Insight
Storm risks and fires at sea highlight insurance challenge
As the offshore wind energy sector develops off the US East Coast, the insurance sector is struggling to keep pace with its unique and concentrated risks, compounded by the lack of suitable catastrophe models. Meanwhile, two serious fires at sea have reignited concerns over the safe transport of electric vehicles and hazardous materials, underlining persistent vulnerabilities in the maritime sector. Gregory DL Morris reports.
WireCo expands range to meet heavy lift demands
USA-based WireCo has strengthened its position in the rope market with three new high-performance solutions – Casar Lazerlift, Casar Boomfit, and Oliveira Durascend. Joshua Allen spoke with the company’s chief technical officer David Rowatt to discuss the merits of each product.
Brazil struggles under weight of regulation and infrastructure
Brazil’s project cargo sector faces a complex web of inland bottlenecks, volatile trade dynamics, and lingering investor uncertainty. As global freight patterns shift and tariffs seesaw, local infrastructure and bureaucracy remain the true barriers to progress.
Data centre boom requires energy sector scale-up
Investment in data centres is surging at an unprecedented pace, and the global supply chain is rapidly mobilising to deliver the large-scale infrastructure needed to support this growth. As these facilities come online, a diverse and scalable energy mix will be essential to meet their rising electricity requirements.
TGP trains sights on Southeast Asia
Earlier this year, project forwarder Trans Global Projects (TGP) established an office in Shah Alam, Malaysia to tap into what it described as a “strategic hub” and strengthen its presence across Southeast Asia. Led by Lim Ling Ling – well known to the Southeast Asian project market having spent upwards of 30 years at Megalift – the TGP team in Malaysia is currently operating with a lean, core team focused on establishing operational foundations and client engagement.
Tackling battery fire risks head-on
The transport of lithium-ion batteries presents unique fire risks for the marine shipping sector. Fires can be difficult to extinguish, burn at extremely high temperatures, generate flammable and toxic gases, and may reignite even after being seemingly controlled. A spate of high-profile vessel fires involving electric vehicles (EV) has highlighted the urgent need for effective mitigation strategies. In response, classification societies, manufacturers and shipping lines are taking steps to address the issue.
Logisticians ramp up for solar, storage, LNG and FPSO growth
As several Southeast Asian nations ramp up their renewable energy goals and carbon capture initiatives, project logistics providers are seizing opportunities across solar, battery storage, LNG. Meanwhile, traditional FPSO supply chains continue to generate steady work.
Clean energy and infrastructure drive heavy lift growth in ASEAN region
There is strong project cargo demand in Southeast Asia, driven by energy, infrastructure and industrial projects. Several headwinds are affecting the sector but optimism is high. This time last year, HLPFI discussed the role of the ‘China plus one’ business model in Southeast Asia’s project cargo activity. While this trend continues, Southeast Asia still faces tough competition from China.
Heavy-duty railfreight: Full steam ahead, despite bottlenecks
Robust demand has created a steady flow of heavy and project cargoes on North America’s railways, with power transmission infrastructure continuing to make up the bulk of loads moved. Although costs and clearance times continue to rise, demand looks set to continue upwards.
AI and automation reshape logistics roles
Growing civil engineering industry implementation of automation and AI will have increasingly significant implications for logistics providers working on projects in that sector, writes Phil Hastings.
The Internationalist: Riccardo Tippmann
Justin Archard sits down with Riccardo Tippmann in Dubai to reflect on a 50-year career in heavy lift and transport – from Cold War convoys and oil booms to the parbuckling of Costa Concordia – and why, at 68, he’s still not ready to stop.
Container lines build on niche opportunities
As global trade routes shift and container markets face oversupply and uncertainty, leading shipping lines are turning to project cargo, breakbulk, and out-of-gauge (OOG) shipments as a strategic growth area—investing in specialised equipment, sustainability, and service expertise to support complex logistics demands. Mike Bryant reports.
