This week's round up of news from the world of heavy lift and project forwarding.
This week saw a clear demonstration that infrastructure assets are attractive to institutions like pension funds because of the long-term investment opportunity and stable returns that they represent.
The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) and Hermes Infrastructure announced that they are to buy a 30 percent stake in Associated British Ports for about GBP1.6 bn (USD2.4 bn), and may acquire a further 3.33 percent, depending on pre-exemption rights.
Cressida Hogg, managing director & global head of infrastructure at CPPIB says that "she is excited about this unique opportunity to invest in a significant portfolio of landlord ports with a proven track record of steady operational performance".
And so she should be since ABP has had a fairly decent track record for delivering long-term predictable inflation-linked cash flows, with robust cash yields, since it was privatised in the early 1980s.
In business
Shipping confidence slides again
Overall confidence in the shipping industry fell to its lowest level for two and a half years during the three months up to February 2015, according to Moore Stephens' latest Shipping Confidence Survey.
The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) and Hermes Infrastructure will acquire a 30 percent stake in Associated British Ports (ABP) for about GBP1.6 bn (USD2.4 bn), and may acquire a further 3.33 percent, depending on pre-exemption rights.
Meriaura Group has sold logistics and transport company Pernotrans to its managing director Mika Suomalainen and his brother Jari Suomalainen.
Contractual obligations
Mammoet has been awarded the heavy lift and heavy haulage contract for the Cameron LNG project in Hackberry, Louisiana.
Swire Tasmania deal falls through
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the Tasmanian government and Swire Shipping has expired, due to the economic case for a direct international service linking Tasmania to global markets no longer being sustainable.
Capacity developments
Spliethoff has increased the frequency of its Cleveland-Europe Express (CEE) service between Antwerp and Cleveland from one to two sailings per month.
HighwayTrailer MES makes US debut
Scheuerle - a member of the TII Group - has introduced a new heavy-duty trailer into the North American market - the HighwayTrailer MES (Modular Extra Strong).
ABC adds Hanoi and Los Angeles
AirBridgeCargo Airlines (ABC) launched a twice-weekly freighter services connecting Hanoi, Vietnam and its Moscow Sheremetyevo hub, effective April 1. It also launched a new service connecting Moscow and Los Angeles.
Qargo adds straddle carrier at Rotterdam
Qargo Packers says it has become the first company at the Port of Rotterdam to operate a Combilift straddle carrier (Combi-SC).
Meriaura Group has signed a contract with Dutch shipyard Royal Bodewes for building two 4,700DWT VG EcoCoaster general cargo vessels.
Shipment of the week
SAL Heavy Lift's multipurpose vessel Svenja loaded and unloaded eight Damen tug boats and an E-house (electrical house) on a voyage from Vietnam to the Netherlands.
On the move
DVB Bank adds shipping expert
Bart Veldhuizen has joined the Board of Managing Directors of DVB Bank SE.
Network and association developments
Leman has joined the Project Cargo Network (PCN) as its newest representative in the USA.
The XLProjects (XLP) network welcomed Beijing Oriental Fortune International Transportation Agent (BOFIT) as a new member in China.
All about Evie
As a keen animal lover, Evie was touched when she saw IAG Cargo safely transport four endangered white rhinos from Johannesburg to Miami, via London, as part of a conservation project.
![WWPC VietnamGroup[45]](https://d3i5hb7w7uz115.cloudfront.net/Pictures/100x67/7/3/0/14730_wwpcvietnamgroup45_547333.jpg)
