Dear Readers,
This editorial is going to be a bit special. It is written on the high seas. Since May 23rd, I have been a passenger onboard mv UHL FABLE, a heavy lift vessel operated by United Heavy Lift in Hamburg traveling from Port Klang, Malaysia to Denmark.
As some of you might know, one of my favourite pastimes is traveling by freighter whenever it is possible. I have done so since 2005. When I look at my seaman’s book, I can see that I have travelled almost once a year.
Communication has evolved greatly since the first days onboard. Nowadays, Starlink, the Elon Musk internet system, is working very well in general and also on this vessel. I can send and receive emails, use WhatsApp for calls and shorter videos, etc. So being alone on the high seas is a “thing of the past” so to speak. Of course having said that, face-to-face will never be replaced by any kind of internet – and thank God for that. Here is, by the way, an interview with the master of the vessel I am on. I hope you will find it as interesting as I did.
One thing to note in particular with regards to UHL is that safety and the whole concept on having safety and security at the core of doing business is part of their DNA. Words on a piece of paper or a “code on conduct” is meaningless unless it is also practised for real, however I can confirm with “hands on” experience onboard (watching as passenger) that it is indeed practised in everything they do!
My 16-year-old son is accompanying me on this trip with kind permission from his school. We have brought school work which we do in one-to-one sessions in my cabin both morning and afternoon. Along with the unforgettable experience of the ocean—through both calm and stormy weather—hopefully, it will offer him more than just endless hours spent toiling over books.
I have often found that the most innovative and worldly people actually didn’t do exceedingly well in school. Some parents, however, are obsessed with their kids’ grades instead of focusing on their mental well-being in our overly wired society. Seldom has more diagnoses been dished out for ADHD, lack of focus, inability to read and so on.
Perhaps as parents, we need a revamp of our priorities. Children want time with their parents, too, but do we have it? “Monkey see, monkey do” as the saying goes and are we role models?
When I was 6, I was on board Thyra Torm from San Juan, Puerto Rico via Panama and Japan to South Africa. That was in 1968. I am quite sure it helped shape who I became.
The time onboard (35 days) with my son is indispensable, and it is now the 4th such child that I have brought along with me onboard. The jury is out on the result, but if the focus is to have quality time with your teenager and learn to understand him better, the result is in and it is only positive!
There is a lot out there for teenagers nowadays, and in their formative years we parents really need to be alert. Internet grooming is another issue that, for example, in Sweden and no doubt other Western countries is well and sadly so well developed. Recruiting of gangster wanna-be’s (down to 11-12 year-olds) using Snapchat or other media services is rife, and both parents and police are often too late in preventing it. But at the very least, there is now attention. Hopefully at some point, besides the focus on endless profits, there will also be more accountability from the social media companies regarding their algorithms. But the buck starts and stops with the parents ultimately.
The trip so far has been great. I am writing this editorial close to Durban. When I mentioned on LinkedIn that I was close to Madagascar, a friend of mine (strangely enough also named Bo and now retired in Thailand) sent me a short story about his time in/around Madagascar working in shipping even along with my late father. Read here.
Being happy out here on the high seas, and with reduced exposure to the endless news feed, makes me feel pretty relaxed. I am currently on my 4th book and still have 3 books to ply through before arriving in Denmark on or about the 30th of June. Reading is a pastime that I always enjoyed. Yet ashore, I have always or often felt too busy to settle down and focus on the many books I have compiled in my small library at home (Santiago, Chile) and learning Spanish is, of course, something I should now start to do….but let us see. Perhaps I have indeed become a bit “lazy” in my older years.
I am thoroughly behind on the shipping news and although I can download emails out here, I have made a point of disregarding the newsletters. Having said that, I hope that you won’t disregard this one!
What is interesting in this month’s newsletter is that we have got an interview with the captain of the vessel I, along with my son, are passengers on. It is very interesting to hear from him about his experience as commanding a heavy lift vessel around the world does require both skill, a sense of responsibility, and the ability to manage an international crew so that they work seamlessly together—something that he indeed masters well so to speak!
So without further ado, let me inform you what we have got in store for you in this newsletter besides the interview with the captain:
1. Re-publish our interview with United Heavy Lift in Hamburg and their commercial management
2. Interview with a specialist in coaching woman in leadership and professional development.
We, of course, provide you with shipping news, trade intelligence, wise words and featured pictures and a video of the month.
I shall be taking a break in the month of July and will be focusing on spending time with my now 82-year-old mum in Grenaa, Denmark. Hopefully, the weather in Denmark will be kind and without too much rain. When the summer is on in Scandinavia, it is indeed the place to be if, as they say in shipping language: WP (weather permitting).
Wishing everyone well and we shall be back on August 15th after the July break.
