This week's round up of news from the world of heavy lift and project forwarding.
HLPFI was impressed by news from Royal Boskalis Westminster this week, which reported record net annual profits for 2014 of EUR490mn (USD521mn).
The company says that its offshore energy business had a good year with high fleet utilisation and good project margins, whilst in its first full year with the group, the result achieved by Dockwise was an all-time high.
Boskalis ceo Peter Berdowski says that although the current market environment offers a mixed picture, with some challenging conditions in the offshore energy industry, it also presents opportunities, even for selective growth.
In regards to the offshore energy market, Boskalis believes that whilst the short term is strongly impacted by the low oil price, in the medium to long term the development of prosperity and economic growth will drive the demand for energy. Which should be good news for all our readers.
In business
2014: a 'challenging year' for Nurminen
Nurminen Logistics ceo Olli Pohjanvirta says 2014 was a "challenging year" for the company due to the unexpected crisis in Ukraine and the exceptional decrease in the price of oil.
Royal Boskalis Westminster (Boskalis) achieved a record net profit of EUR490mn (USD521mn) in 2014, compared with EUR366mn (USD389mn) in 2013.
Toll Group has acquired mining and industrial services provider ODT Australis.
Capacity developments
Singapore-headquartered AAL is planning to further increase the size of its fleet to over 500,000 dwt in 2015.
Intermarine has marked the beginning of its 'Fleet of the Future' deliveries with the maiden voyage of the new 20,000 dwt multipurpose vessel Industrial Grand.
Liebherr launches 'new benchmark'
Liebherr Maritime Cranes has launched its new 308-tonne capacity LHM 800 mobile harbour crane.
Offshore wind industry welcomes Boom Lock
High Wind has launched its Boom Lock system, which facilitates the safe installation of wind turbine components in winds of up to 15 m/s.
GPA launches breakbulk tracking system
The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) has introduced a new tracking system to process breakbulk cargo more quickly, and provide real-time freight tracking.
Ritchie Bros. is to conduct a multi-million dollar crane and transportation auction for Casper, Wyoming based Energy Transportation.
Shipment of the week
HLI Rail & Rigging has completed the transhipment of a 111-tonne boiler from a girder bridge trailer on to a Goldhofer trailer at the company's yard in Laredo, Texas.
On the move
Hansa Heavy Lift has appointed chief commercial officer (cco) Joerg Roehl to manage the shipping company's business in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region.
Saudi Arabia's Almajdouie Logistics has appointed Kim Bjerner Rathsack to lead the group's logistics activities.
Thomas Lieb has resigned from his position as head of business unit DB Schenker Logistics and chairman of Schenker AG's management board.
German trailer manufacturer Doll Fahrzeugbau has appointed Lorenz Dietsche as the company's chief sales officer.
London Offshore Consultants (LOC) has expanded its Australian operations with the opening of a new office in Sydney.
Network and association developments
The XLProjects (XLP) network welcomed First Global Logistics as a new member in Egypt, as well as Swift Worldwide Logistics in Qatar.
Agencia Unidas joined the Global Project Logistics Network (GPLN) as a new member in Costa Rica, while the network also added C. Steinweg as a representative in South Africa.
All about Evie
Evie enjoyed joining almost 450 participants at the SC&RA's 2015 Specialized Transportation Symposium in Atlanta last week, which included meetings of regional and state highway and transportation officials, as well as various educational sessions.
She is already looking forward to attending next year's event, which will be held from March 1-4, 2016 at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee.
Evie also joins ALE's Spanish branch in congratulating a number of professionals, who were awarded prizes by ALE at an award ceremony celebrating the achievements of the country's top civil engineers.
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