ATRs were dispatched with utmost safety & with highly experienced transit escort team of professionals to take-care the sophisticated cargo throughout all journey.

The single-phase ATR weighed 120 tons payload and was delivered from Guddu to Sheikhupura, while the 550KV Auto Transformer weighed around 160 tons payload was delivered from Sheikhupura to Rawat.

MAMQ mobilized its 10-Axle Lines Goldhofer Hydraulic Trailer from Karachi to Guddu Power Station, loaded the single-phase ATR, delivered the ATR to Sheikhupura Grid Station and then re-loaded a 550KV ATR from Sheikhupura Grid Station and delivered the 550KV ATR to Rawat Grid Station.

The biggest challenge in this job was the provided lead-time which was successfully matched according to the client requirement. Both transformers were delivered to 2 different Grid Stations with perfection in all spheres.

KCTC manage Mexico DBNR Project

SCT Logistics handle various projects

Kita Logistics completes transport for a cement mill

Wallenius Wilhelmsen optimistic for year ahead

Ro-ro operator and GPLN Supporter Wallenius Wilhelmsen is cautiously optimistic about the prospects of the breakbulk industry next year.

While an economic slowdown is expected, the carrier said that there is cause for optimism. Robert Berg, market analysis and finance manager at Wallenius Wilhelmsen, said: “The widespread parts shortages, port congestion and general supply and demand imbalances that have affected supply chains this year are expected to abate somewhat next year and are already improving as 2022 ends.”

Nevertheless, the economic outlook clouds the picture. While this varies from nation to nation, rising energy prices, inflation and declining consumer confidence are weighing on the global economy, which is forecast to grow only modestly at about 2.2 percent in 2023, according to the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The need to decarbonize shipping also complicates the picture, added Wallenius Wilhelmsen, with the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) carbon intensity regulation set to come into effect on January 1, 2023. This will impact capacity. Berg said: “Our job is to follow IMO regulations while taking advantage of two key trends expected to continue in the breakbulk market in 2023: the drive for energy security and decarbonization, which drive investment in renewables and electric vehicles; and supply shortages in the construction equipment market leading to higher prices.”

With the global focus on both sustainability and energy security, investment in green energy is ramping up – and fast. The transition to clean energy has led to an 8 percent increase in the renewable capacity in 2022. This is expected to remain steady in 2023. Renewables have the potential to reduce the EU’s dependency on Russian natural gas next year. This increasing focus on energy security alongside strong policy support in the EU, China and Latin America is accelerating their development, added the carrier.   Statistics also show that electric vehicle sales are booming. This market (and all industries connected to it, both upstream and downstream) look strongly poised for long-term growth, said Wallenius Wilhelmsen. McKinsey predicts that in the USA, 50 percent of all vehicles sold will be electric by 2030. By 2035, all new cars that come onto the market in the EU will be zero emission. All these changes mean that demand for metals used to manufacture EV batteries is expected to grow strongly. This can result in the possibility of an emerging ‘Supercycle’ for commodities, or a permanent step change in demand that cannot be met by supply, leading to prices sitting above incentive levels for an extended period. For example, demand for nickel and cobalt is expected to soar over the next three years compared to the last commodities Supercycle (which took place between 2003 and 2007). Growth in the lithium market will be more modest but still pronounced as demand for electric vehicles continues to grow. The transition to cleaner energy is also expected to see the market for transformers grow strongly over the remainder of the decade, as smart electricity grids are implemented.

“From speaking to our customers, we see new strength in the commitment to investments in sustainability, decarbonization and electrification. It is our job to support and facilitate that by both improving the sustainability of our own operations and acting as part of the supply chain for environmentally-friendly technologies such as EVs,” said Magnus Ödling, vice president, global industrial account development.

In the construction machinery market, there is a shortage of machines. This means that the outlook for 2023 is for relatively high continued sales as manufacturers work through their backlogs. Because order books are full and lead times are long, many suppliers are sold out well into the new year, according to Off Highway Research. And because supply is tight, manufacturers have also been able to increase prices against a backdrop of high inflation. “2022 is shaping up to be a peak year for construction machinery, but volumes will remain strong in a historic context next year,” Berg explained.

