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Breakbulk News

Up-to-date breakbulk news and analysis about the end-to-end movement of breakbulk cargo and heavy lift and project cargoes. Coverage tracks breakbulk news about premier gateway ports, terminals, carriers and charterers. It also covers wind cargo, roll-on/roll-off (ro/ro) newbuildings, storage and processing capacity, inland supply chain connectivity and landside transport for energy, infrastructure, construction and other industries.

Subsections

The latest Breakbulk News News & Analysis

MPV/HL carriers weigh costly, time-consuming alternatives to Panama Canal

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent |
Low water restrictions and “exorbitant” costs for rare transit slots through the drought-hit waterway mean tramp breakbulk and heavy-lift carriers must use longer ocean routes, thus increasing voyage costs.
Breakbulk NewsMaritimeBreakbulk carriersProject cargo

Swire Projects launches project cargo liner service to avoid Panama Canal delays

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent |
The service was previously operated on an ad hoc basis but is being upgraded due to growing demand for breakbulk and project cargo into the US West Coast to avoid restrictions and delays through the drought-hit waterway.
Breakbulk NewsBreakbulk carriersProject cargo

MPV indices from Toepfer, Drewry continue down different paths

Janet Nodar, Senior Editor, Breakbulk and Heavy Lift |
While long-term optimism supports the MPV market, industry analysts see short-term divergence in time charter rate averages.
Breakbulk NewsBreakbulk carriersEnergy projects

Cosco, Varamar expand MPV reach with strategic partnership

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent |
The aim of the venture is to broaden the scope of the companies’ current operations, both geographically and in vessel size.
Breakbulk NewsBreakbulk carriers

GPA invests $262 million to upgrade Brunswick’s ro/ro facilities

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
GPA's ability to handle growing volumes has attracted the likes of Rivian and Hyundai, both planting roots in Georgia to export vehicles from new facilities through Brunswick.
Ro/ro cargoHeavy-haul transportNorth American portsPort infrastructure

Panama Canal woes present nightmare for Latin American perishables trade: analyst

Richard Bright, Journal of Commerce analyst |
The phased reduction in the number of transits coincides with peak banana exports from Ecuador and the start of the deciduous fruit season in the southern hemisphere.
Cool Cargo NewsBreakbulk NewsBreakbulk carriers

Breakbulk sector poised for boost amid rising commodity prices

Susan Oatway, Research Analyst for Breakbulk and Project Cargo |
Commodity prices continue to rise, leading to further investments in mining, agriculture and oil and gas projects, all of which is good news for breakbulk and project shippers and their service providers.
Breakbulk NewsBreakbulk carriersProject cargoRo/ro cargo

Global ro/ro carriers take steps to boost fire safety

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent |
Although there is little evidence that EVs are a greater fire hazard aboard ro/ro ships than traditional internal combustion vehicles, carriers are ramping up their safety measures.
Breakbulk NewsBreakbulk carriersRo/ro cargo

Offshore services companies expect boost from increased energy spending

Autumn Cafiero Giusti, Special Correspondent |
Fresh investments among oilfield services giants should bolster the offshore services market, with supply chain spending expected to grow 16% in 2023 and 2024.
Energy projectsProject cargoHeavy-haul transport

Lack of investment constraining US breakbulk port capacity

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent |
The funding shortage for breakbulk port facilities will create severe constraints on both cargo owners and vessel operators as offshore wind construction accelerates and new types of energy projects are developed.
Breakbulk NewsBreakbulk carriersProject cargoRo/ro cargoEnergy projectsHeavy-haul transportPort News

Automakers resort to shipping cars in containers amid ro/ro capacity shortage

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
Ports in the US are reporting an unusual spike in the number of cars crossing their docks in containers, rather than via roll-on/roll-off vessels.
Ro/ro cargoContainer Shipping News

European port, landside congestion sapping tight ro/ro capacity

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent |
Crowded terminals and a truck driver shortage in Europe and the Mediterranean are increasing landside delays and driving some shippers to consider calling secondary ports.
Breakbulk NewsRo/ro cargoMarine terminals

Aging roads, drivers weigh on US heavy-haul trucking amid booming demand

Autumn Cafiero Giusti, Special Correspondent |
As US project cargo demand — and cargoes themselves — grow, heavy-haul trucking carriers are struggling with permitting delays, infrastructure complications and a rapidly aging workforce.
Project cargoEnergy projectsBreakbulk ports

