Dear Readers,
It is the 26th of March and Thursday, and here comes the March edition of our highly acclaimed newsletter.
We are a week late (as we normally nowadays publish every 3rd Thursday of the month. It was due to my first covering a global network conference of www.clcprojects.com and www.cross-ocean.com in Bangkok. Then, straight after, the WBX Expo in Shanghai.
Luckily, and in spite of the war in the Middle East, it turned out to be a well attended event. The conflict is indeed a sad story, and my hope is that the world won’t find itself in quicksand unable to get out for a long time.
Afghanistan is a case in point where we in the west managed to do virtually nothing that really changed the country from its foundation. Iran may prove to be the same, but let us see what the future brings.
There are only losers in a war, and none more so than “normal people”. Some industries and hard to topple leaders will, of course, benefit. What else is new? Swiss bank accounts are filled with funds from “leaders” involved in wars I should think, but alas, we will never be able to shed a light on it as too many are involved…
The war in the Middle East also affects shipping and bunker prices. Also, the budding hope of being able to transit the Suez Canal again has been quashed. This is lucky for many shipowners as they were just about to face a massive overcapacity which transiting via the Cape of Good hope does alleviate.
I am residing in Santiago, Chile. It does feel comfortably far away enough from the zone of conflict. Some friends of mine in the UAE told me not to believe all that the media reports. Life does go on, and the air defence of the UAE has shown itself to be efficient. Still it is a wake up call for those who moved to the region thinking that all that glitters, especially in the UAE, is gold. It is a volatile region. We can only pray and hope that peace will be forthcoming, and soon.
I visited Easter Island for 5 days. That is the only air travel I have had for 2 1/2 months after arriving in Chile, and it has been a fantastic time. With summertime in the southern hemisphere, who could wish for anything else. On Easter Island, I did do a bit of “shipping work”, and with the small port there getting supplies from the mainland (Chile), I managed to do a bit of footage. When you look at the map you can see just how far Easter Island is from anywhere…
I also found some Shipper-Owned Containers (SOC) or containers that were never returned to their owners such as UASC, PIL, and Hamburg Sud. Perhaps you need to ask your container logistics guys to look into it.
Turning back to our interviews of the month of March, we’ve got a pretty solid “package” in store for you. Since we didn’t publish our regular issue in February (only our 2025 yearbook), we have 6 interviews for you this month.
They are:
| 1. Kuehne & Nagel — Jakarta, Indonesia |  |
| 2. One Network Express (ONE) — Brazil, a FREIGHT FORWARDER FRIENDLY shipping line |  |
| 3. MHT Forwarding — UK |  |
| 4. DHL Industrial Projects — Middle East & Africa |  |
| 5. Sustainable Logistics Services (SLS) — Amman, Jordan |  |
| 6. Highland Project Logistics — USA |  |
I always recommend that you download our PCW APP. It is free, not cluttered with ads, and you can listen or read whilst on the go.
If you wish to be interviewed by PCW, feel free to contact me. We are easy-going, approachable, and unlike some other media, we don’t publish anything that is not verified. Although we have our own opinion of course, we are not “for sale”, and that is also why we only allow a maximum of 5 banner ads in our monthly newsletter.
We will publish again on April 16th.
With best regards,
Yours sincerely,
Bo H. Drewsen
bo.drewsen@projectcargo-weekly.com
Video Interview
Kuehne + Nagel – Jakarta, Indonesia
Rufus Frere-Smith, Project Logistics Director BP Tangguh LNG UCC Project at Kuehne + Nagel interviewed by Bo H. Drewsen, Editor in Chief at Project Cargo Weekly.
Ocean Network Express (ONE) – LATAM
Interview with
Mr. Jorge Luis Pino
Marketing & Commercial General Manager for the Latin America Region
First of all Jorge, can you tell our readers a little about your own career in shipping, and why did you choose this line of business? What do you like about shipping?
With nearly 20 years in the shipping industry, I’ve had the valuable opportunity to experience its many facets across various companies. It’s an incredibly dynamic and engaging field.
My interest in shipping began during my Bachelor’s degree in International Trade. I found it to be a fascinating area that offered insight into global cargo flows and the profound geopolitical and social impacts on trade.
Video Interview
MHT Forwarding – UK
Basile Hallo, Managing Directory at MHT Forwarding interviewed by Bo H. Drewsen, Editor in Chief at Project Cargo Weekly.
