Project cargo

In the wake of several successful appeals that crimped Donald Trump’s executive order banning new projects, wind developers are racing against the clock to complete work as quickly as possible.

As volumes of new energy generation and storage technologies increase, shippers expect more documentation, transparency and greater control over risk, according to project forwarders and carriers.

Canceled renewable energy projects in the US totaled $35 billion in 2025 as more project funds left the country than came in amid the federal government’s shifting policies to prioritize fossil fuels.

Inland water transport offers a lower-emission alternative routing for out-of-gauge cargoes, with cost-efficiency, lower energy consumption, and fewer accidents, among other advantages.

Power generation cargoes are on the rise amid surging demand linked to data centers, but cargo generated by oil projects will be on shakier ground in 2026.

Norden, Stena RoRo and Meriaura commit to up to 15 new ships as the resilience of the MPV market is reflected in the most recent quarterly sentiment index published by One World Shipbrokers.

“Lumpy” project cargo demand is expected to lead to overutilization of the global multipurpose vessel fleet, participants in a Journal of Commerce webinar were told.

A drop in air freight charter rates has put the option of project cargoes moving by air back on the table.

The orders come amid continued strong growth in the global wind energy sector as turbines, blades and monopiles provide stable cargo for MPV and heavy-lift operators.

But rapid development of the record 8.4 gigawatts of new offshore capacity could lead to ship capacity constraints and logistical bottlenecks.

Onshore and offshore renewables projects will drive shipments of turbines and transformers, carriers in the sector say.

Power generation cargoes gave the heavy-lift sector a welcome boost in 2025, and it’s a cargo stream that will not dry up anytime soon.

But tariffs on steel, aluminum and copper could present challenges for energy and data center construction projects.

The handling and transportation of space components is opening up new opportunities for project cargo forwarders.

A boost in project cargo demand is expected as delayed mining projects in the country start to come onstream in the coming years.

High-value megaproject activity in the US is propping up heavy-lift cargo volumes, while also generating breakbulk shipments.

Breakbulk and project cargo shippers are tapping FTZ and bonded warehouse storage to “tariff engineer.”

A predicted annual growth rate of 9% for the space economy to 2035 will intensify the demands on cargo handlers.

Lured by shorter voyage times and commensurate cost savings, shipping companies have dipped their propellers into the frigid Arctic waters since the northerly routes became commercially viable due to warmer conditions about 15 years ago.

Renewed interest in oil and gas-related projects, as well as power generation infrastructure for data centers, will boost breakbulk cargo volumes.

Ports that previously had been able to count on more predictable planning and certain cargo types, such as wind project equipment, are finding themselves having to take stock of their capabilities and recalibrate accordingly.

Shippers Linde and Air Liquide are leaning on their project backlogs for future cargoes, bucking talk of an “industrial recession.”

While some carriers reported a positive outlook for freight stemming from power generation and mining projects, others noted that demand for offshore wind has been dented by regulatory upheaval.

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.

Breakbulk and project carriers continue to be upbeat for cargo prospects through the end of the year and into 2026.

A lack of transparency in carbon pricing from carriers is frustrating breakbulk shippers, while the industry must strike a balance that supports environmental goals without undermining the sector’s ability to function.

“Stone age” thinking on technology to support breakbulk cargo moves has left engineering, procurement and construction companies in a tech void.

The Hamburg-headquartered breakbulk and project cargo operator confirmed new vessel orders after it announced that Managing Director Lars Bonnesen would leave the company at the end of the year.

A wave of new mining projects to support domestic demand for critical minerals is expected to drive roll-on/roll-off cargo demand.

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.

With uncertainty surrounding tariffs and renewable energy policy, wind turbine orders in the US fell 50% in the first half of 2025 year over year, the lowest since the early COVID-19 days in 2020.

Fragmentation and systems that don’t “talk to each other” are holding back the effective use of data in the project cargo industry, stakeholders say.

With only low-capacity increases forecast for the MPV fleet, operators believe they will be able to handle the predicted increases in project cargo. 

Two carriers have taken advantage of favorable market fundamentals that pair a rapidly aging fleet and a low order book.

While some planned larger projects are facing delays due to challenging market conditions, new facilities will benefit from renewed fiscal support from Washington.

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