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Dear Readers,


Thursday January 17th has arrived and we are here with the second issue of the new year 2019.

Bo H. Drewsen

What really caught the eyes of the world in this unfinished week was the very important vote in the British House of Commons as to whether to support or reject the deal that the British Prime Minister has spent two years negotiating. An old saying has it that, if one door closes another one opens and, although I am not a politician, it seems clear to the untrained eye that we are indeed in uncharted waters. The EU is, in my opinion, by no means a democratic institution. They have developed from a group of countries wishing to engage in free trade into a kind of European government, sitting on top of the national governments and thus rendering them unable to decide on anything in time. There is no doubt in my mind that Europe should stick together in order to coexist with other strong nations, but I don't think it is done by cajoling and forcing independent sovereign states into leaving their brains at home when taking their seat at the EU council of ministers, and that's without mentioning their rubber stamp parliament. But, Britain voted for 'Brexit', and most politicians have ensured their own Pexit, (good terminology of course and) of that we can be sure.

Brexit

During a recent trip to India, I saw that Brexit seems to even be supported there too (see photo to the right). That is of course, another, more colonial, type of story. China and the USA are strong and proud nations and so is Great Britain. In spite of these hiccups, the people have voted and the world will be open for Great Britain, whether in or out of the EU.

Last time I looked, there was still some 150 countries or so to which they can talk. In Denmark, we were told repeatedly, for example, of the disastrous consequences if we didn't join the EURO common currency, and what happened? Denmark is still going strong!

I remind everyone to read a more varied type of media and listen to others outside the usual noises, as nowadays media coverage is often biased and scary headlines are the order of the day. Anyway, whilst much of the media is busy on another angle or story about Brexit, we have a concrete job to do here and that is to tell you about today's content.

We start off by talking to what is now the world's fourth largest shipowner in the world, based in France. They introduce to us their liner services to/from what is soon to be the world's most populous country, India. Moving break bulk cargo by container ship into India is a relatively new concept and you would be well advised to read this interview.

We then travel to Houston and give a shipping specialist heavily involved in oil, gas and other projects an opportunity to provide a very detailed description of what he does best.

Finally, we visit the land of fashion, great food and thirty nine governments in forty one years. Yes, you guessed it, it's Italy. A mid-sized and versatile freight forwarder tells us her story. Italy has some highly efficient companies and many people say that some aspects of Italy are even more efficient than those of Germany nowadays. We, of course, round off with a variety of shipping news, sector news for the use of the active salesman and we end today's newsletter with the usual wise words.

Yours sincerely,
Bo H. Drewsen

bo.drewsen@projectcargo-weekly.com

www.projectcargo-weekly.com

Media Kit
CLC Projects Network of Project Freight Forwarders

CMA CGM's Project Cargo Division and the Indian Market

Interview with Mr. Stéphane BERNINET
Head of CMA CGM Project Cargo Division

CMA CGM Project Cargo - India
Could you provide us with some examples (and perhaps photos) of project cargoes that you have handled to/from India?
Project cargo customers have trusted CMA CGM with regular shipments through India and we are strengthening our position after successfully completing a series of different projects.
 
Recently, we have shipped a helicopter (seen above) from Nhava Sheva to London Gateway. Look at the interesting lifting apparatus.
 
The same has been used for loading and discharging at each respective end.
 
The helicopter rigging is a single shackle attachment for the four lift-wires (polyester round slings) fitted to the container spreader to be employed by each respective terminal. The round lifter, 6.5m SWL, was rigged with five nylon belts tied on the rotor hub which had no locking mechanism and thus remained free to rotate, relative to the helicopter.
Read the full interview

Marine Charter Services – Houston Texas, USA

Interview with Mr. Carl Sorensen
Owner

 Marine Charter Services – Houston Texas, USA
Houston is known as a shipping hub, in North America in particular, for oil/gas etc. Does that still apply for project and break bulk cargoes to/from North America, or would you say that other ports are developing in this sector too nowadays?
Houston is still very much a hub for break bulk, both in the oil and gas industries. However, as many know already, it is also a hub in the wind power and mining sectors. The West Coast is still basically useless for anything too O.D. or heavy (my apologies for being crass but the WC does no one any favors). The East Coast is better but also limited, so I would say the Gulf of Mexico and Baltimore, Savannah are other great options. The thing is, it all depends on where the equipment is originating. You may be able to get that piece(s) out of the West Coast if you are close to a terminal that has a liner service or your client pays for the part charter to position a ship there and you can get the inland to that loading terminal, but mostly Houston’s roads and infrastructure can handle the high and wide and heavy loads a lot more easily than other ports in the USA and Canada.
Read the full interview

Dogado SRL – Italy

Interview with Ms. Stefania Spagnoli
Commercial Manager

 Dogado SRL – Italy
Tell us about your business focus and what do you mainly deal with in your company?
Our business is mainly focussed on exporting sea freight shipments for the engineering industry, principally machinery and project cargo. During our thirty years of activity, Dogado has acquired a wealth of skills and experience in handling special cargoes, both by conventional and containerized vessels.
Read the full interview
Greenlog

Shipping News

Shanghai Retains the Crown of the World’s Busiest Container Port

China’s Shanghai International Port Group (SIPG) retained its top position as the world’s busiest container port for the ninth consecutive year.
 