I remain,
With best regards,
Yours sincerely,
Bo H. Drewsen
bo.drewsen@projectcargo-weekly.com
P.S. A tip for you to read, this one from a former employee of Facebook – It sheds some light on many things for you regarding social media and the downside of it as well. Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism
United Heavy Lift – Interview
YAS Coaching & Training – Interview
Interview with
Ms. Yasmina Rauber
Founder
First of all Yasmina, could you tell our readers a little about your background. There are many coaches out there so to speak. Why did you become one?
I began my career in Trading & Shipping in 1995. At the time, I was often the only woman in the room —an ambitious professional determined to become a trader. As I advanced in my career, I became increasingly aware of the biases held by some members of management.
transport logistic and HLPFI partner to launch global project cargo platform
Editor’s Note:
Yet another exhibition dedicated to project cargo, this time together with transport logistic trade fairs. Organized by Messe München, organiser of the large transport logistic exhibition held in Munich.
“Southeast Asia is where the future of project logistics is being shaped,” said Michael Wilton, Managing Director of MMI Asia Pte Ltd.
At the heart of this partnership is project cargo – a dedicated exhibition area that will debut across international transport logistic trade fairs, beginning in Singapore (October 29-31, 2025), and continuing Miami (November 11-13, 2025), Mumbai (February 25-27, 2026), Shanghai (June 24-26, 2026), Istanbul (November 2026), and Nairobi (February 2027).
More sanctioned ‘shadow tankers’ along Norwegian Arctic coast
Editor’s Note:
Sanctions never worked against those in power on the contrary. But at least EU feel they are then not a toothless tiger… (we know the truth most of us) as the EU in today’s world of global politics is in some ways irrelevant.
The 17th package of sanctions against Russia is aimed at cutting off Russia’s access to key military technology and curbing Russia’s energy revenues that fuel its war of aggression against Ukraine, the EU Council emphasised in its announcement on May 20.
Wan Hai christens eleventh 13100 TEU containership
Editor’s Note:
Wan Hai is not so known at least not in Europe although they were around for a little while with PIL I think it was on Asia/EU trade. However they keep on building new and large containerships so along with compatriots Evergreen and Yangming Line the small island does have an impact on world shipping.
Wan Hai Lines had signed a total of thirteen 13,100 teu containerships with Samsung Heavy Industries since 2021. WAN HAI A18 is the eleventh vessel in this series and is expected to be delivered in early April. Upon delivery, she will join Wan Hai Lines’ Asia to West Coast of South America service, “ASA”.
Cargo Ship NCL Salten Runs Aground Just Meters from Norwegian Home
Editor’s Note:
Falling asleep at the helm is not good for anyone and it almost woke this man up in Norway. But Norwegians generally sleep well as they live in a safe country and rumour has it that the noise of the oncoming vessel didn’t wake up the owner of the house…
Johan Helberg, a resident of the Trøndelag region, was completely unaware of the drama unfolding outside his window. According to Norway’s national broadcaster NRK, Helberg said he only woke up when a neighbor rang his doorbell early in the morning. Stepping outside, he was met with the surreal sight of a 90-meter cargo vessel looming just meters from his house.
Elements Green lands connection approval for hybrid project
United Kingdom-headquartered solar and energy storage developer Elements Green announced it has received formal technical clearance for grid connection for the Eurimbula Solar Farm project being developed near the industrial city of Gladstone in central Queensland.
Desay Battery and DOS Sign Strategic Cooperation Agreement for 4GWh Energy Storage Power Station
Against the backdrop of the accelerating global advancement towards carbon neutrality, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regions are undergoing an unprecedented energy transformation. As the core areas of traditional oil and gas resources, Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have successively launched initiatives like “Vision 2030” and “Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Strategy,” striving to seize the initiative in the energy transition.
Minesto joins World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan as part of the Swedish official delegation
Minesto, leading technology developer in ocean energy, joins the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, as part of the Swedish official delegation and partner to the Nordic Pavilion. Today 14 May, Sweden celebrated its national day at World Expo, the delegation led by HM King Carl XVI Gustaf. Minesto CEO Dr. Martin Edlund was invited to join the visit and ceremony as part of the Swedish official delegation.
Huasun Energy And Next2Sun Form Exclusive Partnership To Bring Vertical Bifacial PV To Europe
Huasun Energy, the world’s largest producer of heterojunction (HJT) solar products, has signed an exclusive strategic cooperation agreement with Germany-based Next2Sun for collaboration in the European market. The agreement, formalized during Intersolar Europe 2025, marks a significant step toward advancing vertical photovoltaic (PV) applications across the continent.
Editor’s Note:
Being a passenger onboard mv UHL FABLE of United Heavy Lift Hamburg from Port Kelang, Malaysia to Denmark is indeed an experience. Here a bit of footage from one of many incredible sunsets during the voyage. I am still onboard actually writing this newsletter ETA end of June.
Editor’s Note:
Chipolbrok as a long and proud history on the China/Europe trade. Originally a joint venture between socialist brothers and sisters it has since developed into more of a normal business venture. They are capable in moving project cargoes around the world. Latest here including pictures from their media representative in Hamburg.
Read more about recent Chipolbrok operations on the Continent (2 page PDF).