Key multipurpose index softens as summer slide continues into fall

Janet Nodar, Senior Editor, Breakbulk and Heavy Lift |
Multipurpose owners and operators are growing increasingly wary of the breakbulk market’s downward trend as cargoes remain hard to find and the wind energy market falters.
Breakbulk NewsBreakbulk carriersEnergy projects

US wind industry navigates deep waters to meet ambitious offshore target

Autumn Cafiero Giusti, Special Correspondent |
Meeting the Biden administration’s target of 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy installed by 2030 will require floating offshore wind, which means building new, specialized port facilities to facilitate development in much deeper waters.
Breakbulk NewsEnergy projectsMarine terminals

Global MPV indexes diverge amid strength in European short-sea trade

Janet Nodar, Senior Editor, Breakbulk and Heavy Lift |
Toepfer’s multipurpose index has maintained its downward momentum due partly to a delay in the emergence of wind cargoes, while Drewry’s index showed some signs of life following a summer dip.
Breakbulk NewsBreakbulk carriersProject cargoEnergy projects

Global MPV/HL fleet is “between technologies”: carriers

Janet Nodar, Senior Editor, Breakbulk and Heavy Lift |
MPV newbuildings are being designed for higher cargo intake and improved efficiency, but any consensus on green fuels and propulsion systems remains elusive.
Breakbulk NewsBreakbulk carriersProject cargoEnergy projects

Intermarine, JSA target Chilean metals, energy markets with new subsidiary

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent |
Affiliated carriers Intermarine and Jumbo-SAL-Alliance are poised to reap new cargo from the expected growth boom in South American mining, green fuels and wind.
Breakbulk NewsBreakbulk carriersProject cargo

Lack of cargoes holding down MPV rates in near-term: analysts

Janet Nodar, Senior Editor, and Susan Oatway, Research Analyst for Breakbulk and Project Cargo |
Despite having fewer cargoes for which to compete, some bulk operators are beefing up their staff of project cargo specialists, implying that those carriers are sensing opportunities ahead.
Breakbulk NewsBreakbulk carriersProject cargo

Greek operator Neptune orders two 4,200-unit car carriers in fleet expansion move

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent |
The carrier’s dual-fuel newbuildings will be the first in a series of vessels to be delivered over the next decade.
Ro/ro cargoNorth American portsInternational ports

MPV/HL orders scarce despite need for sustainable fleet

Susan Oatway, Research Analyst, Breakbulk and Project Cargo, Journal of Commerce |
Newbuilding investments in the multipurpose and heavy-lift fleet will be crucial to the global push to decarbonize energy.
Breakbulk NewsBreakbulk carriers

Breakbulk sector preps for EU emissions trading system

Janet Nodar, Senior Editor, Breakbulk and Heavy Lift |
Breakbulk carriers and their clients must prepare for the EUs new emissions trading system before the Jan. 1 start
Breakbulk NewsBreakbulk carriers

Bidders hold back on first Gulf of Mexico wind lease auction  

Autumn Cafiero Giusti, Special Correspondent |
Beyond the supply chain snarls, permitting bottlenecks and high costs that are hampering offshore wind development generally, the Gulf is a less-than-ideal location for offshore wind compared with other parts of the US.
Breakbulk NewsEnergy projectsMarine terminals

Sliding steel demand weighs on MPV sector

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent |
Weak construction and manufacturing demand, inflation fears and continued economic uncertainty are weighing on global steel volumes, a key commodity for multipurpose vessels.
Breakbulk carriers

Turbulence hampers US wind energy even as development picks up speed

Autumn Cafiero Giusti, Special Correspondent |
The wind energy industry must resolve a number of supply chain issues or it has little chance of reaching the US’ 2030 goal for energy generation from onshore and offshore wind.
Breakbulk NewsProject cargoEnergy projects

Strong demand, tight tonnage boost earnings for ro/ro sector

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent |
Longer term, global vehicle sales are expected to exceed pre-pandemic levels from 2024 onward, while high and heavy volumes are also expected to remain strong.
Breakbulk NewsRo/ro cargo

