Energy projects

The companies are exploring opportunities to tap into the rapidly growing data center market, which could result in more project cargo activity from the power generation projects needed to support the centers.

Congestion at Rotterdam and other North European ports such as Hamburg has been exacerbated by the increase in breakbulk and project cargo volumes from industrial and energy projects, which leaves ports struggling to cope.

The Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project has been a test case of sorts for the Port of Virginia’s heavy-lift capabilities for future cargo opportunities.

The maker of wind energy components has invested in its first heavy cargo deck carrier, one of four such vessels built by Dajin’s own shipbuilding division that the company will take delivery of this year.

Progress for wind projects in the UK and Taiwan has bucked the trend of an expected drop in offshore wind turbine generator awards this year.

Equipment manufacturers and industry associations urged the US Department of Commerce to take a measured approach to avoid unintentionally harming the domestic wind industry.

Experts from the Working Group on US Nuclear Dominance recommend a federal review of critical supply chain components and bottlenecks as they relate to nuclear project cargo transport.

Revamped energy priorities in the US and data-related industrial projects are driving out-of-gauge cargo demand.

A resurgence of nuclear projects in the US should provide a steady stream of project cargo work through the end of the decade.

A strong midterm global outlook for wind farm development could be dampened by a lack of forward ship capacity to service the buildouts.

The push and pull of US support for decarbonization efforts puts a question mark over potential project cargo demand.

Economies of scale are prompting shippers to superscale project cargoes, putting pressure on carriers and forwarders.

Larger components are pushing handling boundaries with an increasing number of locations too small to accommodate growing cargo sizes.

While traditional energy projects continue to drive immediate demand, long-heralded energy transition initiatives are progressing at a far slower pace amid tariffs and investment uncertainty.

A swing from renewables to fossil fuels in the US and new opportunities for wind cargoes internationally could overhaul traditional MPV trade lanes over time.

The Big Three oil field service companies, key drivers of breakbulk steel industrial project cargo, are bearish in their forecasts for the year as global economic uncertainty eats into profits and project pipelines.

The issue of transit time variability in Latin America has downstream impacts for projects, with forwarders often having to get creative to figure out workarounds due to unforeseen delays.

Oil and gas project developers pin hopes on legislative support and tax breaks for supporting carbon capture buildouts in the US, but the future of those projects could be at a crossroads under the Trump administration.

Fluor, KBR, TechnipFMC and Worley are predicting moderate to strong growth in project orders this year, buoyed by oil and gas work.

Manufacturers are offering diverse views on the outlook for the wind sector, with onshore faring better than offshore in the US and blade accidents upending momentum.

EPCs say that tariffs enforced after project costs are finalized not only impact the bottom line but in some cases destroy the viability of a project, hitting volumes in the breakbulk trade.

Airbus’ sudden shutdown of its heavy-lift subsidiary is pushing aviation experts to investigate alternative options to ensure lifts for outsized and project cargo loads are maintained.

A planned US executive order to halt offshore wind turbine activities along the East Coast has the sector in turmoil.

The project, expected to drive further investment at Europe’s second-busiest port, is the largest investment in Europe’s chemical industry in more than 20 years.

US energy and climate regulations and policies are expected to shift with the incoming Trump administration, although the magnitude of that shift is still unknown.

The wind energy sector provides a key source of project and breakbulk cargo, but US policy shifts could dampen future activity given that President-elect Donald Trump has been a vocal opponent of offshore wind.

Steady-but-uninspiring demand for MPVs has kept freight rates at a sustainable level.

A growing need to replace aging US hydropower units adds weight to project demand from the renewable energy sector.

A decline in sales of high-and-heavy equipment for the bellwether roll-on/roll-off cargo providers will reduce demand for breakbulk carriers.

Donald Trump has promised to stop US offshore wind projects on “day one” of his administration, but stakeholders say they are cautiously optimistic that momentum from existing projects and leases could help ease his resistance.

MPV operators are hopeful the incoming Trump administration will build on Biden’s support for nuclear power generation, which would boost cargo volumes.

A second Trump term could benefit US oil projects, but offshore wind is under threat as an early casualty of the new administration.

A slower-than-expected transition to renewable energy sources is augmenting — rather than replacing — investment in traditional oil and gas, boosting project cargo demand.

Weak economic trends have kept the pressure on industrial end-markets serviced by Linde and Air Liquide, which provide key cargo for the breakbulk and project cargo segments.

The Port of Virginia is enjoying a 372% surge in breakbulk cargo volumes thanks largely to handling cargo shipments supporting a 2.6-gigawatt offshore wind project.

The decline in oil prices has prompted diversification of projects for Baker Hughes and SLB.

Rapid urbanization and strong economic growth are driving project cargo volumes in India, although heavier cargoes are becoming harder to handle due to port equipment and infrastructure limitations.

The MPV sector is seeing a period of stability in charter rates and cargo demand after a period of intense routing disruptions linked to the militant attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea.

EPCs report revenue gains and hefty project backlogs as manufacturing and traditional and alternative energy projects gain momentum.

Most of the recent interest from shippers is for mode-malleable cargo — freight that can be easily switched between breakbulk and container modes.