Overall, Wallenius Wilhelmsen said, while the economic outlook for 2023 is uncertain, the breakbulk industry can take advantage of underlying trends in the energy and construction sectors to ensure a successful year.

3PL complete important project for Estonia

Holleman transports electric transformer

Total Movements ship critical mining equipment

GPLN member Total Movements from India successfully moved critical mining equipment from foreign ports to the final site in India. An end-to-end movement that demonstrates how Total Movements moved this critical mining equipment through different legs / modes to meet customer expectations and timelines.

1. A 55MT Mobile Crusher unit was transported, loaded and shipped from the foreign load port in a RORO vessel with all the required safety precautions related to its lashing / bedding.
2. A 34MT Mobile Screening unit was planned to be loaded and shipped on a RORO vessel from a different load port. However, due to lack of space & suspension of sailings the cargo had to be moved by other modes. Our team worked closely with the agent / carrier to load this odd-sized cargo in the breakbulk mode using shore cranes.

Both these units were duly received at the Indian port by Total Movements for further transport to the final site. All the cargo was delivered in a safe and timely manner much to the delight of our customer. We’d like to express our gratitude to all the stakeholders who supported us make this shipment a huge success.

Prologis Freight accomplish heavy lift movement

Megalift delivers Generators for Power Plant

Best Global Logistics ship spares

GPLN member Best Global Logistics recently shipped spares from Dubai to Rotterdam. With the rise of oversize cargo transport via container ships, traditional weight loss measures are no longer the only option. Onboard ship spares lashing has emerged as a reliable and efficient alternative, providing a secure method for transporting heavy lift items while ensuring the stability of the vessel. In this article, we will explore the growing trend of onboard ship spares lashing and its advantages over traditional weight loss measures.

We will look at a recent example of successful transportation using onboard lashing equipment, highlighting the effectiveness the method for heavy-lift transportation. How container ships are utilizing onboard lashing for oversized cargo Onboard ship spare lashing has become a popular solution for securing heavy lift items. This was recently demonstrated by the successful transportation of a Bow Thruster, weighing a massive 67,000 kg and occupying 174 cbm of space, which was successfully transported from Dubai to Rotterdam using onboard ship spare lashing.

Moving away from the traditional focus on weight loss, the transportation industry is now looking towards more efficient and cost-effective solutions for securing cargo. We ensured that the shipment was properly secured before departure. The onboard lashing equipment was utilized to secure the vessel and ensure that it remained stable throughout the journey. We monitored it closely to ensure that it remained secure and that the vessel’s stability was not compromised. The shipment arrived safely in Rotterdam, demonstrating the effectiveness and dependability of onboard ship spare lashing as a heavy lift transportation solution.

Container ships are now equipped with onboard lashing equipment. This method ensures the cargo remains secure throughout the journey, reducing the risk of damage or loss. This innovative solution has been gaining popularity due to its numerous advantages, including increased efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

PROTRANSER handles multiple shipments

GPLN member Protranser from China delivered in December 2022 cargo from Qingdao, North China, to Central and South America. The cargo was a Grinding Mill Cylinder and the weight and dimension of the cargo was 74.000 kgs / L14.110 x W4040 x H4090 MM. The original plan was to ship it from Shanghai as BBK, but the carrier changed schedules and canceled the shipment suddenly after the shipper delivered the cargo to Shanghai. Our team offered an alternative solution in a short time which was to deliver the cargo to Qingdao by truck and book space on a breakbulk vessel. The carrier required to add other lashing points to the cargo body, but after careful discussion by the engineering teams of the seller and buyer, it was not possible because it was not safe to the cargo. Due to this fact we also helped to provide a professional lashing / securing plan for it. Finally, the cargo was shipped successfully. Protranser’s team delivered also 4 sets of wind blades from Taicang, China to Rostock, Germany. The length of 3 sets was 75 meters and the length of the rest one is 69 meters. Working scope included picking up cargo service, chartering service of breakbulk vessel. Protranser delivered 1800 CBM cargo from Karachi, Pakistan to Umm Qasr, Iraq for an Oil & Gas project. The weight of the heaviest unit was 45 tons, the widest one was 6.1 meters and the highest one 4.7 meters. The commodity included a Condensate Drum, Deaerator Tank and so on. Working scope was chartering service of a breakbulk vessel.

