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

The world of ocean freight was agog this week as China effectively sank the P3 Network, the global container shipping alliance planned by AP Moller-Maersk, MSC and CMA CGM, after its Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said that it would rule out allowing the tie-up to go forward.

The P3 players have stopped work on the proposed network and it will not come into existence. Who knows, perhaps the Chinese decision will force regulators to take a much closer look at regulatory standards as they apply to the new era of huge vessel sharing agreements.

Meanwhile, HLPFI has got no closer to finding out the reasons for Jumbo's 11th hour decision to cancel the contract for the Jumbo Kinetic. The Croatian media is full of speculation with construction delays cited as the main cause.

Jumbo remains tight-lipped, but its competitors with ships able to operate in the super heavy lift environment must be pleased at the news that another vessel will not be entering the market just yet.

This week's Friday Flyer is sponsored by NYK Bulk & Projects Carriers (NBPC). Formed in October 2013 through the merger of NYK-Hinode Line and NYK Global Bulk Corporation, NBPC combines one of the world's largest specialists in handy bulk carriers, with Hinode's advanced maritime know-how in the transport of a variety of cargo, such as plant and heavy equipment.


In the corporate world

Mammoet Europe expressed its intention to sell a large part of its maritime fleet to Hebo Maritiemservice.

Liebherr Group posted a turnover of USD12.12 billion in 2013, against a background of moderate international progress.

The merging of Speter SpA and La Spezia Container Terminal (LSCT) has been approved by both companies' boards of directors.


Capacity developments

Collett Transport will be presented with its new Scheuerle STB 550 side girder deck (pictured top right) in Pfedelbach next week.

After a two-month delay, Cargolux launched scheduled services between Luxembourg and Zhengzhou.

The first steel was cut for BigRoll Shipping's new 21,000 dwt MC class module carrier, BigRoll Barentsz (pictured bottom right).

Sarjak Container Lines enhanced its over-dimensional cargo transportation services by introducing new routes to Japan.

The pre-construction, engineering and design (PED) phase of the Jacksonville harbour deepening project has begun.


Shipments of the week

WWL ALS delivered a dismantled 1,300-tonne tunnel boring machine, Jessica, through London from Stepney Green to Limmo Peninsular as part of the Crossrail project (pictured top right).

Reshamsing & Co. coordinated the delivery of 90,000 freight tonnes of cargo for a bridge development in Delhi.

Tuscor Lloyds transported a 58-tonne cable reel (pictured second right) from Newcastle to Manila via the South Korean port of Busan.

Specialized Power Logistics handled the delivery of a 226-tonne transformer in New York (pictured bottom right).

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

A Skanska-led venture with Kiewit and ECCO III Enterprises signed a USD555 million contract to design and build the new Kosciuszko Bridge in New York City, USA.

First Solar, Inc. was chosen by energy company Tenaska Solar Ventures to design and build the 150 MW Tenaska Imperial Solar Energy Center West project near El Centro, California.

UK and China signed two agreements enabling Chinese companies to invest in nuclear power plant projects, and to build Chinese-design nuclear reactors in the UK.

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

At Blue Water Shipping, Soren Nielsen is the new director of the general cargo division. Ex-head of Americas at Clipper Projects, Steven Neuendorff (pictured), was appointed head of Americas for Hansa Heavy Lift this week. Elsewhere, Martin Bencher Qingdao relocated its operations to a new address. GAC assigned Gerrit Laubscher, business development manager of oil and gas for sub-Saharan Africa, to its base in Houston.


Network news

The Project Cargo Network (PCN) welcomed Ryano Logistics' division in Peru as a new representative. Ecuador's Carget Logistics joined the Pacific Power Logistics (PPL) network, while the Global Project Logistics Network (GPLN) added India's Premier Global Logistics to its roster.


All about Evie

Rejection is a bitter pill to swallow and Evie's heart goes out to the three shipping lines whose plans for a mega container alliance have been rejected by the Chinese authorities.

She feels less charitable towards the proponents of the HidroAysen project, which the Chilean government rejected recently. It would have been the biggest energy project in the country's history, with five huge dams built on two rivers in a beautiful part of Patagonia.

No doubt, these giant dams would have delivered a boost for the country's project forwarders, but put at risk the wilderness, traditional culture, and local tourism economy of this remarkable region.

 

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