This week's round up of news from the world of heavy lift and project forwarding.

In just a few weeks, the Scottish people will get their opportunity to vote on independence from the United Kingdom and it was interesting to read the results of a survey by accounting firm, Moore Stephens, which concluded that an independent Scotland would have an adverse effect on the Scottish shipping and offshore maritime sector.

The survey sought the views of leading members of the international shipping community on the predicted impact on Scotland's shipping and offshore maritime industry if the country votes for independence on September 18th. Just over half of those surveyed felt that a vote for independence would have a detrimental effect, while two thirds of the 45 percent of respondents, who have an existing business relationship with Scotland, felt it would have a negative impact.

The major issue is clearly North Sea oil and gas reserves (or more precisely the tax take from Scotland's share), which are vital to the Scottish government's case for independence, and important to the business activities of many HLPFI readers. Whilst the North Sea has been a source of significant revenues for many of those readers, now the oil and gas is getting harder to recover, HLPFI is left to wonder whether it is more important than ever to back the industry with the support of the existing United Kingdom.

This week's Friday Flyer is sponsored by Crowley Solutions, an organisation offering turn-key solutions for clients with marine infrastructure, offshore construction and marine cargo and logistics projects. Crowley provides project management, marine engineering, heavy lift barge transportation, ocean towing, marine project logistics, DP2 tugs to 150 tonnes and barges to 400 ft x 130 ft.


In business

Deltamarin established a subsidiary, Deltamarin Floating Construction, to focus on delivering engineering, procurement, construction and installation solutions.

Lerwick Port Authority is undertaking a USD19.8m quayside infrastructure project at Dales Voe South to support oil and gas decommissioning in Shetland.

Antonov Airlines appointed Bertling Logistics as its agent to promote and offer AN-225 airlift capacity in the USA.


Capacity developments

Peterson Construction added a Terex RT 670-1 rough terrain crane to its fleet, whilst TIS Group ordered three new Goldhofer PST/SL-E heavy-duty modular transporters.

DNV GL developed an interactive Arctic risk map to present the dangers associated with offshore and maritime activities in the Arctic.

Emirates SkyCargo added Los Angeles to its network of freighter destinations in the USA.

CAL Cargo Airlines purchased a Boeing 747-400-ERF, while Silk Way Airlines took delivery of two Boeing 747-8 freighters.

Logística Intermodal (Log-In) signed an agreement with BBC Chartering to charter the vessel BBC Scandinavia.


Shipments of the week

The floating dry dock Vigorous, which was constructed by ZPMC in China, arrived in Portland, USA this week onboard Dockwise's semi-submersible heavy lift vessel Blue Marlin (pictured top right).

R&B Global Projects chartered a heavy lift vessel to transport six transformers, the heaviest of which weighed 120 tonnes, from Croatia's Rijeka port to Doha, Qatar.

Sevenstar EMT transported two 360-tonne marine patrol crafts (pictured second right) from Norfolk, Virginia to the port of Bahrain on board the semi-submersible vessel Super Servant 4.

Rickmers-Linie was chosen by Kirow to transport six railway cranes from Hamburg to Xingang (pictured bottom right), with 20 more units set to follow in 2015.

Other notable projects reported by HLPFI this week can be seen on the archive news area of our website.

Got some shipment news of your own? Send it in to editorial@heavyliftpfi.com


Capital projects and contracts

China Three Gorges Corp signed an agreement with China National Nuclear Corp to develop USD10.9bn worth of nuclear power assets in the People's Republic.

Siemens Energy received an order from Statoil and Statkraft for the Dudgeon Offshore Wind Farm in the UK.

Gazprom Neft is upgrading its Moscow Refinery, which will see it install new furnaces and renovate the existing ones.

For a fuller round up of capital projects and contracts announced this week please visit the HLPFI website or contact David Kershaw.


On the move

Jurong Port appointed Boon Hoe Ooi (pictured) as its new chief executive officer, while UK ports operator RMS Group appointed Craig Hodgson as group commercial manager and David Allen as group business development manager. Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG) will be headed by a new management team from January 1, 2015, with Markus Bartsch joining the company as new chief executive officer. The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) opened a new office in Beijing, while Westlink Logistics opened a new facility in Brisbane, Australia. Nautilus International Holding Corp., along with its subsidiaries, is moving into new premises in Long Beach, California.


Network and association developments

The XLProjects (XLP) network gained Sweden's Global Freight Solutions (G-Solutions), as well as Alpha Projects & Logistics in Turkey. Beirut, Lebanon based Navigators joined the Global Project Logistics Network (GPLN). Project Professionals Group (PPG) welcomed Baselogístika/ICI Proyectos as a new member for Mexico, while the Pacific Power Logistics (PPL) network added Kuwait's Dolphin Shipping and Logistics to its roster. The Project Cargo Network (PCN) enlisted MGL Cargo Services as a new member representing Egypt.


All about Evie

While the rest of the HLPFI team were monkeying around in the office this week, Evie was delighted to catch sight of a group of primates, who, in an attempt to save a few quid, stealthily crept onboard a Maersk container vessel and took a trip from Malaysia to the Netherlands.

Leaving the apes behind, Evie took a trip to London Thamesport and was surprised to see two fully-furnished hotel rooms being shipped as one container-sized cargo.

She also congratulates forwarding network guru Rachel Humphrey, who recently launched the Cargo Connections network to complement the Universal Freight Organisation (UFO), which was established in 2000 and the Project Cargo Network (PCN), which was established in 2010.

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