Dear Readers,
It is the 15th of the month, and as you know, we are now publishing once a month. Although I’ve mentioned it before, I should repeat that I didn’t change the name from Project Cargo Weekly to Project Cargo Monthly—but I hope you’ll still find it just as interesting to follow and read.
In today’s issue, we have six solid interviews lined up for you.
I am currently in Denmark, although I was supposed to be back in Latin America in early November. What happened was that my mum fell and broke her hip—which is no small thing at the age of 82. It has been another reminder of the frailty we all carry, and of how little we truly know about what lies around the corner. Perhaps it’s just as well.
Since I am the only one “left,” so to speak, I am grateful that I had the opportunity to stay longer, even though late autumn in Scandinavia—with its darkness and dreary weather—was never one of my favourites. Still, the system does work here in Denmark. The public sector takes care of our elders, and although mismanagement exists in some places, we are generally well looked after here in Northern Europe.
But a system that runs on schedules, strict timings, and a maximum number of minutes for staff to spend with each elder can never replace family and friends. In that sense, our system can feel “cold,” if you know what I mean.
This has reminded me how essential it is to have a plan in place for when age starts to catch up with us, because there are three things in life that are certain: death, taxes, and aging. And aging is difficult—after all, as my mum used to say, “we never tried it before.” : ).
The Suez Canal seems to be coming back on stream for more than “Chinese or Russian flag vessels” : ) and I saw that CMA CGM recently sent a couple of mainline container vessels through the Canal. For now let us hope that peace will prevail in the Middle East and that people finally can get on with their lives, anything else is a prolonging of needless tragedy on all sides of the conflict. Ukraine war almost ended up in the shadows but is now back at the forefront although I don’t see the same amount of protests and “support vessels” approaching the Black Sea : ). Here is an interesting book that has received attention recently published by Douglas Murray.
With reference to above I alluded to a number of great interviews in today’s issue and I was indeed telling the truth.
We have in PCW 11 edition this in store for you:
| 1. AAL a major shipowner basically running a regular round the world service with heavylift vessels able to take almost any kind of project onboard. We speak to their office in Houston. |   |
| 2. GOLD STAR LINE (part of ZIM) RORO and often overlooked service from Asia to North America. | |
| 3. ASONAVE, Chile an interesting organisation of Chilean shipping agents and they are looking to expand cooperation worldwide. |  |
| 4. OTONOMI, an interesting start up or relatively new company in the field of Cargo Insurance offering coverage for DELAYS!! Now that is interesting! | |
| 5. SILVASTI, A Finland headquartered heavy haul provider excelling Europewide in moving trafos and renewables including placing to foundation. |   |
| 6. SEALLS, A Spanish Bilbao headquartered logistics and project freight forwarding company new on the block with but decades of experienced people already in place. |  |
We of course provide you with shipping news, trade intelligence, featured picture and vide of the month as well as wise words. You are also reminded again/again to download our APP which is AD-Free, easy to use and handy for listening to interviews etc whilst on the go.
Until our final issue of the year on December 15th, I remain…
With best regards,
Yours sincerely,
Bo H. Drewsen
bo.drewsen@projectcargo-weekly.com
Video Interview
AAL Shipping
Henrik Hansen, General Manager – Americas, AAL Shipping was interviewed by Bo H. Drewsen, Editor in Chief at Project Cargo Weekly.
Video Interview
Gold Star Line
Javier Carrasco, PCC Trade Manager Gold Star Line, Chicago, USA interviewed by Bo H. Drewsen, Editor in Chief at Project Cargo Weekly.
Video Interview
ASONAVE
Claudio Morales Executive Vice President of ASONAVE, Valparaiso, Chile being interviewed by Bo H. Drewsen, Editor in Chief at Project Cargo Weekly.
Video Interview
OTONOMI
Yann Barbarroux, CEO & Founder of OTONOMI, New York, USA interviewed by Bo H. Drewsen, Editor in Chief at Project Cargo Weekly.
Video Interview
SILVASTI
Carsten Schröter, CEO Silvasti Transport GmbH interviewed by Bo H. Drewsen, Editor in Chief at Project Cargo Weekly.
Video Interview
SEALLS
Ms. Ines Jaber, Business Development Manager, SEALLS, Bilbao, Spain was interviewed by Bo H. Drewsen, Editor in Chief at Project Cargo Weekly.
