This week's round up of news from the world of heavy lift and project forwarding.
This week saw thousands of industry professionals descend on the Belgian city of Antwerp for Breakbulk Europe 2014 - the largest exhibition dedicated to the world of heavy lift, project and breakbulk cargo.
Sponsored by the Port of Antwerp, the event provided a chance for those involved in the industry to network, do business, meet like-minded professionals from around the world and make long-lasting friends.
Over 6,500 delegates and exhibitors attended the show, suggesting a renewed optimism for the sector. Shipping lines, although struggling, expressed confidence that 2014 would begin to bear them fruit and with a number of major vessel orders rolling in this week, it seems that the upward climb has already begun.
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
Boskalis reported year-on-year growth in revenues in the first quarter of 2014 compared with 2013.
Geodis Wilson formed a joint venture with regional warehousing and distribution specialist Banz Group in Bahrain (pictured).
Toll Group opened a new AUD86 million (USD80.8 million) depot in Karawatha, Brisbane.
The UK P&I Club saw the restoration of its full 'A' rating by Standard & Poor's.
Capacity developments
Intermarine is adding 15 new vessels from the Taizhou Sanfu Shipyard and Huanghai Shipyard in China to its fleet.
Jumbo launched its second K3000 class vessel, Jumbo Fairmaster, while Estonia's Western Baltija Shipbuilding launched the multipurpose vessel Anetta and the dry cargo vessel Neva-Leader 8 was launched by the Nevsky Shipyard for North-Western Shipping Company (NWSC).
MacGregor won a contract to supply seven hydraulically-operated linkspan bridges to the Port of Stockholm.
Deep South Crane & Rigging became the first company in the USA to take delivery of the Terex AC 1000 all terrain crane.
Zuidnatie nv inaugurated two new Terex Gottwald Model 8 mobile harbour cranes at the Port of Antwerp.
Kent's Manston Airport closed its doors on May 15.
Shipments of the week
Allcargo Logistics loaded nine pieces of heavy and out-of-gauge cargo from Jawaharlal Nehru Port's shallow berth using its multipurpose vessel, Allcargo Susheela.
Coscol's heavy lift vessel DA KANG (pictured top right) lifted two 615-tonne tug boats in Haiphong, Vietnam - the first time the ship had completed a single lift of over 600 tonnes, claimed Coscol.
CEA Projects coordinated the discharge of a Kobelco CKE1800 crawler crane (pictured second right), of which the heaviest piece weighed 40.77 tonnes, from a barge at Thailand's Sattahip Port.
Mammoet transported a 89-tonne abandoned bridge to its new location in Chicago using two ten-axle line self-propelled modular transporters and a four-point jacking system.
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
Siemens Energy has secured an order for nine 2.3 MW geared turbines for the Carroll wind power plant in Iowa, USA.
A JV between Skanska and Strabag signed an agreement with the Norwegian Rail Administration to build a railway tunnel in Norway.
Drake & Scull International won a major deal worth USD600 million related to Egypt's new TPC Project.
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
Henrik Ramskov (pictured) stepped down as ceo of Thorco Shipping, with Thomas Nørballe Mikkelsen and Kent Hedegaard set to take over the joint management of the company. Magnus Björkman was appointed chief financial officer of Sarens Group. Global Cranes moved into its new global headquarters in Houston, while UTi Worldwide also opened a freight forwarding facility in Houston with a particular focus on the energy sector. Faymonville inaugurated a 2,535 sq m service station in Noginsk, Russia.
Network news
Seven Seas Shipping's Lebanon branch joined the Pacific Power Logistics (PPL) network. The Project Cargo Network (PCN) held its first free networking event for project cargo and heavy lift specialists alongside the Breakbulk exhibition in Antwerp.
All about Evie
A busy week for Evie this week, which started in Rotterdam with a useful tour organised by the port authority of its various breakbulk terminals. She had never seen so many aluminium products awaiting customers' orders.
Then it was off to Antwerp for the inauguration of Zuidnatie's two new Terex Gottwald Model 8 mobile harbour cranes, prior to her annual trek around the Breakbulk Europe event.
The general opinion of the attendees was that it was probably the best ever Breakbulk show, although Evie would love it if the organisers let HLPFI have a booth so that she could meet up with everyone in person.
Best goodie bag goes to Tuscor Lloyds. Best stand item goes to Nirint Shipping with their black VW van that doubled as a cocktail bar. Rotterdam provided the biggest surprise with an innovative piece of stealth marketing in the main square on Wednesday, which saw representatives of the port authority reveal a huge banner marketing their love of breakbulk high above the heads of revellers at the street party, which has become a feature of the event.