Wallenius Wilhelmsen orders up to 12 ro/ro ships amid market strength

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent |
The carrier did not disclose the value of the vessel order, but shipbroking sources estimate the price of each ship at $140 million to $150 million, based on their size and multi-fuel capability. 
Breakbulk NewsRo/ro cargo

Chartering slump keeps MPV sector in August ‘doldrums’

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent |
Although the multipurpose vessel market is expected to further soften on weak charter activity in the third quarter, firmer demand is expected by the end of the year, keeping certain sectors of the market — mainly, project carriers — optimistic, analysts said.
Breakbulk NewsBreakbulk carriersProject cargo

Cosco to control largest semi-submersible fleet after deal with Guangzhou Salvage

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent |
The joint venture will increase Cosco’s fleet to 18 heavy-lift semi-submersible vessels by the end of 2023.
Project cargoEnergy projects

Heightened biosecurity program drives Australian ro/ro port congestion

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent |
A rigorous hunt for seeds and pollen is disrupting vehicle and high & heavy imports into Australia, leading carriers to pull back on services.
Breakbulk NewsRo/ro cargoPort News

NWSA auto imports up sharply amid new business from Hyundai, GM

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
New and expanded auto imports landing at the Northwest Seaport Alliance come as carriers take advantage of its proximity to Asian ports during a time of scarce ro/ro tonnage.
Ro/ro cargoTrans-PacificNorth American ports

Antwerp-Bruges H1 volumes slide on weak demand, poor industrial outlook

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent |
The fall hid some upbeat trends, with the number of refrigerated containers rising more than 10% in the first half and the rate of decline in overall volumes easing in the second quarter.
International portsContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesAsia-EuropeBreakbulk NewsRo/ro cargo

Global demand for high and heavy cargo drives secondary vessel ‘spillover’ market

Janet Nodar, Senior Editor, Breakbulk and Heavy Lift |
Breakbulk ro/ro shippers are hunting for solutions as carriers deal with high vessel charter rates, tight capacity and port congestion.
Breakbulk NewsRo/ro cargo

GPA’s Brunswick seeing significant growth in auto imports

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
Brunswick’s growth comes amid rising automotive production, pent-up consumer demand and an easing of the semiconductor shortage that occurred during the pandemic.
Ro/ro cargoPort NewsNorth American portsPort infrastructure

Softening summer market weighs on Toepfer multipurpose vessel index

Janet Nodar, Senior Editor, Breakbulk and Heavy Lift |
Expected demand for wind cargo, among other factors, is still driving underlying optimism in the MPV sector, but a wind turbine tech “arms race” could cast a long shadow.
Breakbulk NewsBreakbulk carriersEnergy projects

Emerging from pandemic fog, global reefer market reverts to type

Richard Bright, Journal of Commerce analyst |
If the reefer mode can tough out the rest of 2023, next year should be better for operators largely because there will be more cargo, and therefore demand will be stronger, writes analyst Richard Bright.
Cool Cargo NewsBreakbulk NewsBreakbulk carriersSupply chain

Ro/ro carrier Sallaum aims to boost capacity with latest vessel order

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent |
Persistent demand from existing customers and expected growth in global demand for heavier electric vehicles are spurring fresh investment in ro/ro newbuildings from Sallaum Lines.
Breakbulk NewsRo/ro cargo

UPDATE: Doyle lands new post after resigning from top job at Maryland Port Administration

JOC Staff |
William Doyle’s departure after three years, announced to Maryland Port Administration employees Friday according to local news reports, came less than a week after he received three traffic citations.
North American portsContainer Shipping NewsRo/ro cargo

Cadeler, Eneti combine to create $1.3 billion wind installation vessel operator

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent |
The merger of wind installation vessel operators Cadeler and Eneti, which already have a combined project backlog worth $1.75 billion, was driven by an expected surge in offshore wind farm projects through 2030, Cadeler CEO Mikkel Gleerup told a webinar Friday.
Breakbulk carriersEnergy projects

Ro/ro vessel capacity to remain tight with EV, heavy equipment growth: Wallenius CEO

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
Rising auto and heavy equipment sales are keeping roll-on/roll-off vessels at maximum utilization, and the CEO of Wallenius Wilhelmsen warns the market will remain tight for years.
Ro/ro cargoBreakbulk News