USTR and China Port Charges One-year Truce
Editor’s Note:
The tit for tat tariffs between the 2 “gorillas” on the world stage seems to have found an understanding at least for now concerning USTR – meaning a 1 year deferment of costs relating to Chinese built tonnage arriving in the US and v.v.
Following the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese Premier Xi Jinping in South Korea on Thursday reciprocal port charges are to be suspended.
The meeting was hailed as a great success by President Trump with apparent agreement on the issue of rare earths, China agreeing to buy US soyabeans, and the US in turn cutting tariffs on China.
According to Chinese state media Xinhua both countries will also suspend additional ports charges introduced on 14 October.
Join the 10th Edition of Breakbulk Middle East
Editor’s Note:
Breakbulk Expo is on again in UAE, Dubai 4-5 of FEB, 2026. Perhaps a place for you to be before you attend the CLC Projects and Cross Ocean members only event in Bangkok on 16 & 17 March 2026.
Conveniently located in Dubai, Breakbulk Middle East brings together more than 10,500 industry professionals from over 125 countries, representing the full industrial supply chain. Don’t miss your chance to forge the relationships your company needs to grow its business in a region that continues to lead the world in innovation and infrastructure.
Empty Containers: How Global Trade Perfected the Art of Moving Nothing
Editor’s Note:
We had an interview with Nicholas Press before. He now has his own newsletter focusing on containers, empty, collapsible and such like. Perhaps interesting for you.
Across the oceans, ships carry forests of metal rectangles that glint in the light and stack like a skyline. Some are filled with televisions, timber, grain, furniture, and every manner of manufactured thing, while many are filled with nothing at all. They move because they are needed back at export locations. They move because the trade lane requires they must. They occupy slots on vessels and in yards because the choreography of global trade values motion. These empty containers are not an anomaly at the edges of the system. They are embedded in its core logic.
CHIPOLBROK – “DE AN” maiden voyage
Editor’s Note:
A long standing player in the MPP and Breakbulk market between Europe and China v.v. and in recent decades also India/Middle East/US trade v.v, Chinese Polish Joint Stock Shipping Co aka Chipolbrok aka CP
Latest from their press office in Hamburg
Chipolbrok’s newly built m/v De An (62 000 DWT) has dispatched the initial door-to-door shipment for the Egypt Suez Wind Power Project, consisting of 12 fully assembled wind turbine units.
Wärtsilä to deliver Australia’s largest DC-coupled hybrid battery system
Technology group Wärtsilä will deliver a large energy storage system in Australia, which will be Wärtsilä’s second DC-coupled project in the country. Significantly, this will be the largest DC-coupled hybrid battery system in the National Electricity Market (NEM), reflecting a growing trend toward hybridisation of storage assets with co-located renewable generation. Once operational, the battery energy storage system will have the capacity to power up to 120,000 homes and businesses, providing a significant boost to the country’s renewable energy ambitions. The order will be booked by Wärtsilä in Q4 2025.
AIKO signs 1 GW supply agreement with Australian distributors
At the All Energy 2025 exhibition and conference in Melbourne, Victoria, Chinese all back contact (ABC) solar manufacturer AIKO signed a 1 GW supply agreement with five Australian distributors.
Echandia to supply battery systems for Spliethoff Group’s eco-friendly cargo ships
Swedish maritime battery system provider Echandia has signed an agreement to supply energy storage systems for at least eight newbuild cargo vessels to be owned by Dutch shipping company Spliethoff Group.
Vessev debuts new solution for ‘greater’ energy efficiency at sea
New Zealand-based electric hydrofoiling technology company Vessev has unveiled its brand-new podded electric propulsion system engineered to ‘improve’ a vessel’s overall energy efficiency.
Logistics Plus Thailand Handles 18-meter Catamaran
Editor’s Note:
Yachts (for those who can afford it) do also need “outside transportation” of themselves once in a while….here is one such example performed by Logistics Plus, Thailand (www.logisticsplus.com)
Editor’s Note:
With the assistance of Oestship, Grenaa/Denmark (https://oestship.dk/) I along with my 3 children visiting Denmark had the opportunity to pay a short visit to one of the worlds largest drilling rigs owned by Noble. I believe such a visit may replace many a book and show children what real life can be about, impress them hopefully to learn and yearn for more than scrolling on their phones or tablets. Just like when bringing anyone of them along on a cargo vessel (container or breakbulk) as passenger as I did numerous times.