Video Interview
DHL Industrial Projects – Middle East & Africa
Peter Dudas, Vice President – Head of Industrial Projects MEA – DHL Global Forwarding interviewed by Bo H. Drewsen, Editor in Chief at Project Cargo Weekly.
Video Interview
Sustainable Logistics Services (SLS) – Amman, Jordan
AbdulRahman Taleb Ali, Deputy General Manager at Sustainable Logistics Services – Amman, Jordan interviewed by Bo H. Drewsen, Editor in Chief at Project Cargo Weekly.
Video Interview
Highland Project Logistics – USA
Radek Maly, President / Owner at Highland Project Logistics and Highland Forwarding interviewed by Bo H. Drewsen, Editor in Chief at Project Cargo Weekly.
Impact of Middle East Conflict on Global Logistics – What Freight Forwarders Need to Know
Editor’s Note:
The situation in the Middle East changes from day to day hour to hour but of course the news on the ground is not necessarily the same as reflected in the media. media always boost with scary headlines to “sell more”… still it is a terrible situation for most. here from fiata the global freight forwarding association.
Escalating tensions in the Middle East are affecting maritime and air transport operations, including risks to navigation in and around the Strait of Hormuz and disruptions to regional airspace. FIATA is closely monitoring the rapidly evolving security situation and its implications for global supply chains, including impacts on insurance conditions, transit times, and freight costs worldwide.
Arctic Farmers Under Pressure From Multiple Fronts: “Several Factors Make Us Vulnerable”
Editor’s Note:
The arctic is now more and more important due to the global situation in the world.
Here is an interesting newsletter in english (and if you read norwegian you can scroll down🙂).
Agriculture in the Arctic is conducted under conditions not found in many other places in the world. Cold, short summers, and extreme light conditions set unique parameters for food production.
Panama-Flagged Vessels Face Surge in Chinese Port Inspections
Editor’s Note:
Politics is now playing a big role in shipping if this article is true then the disagreement between China supporting Hutchison to run terminals in Panama but this being disallowed by the Panamanian high court now apparently makes China harass Panama flag vessels in China. Scary times indeed.
Between 8 – 12 March, Chinese authorities detained 28 Panama-flagged ships, representing 75.7 per cent of all vessel detentions in the country over that period, according to data from the Tokyo Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control.
Prolonged Middle East Conflict to Impact Revenue Growth of Top MEA Reinsurers
Editor’s Note:
Insurance companies are also up in arms and due to the conflict in the middle east it will for sure impact their revenues too. There will be huge costs to pay and many claims that needs to be settled and the list goes on. Here latest news on this subject.
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is prompting reinsurers to rapidly reprice and recalibrate risk across many lines, with continuity of coverage and trade as primary objective, even amid rising instability. If the war continues for an extended period, it will impact the revenue growth of top reinsurers in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region over the next few years, according to GlobalData, a leading intelligence and productivity platform.
ZOE Energy Storage Secures Batch of C&I Storage Projects in Mexico, Advancing Strategic Growth in Latin America
ZOE Energy Storage has signed contracts for a new batch of commercial & industrial energy storage projects in Mexico, marking continued momentum in one of the world’s most dynamic energy transition regions and another step forward in its global expansion.
Nikkiso to Supply Next-Generation Cryogenic Pump Skids for Dual-Fuel Vessel Conversions
Nikkiso CE&IG’s fuel gas supply system (FGSS) was launched at the end of 2025, following more than a decade of operational experience with over 400 vessels using the company’s low-pressure and high-pressure LNG fuel pumps. The latest generation of cryogenic pumps has been developed using operational feedback and performance data, with a focus on improving reliability and efficiency while reducing maintenance and operating costs.
China’s Himile Plans $100 Million Tire Mold Factory in Egypt
Construction is due to begin before the end of the first half of 2026. The plant is expected to create between 1,000 and 2,000 jobs and reinforce Egypt’s position as a regional automotive hub.
Ciner Begins Furnace Construction at Belgian Glass Site
The Lommel site will include two 650 tpd furnaces, the second of which is scheduled to come into operation in 2027.
Traveling as Passenger onboard mv ABB Vanessa – Sines to Soma
Editor’s Note:
What is better than being a passenger on an MPP vessel heading for Asia with blades for a wind turbine project in Japan? Here from mv ABB Vanessa in the Indian Ocean enroute from Portugal to Japan summer 2024.
Editor’s Note:
mv Condor Valparaiso of Volans the MPP carrier between South America West Coast and Europe had their flag ship in Valparaiso recently. I was onboard on a fantastic sunny day.