The port recorded 42.01m teu container throughput in the year of 2018, an increase of 4% year-on-year compared to 40.23m teu posted in the previous year, reaching a record high. The port achieved RMB10.28bn net profit in 2018.
Read more...

Port Canaveral Awards $109M in Contracts for New Cruise Terminal

Port Canaveral Awards $109M in Contracts for New Cruise Terminal
Editors note: Cruise shipping continues to grow unabatedly hence also the need for new terminals and consequently business for the logistics industry.
Ivey’s Construction, Inc. won the award to build the two-story, 188,000-square-foot terminal, the centerpiece of what will be the Port’s largest ever construction project. The $163 million complex will become the home port for Carnival Cruise Line’s largest cruise ship, the future Mardi Gras, when it opens in 2020. The 180,000-ton “XL-class” Mardi Gras will have a maximum capacity of 6,500 passengers and about 2,000 crew members, and she will be the first North American cruise ship powered by LNG.
Read more...

Brexit vote defeat - British Ports Association warns on 'disorderly withdrawal' from the EU

Editors note: Brexit and the clear no from parliament leaves it in the wind now what will happen to the flow of free trade. One way or the other one man's problem is another man's benefit as the saying goes so no doubt there will be logistics providers who can offer the right solution.
Following the heavy defeat in the British parliament for the Prime Minister Teresa May’s Brexit deal the British Ports Association (BPA) has urged the government to do “whatever is necessary to avoid a disorderly withdrawal from the EU”.
 
As had been widely expected the British government’s Brexit deal to leave the EU on 29 March was heavily defeated in parliament on Tuesday plunging the country into political chaos and raising the spectre of a “no deal” exit.
Read more...

Evergreen Opens Four New Offices in Latin America

Editors note: Evergreen of Taiwan the renowned carrier with the first east/west round the world container services decades ago was never very much known in the South American trade. However steps are being taken to rectify this.  Read more here.
In view of the growth potential in Latin American trade, Evergreen Line is continuing to establish its own offices at main service locations in the region. The move will strengthen the effectiveness of the line’s operations, improve its capability to react to market opportunities, optimize the efficiency of its network routing and enhance its competitiveness in the area.
Read more...
Sea Cargo Logistics Morocco

Sector News

Turkish defense contractor BMC to break ground on new factory

BMC, one of Turkey's largest commercial and defense vehicle producers, will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for its "strategic base" in Karasu, in the northwestern province of Sakarya on Sunday.
 
The TL 1-billion ($180 million) facility will be one of the biggest defense industry investments in recent years, media reports said. The factory will cover an area of 2,500 acres and create 1,150 direct and 4,600 indirect jobs.
Read more...

Estrella Galicia parent firm to build Brazil beer plant

Privately owned Corporación Hijos de Rivera, owner of Spain’s Estrella Galicia beer brand, plans to build a factory in Brazil as part of a drive to accelerate its international expansion and boost sales outside of its home country.
 
The company will invest 100 million reais ($27 million) in the venture and the plant should go on-stream by 2021, a spokesperson told Reuters in a statement on Thursday confirming remarks by Juan Paz, Brazil country director, who was interviewed by Valor Econômico.
Read more...

TPI to Open New Wind Blade Manufacturing Hub in India and Signs Blade Supply Agreement with Vestas

TPI Composites, Inc., (TPI) (Nasdaq: TPIC), the largest U.S.-based independent manufacturer of composite wind blades, announced today that it has signed a multiyear supply agreement with Vestas Wind Systems A/S (Vestas) to provide blades from four manufacturing lines (with an option to add more lines) for India and export markets. The blades will be produced at a new Indian facility in the greater Chennai region which TPI plans to open for production in the first quarter of 2020. TPI’s new state-of-the-art manufacturing hub will be able to reliably and cost-effectively serve the India and global wind markets for multiple customers.
Read more...

Masdar secure 400-MW wind project in Saudi Arabian tender

EDF Renewables and Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC, better known as Masdar, have won the tender for the construction of a 400-MW wind park in Saudi Arabia, touted as the largest in the Middle East.
 
As previously announced, the consortium submitted the lowest bid, of SAR 79.97 (USD 21.3/EUR 18) per MWh, in the tender. On Thursday Masdar and EDF confirmed the award and said their teams are already mobilised and the start of construction works is expected in a few months. EDF Renewables has a 51% stake in the consortium, while the rest is in the hands of Masdar.
Read more...
ES Logistics Brasil

Featured Video

Antofagasta in Chile, port , urban area, Atacama Desert, la Portada
Antofagasta port in Chile is a place where not many shipping people have been I believe. Facing the Pacific and behind it one of the driest places on earth its really a remarkable place to visit as a tourist. As a shipping person perhaps you could visit if you are into mining or even for relaxation and being "away" from it all. Chile has something for everyone!

Featured Photo

PCW Week 03 - Photo of the week - COSCO
Another MPP 62,000 DWT newbuilding for COSCO. They aim high for projectcargo nowadays.

Quote and Proverb of the Week

"Pessimism never won any battle."

- Dwight D. Eisenhower

"Constancy of purpose achieves the impossible."

- Ancient Tibetan Proverb

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