© Protranser International Logistics Co., Ltd. All rights reserved

Furthermore, Protranser delivered also over 200 CBM of equipment from Changshu, Jiangsu province, East China to North America. Our working scope included picking up service (from Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, 330km away to Changshu), port service and chartering service of breakbulk vessel. Protranser delivered also over 13,000 CBM of steel structures and equipment from Qingdao, North China to Oran, Algeria. All cargo was shipped in two lots for a 2.5 million tons of direct reduced iron project. Working scope included port service and chartering service of breakbulk vessel.Protranser delivered also over 3,000 CBM equipment from Shanghai to Laem Chabang, Thailand, for a bridge construction project. All cargo were shipped in two lots by breakbulk vessel. Working scope includes port service and chartering service of BB vessel.

In another shipment Protranser delivered Roll Rubber Conveyor Belts to overseas by containers vessel and breakbulk vessel. They shipped 10*20’OT from Shanghai to Laem Chabang, Thailand with a weight of each roll of 11 tons; and shipped 2 rolls of 44 tons from Taicang to door in Canada via Baltimore port in US, including an inland transport distance of 2,500 km.Protranser delivered also over 2,000 CBM construction machineries from Lianyungang, East China to 4 different PODs in the Persian Gulf. The lot of cargo included 11x wheel loaders and 12 motor graders, which were loaded on the same BB vessel. Working scope was from picking up, port service and chartering service of BB vessel.Finally, Protranser delivered 9 tanks from Shanghai to Taiwan for a Chip factory expansion project. Total volume was 9pcs / 119.45mt / 734.52 CBM. Working scope included port service and chartering service of BB vessel from Shanghai to Kaohsiung.

Polaris Projects division busy in January 2023

GPLN member Polaris Projects, project division of Polaris Shipping Agencies LLC, United Arab Emirates opened 2023 with a busy January, thanks to our overseas associates & partners, esteemed clients who made this possible.

Polaris Projects in total handled a parcel of 15000 freight tons of Carbon Steel Seamless Pipes at Jebel Ali for our multiple close Clients with our scope being receiving the cargo from under hook vessel, arranging to shift the pipes to Polaris nominated handling yard for dismantling of the bundles and further delivery to receivers nominated centers for necessary treatment.  Thanks for Polaris’s special pipe handling team/ suitable purpose-built handling spreaders to execute the dismantling process with zero damages. This pipes after treatment will be shipped to Far East and CIS destinations which also will be handled by Polaris on completion of required lining process by relevant contractors. As far as handling of Pipes, Polaris team handle pipes in all Middle East Ports for several reputed Pipe Manufactures in addition to providing competitive freight solutions by Air / Sea or dedicated charter services as well as over land transport to other GCC depots. Polaris scope for above project covers following;

1.Receiving of bundled pipes from Under hook vessel / 2. Shifting to our dedicated storage area / 3. Sorting / segregations, delivery to nominated yard / 4. All import and export procedures + Ocean Freight as Break Bulk/ Containers / 5. Condition survey/ reporting throughout as required by Clients

Polaris Projects also successfully completed shipment for the Al Qatrana IPP 2 Combined Cycle Power Project, Jordan as well as several critical shipments for the under 20 Asia Cup to be held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. For Al Qatarana Project, site located in Amman, Jordan all shipments were to be moved on temporary export and to be returned back on completion of project which was smoothly handled to the satisfaction of all involved.

Furthermore, Polaris moved around 18 x 40’ special trailers & 10 x Low Beds with Construction equipment’s from Abu Dhabi, UAE to Amman in Jordan for our close Clients. Polaris with its network of border agents at all exit / transit points are able to arrange seamless road freight to/from all GCC destinations irrespective of the type and size of cargo.

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank sponsor to thank all of our sponsors for their great support or our upcoming 18th Annual General Meeting in Rotterdam. Please see below the names of our supporters.

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