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The latest Breakbulk News News & Analysis

Cargo owners prioritizing capacity over price in hot breakbulk market

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent |

The strength of the post-COVID-19 rebound in multipurpose vessel and heavy lift demand and rates has taken the industry somewhat by surprise, with demand driven by continued investment in wind energy, oil and gas recovery, and “spillover” cargoes from the container and bulk segments.

Rapidly rising MPV/HL rates still well below 2007 levels: Drewry

Janet Nodar, Senior Editor, Breakbulk and Heavy Lift |

After a long slump, strengthening MPV freight rates could encourage reinvestment in the sector for the first time in a decade.

Breakbulk carriers

Heavy-haul permitting delays eased by automation

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor |

As the US economy reopens, more states are speeding up the permitting process for oversize/overweight flatbed loads, as cargo diversion complicates routing.

Heavy-haul transportProject cargoTrucking News

Strong demand continues to push MPV rate forecast higher

Janet Nodar, Senior Editor, Breakbulk and Heavy Lift |

Worried forwarders are struggling to find transport solutions for their clients in a congested global shipping market, pushing formerly containerized cargoes out of boxes and into breakbulk modes.

Breakbulk carriers

Flatbed rates on a steep incline for US shippers

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor |

Housing, energy, and manufacturing are generating intense demand for flatbed transportation at a time when a shortage of materials is disrupting supply chains.

Heavy-haul transportTrucking News

US port congestion, capacity woes force project cargo rerouting

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor |

As container vessels and freight clog major ports, oversized and overweight project cargo is being rerouted coast to coast, driving up ocean shipping and inland transportation costs.

Project cargoHeavy-haul transport

Clean energy shift to drive new project cargo opportunities

Cathy Morrow Roberson, JOC Analyst |

Investments in hydrogen production and storage and other clean energy projects will keep project cargo carriers busy amid the push to decarbonize.

Green energy boom to feed heightened logistics demand

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |

Demand for commodities that feed the green energy transition is expected to spike this decade, and that will have an impact on project logistics associated with mining and transporting those materials.

Energy projectsProject cargo

Eneti  investing in wind turbine installation vessels  

Special Correspondent Keith Wallis |

The former bulk carrier Eneti has contracted with a Korean ship builder for up to two wind turbine installation vessels and is in talks with US builders about a Jones Act-compliant WTIV to serve a budding US market.

Energy projects

Siemens Gamesa reports loss even as wind backlog jumps

Special Correspondent Chris Barnett |

The ripple effects of COVID-19 and plant-closing costs trigger a quarterly loss for wind turbine manufacturer Siemens Gamesa, but its work backlog provides a bright spot.

Energy projects

Fluor Q1 earnings in the red as project backlog takes a hit

Special Correspondent Chris Barnett |

Project cargo shipper Fluor added a refinery project to its work backlog, but lost a chemicals project during a choppy first quarter as COVID-19-driven delays took a toll.

Backlogs buoy wind turbine manufacturers despite Q1 losses

Special Correspondent Chris Barnett |

Though posting first-quarter losses, there's no sign of demand relaxing as wind turbine orders expand backlogs for Vestas and GE Renewables.

Energy projects

Hot breakbulk market underlines MPV newbuilding shortfall: Drewry, Toepfer

Special Correspondent Keith Wallis |

Breakbulk freight rates are climbing, but uncertainty about new fuels, ship designs, and the long-term strength of the market are holding back orders for new ships.

Breakbulk carriersProject cargo

MPV/HL charter rates to remain at record highs through June: Toepfer

Special Correspondent Keith Wallis |

As cargo demand surges, multipurpose, container, and dry bulk carriers are all competing for tonnage and pushing up vessel charter rates.

Breakbulk carriers

US steel importers await tariff reversal to drive up demand

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |

 A US trade court’s ruling that an expansion of tariffs to include finished steel products was invalid allows shippers to claw back import levies, but steel importers say they need a full rollback before shipments can grow.

Breakbulk carriers

KBR sharpens focus on energy transition capital projects

Special Correspondent Chris Barnett |

Despite lower total revenues, KBR's green-focused energy strategy boosted earnings per share in the first quarter of 2021.

Energy projects

Hoegh Autoliners orders green, project-friendly pure car and truck carriers

Special Correspondent Keith Wallis |

The first of a new, project-cargo and EV-friendly generation of green pure car and truck carriers is scheduled to arrive at Hoegh Autoliners by the end of 2023.

Oil price recovery spurs rebound in energy project cargo

Special Correspondent Keith Wallis |

Energy cargo is recovering a year after the pandemic-fueled crash in oil prices, just as the breakbulk carrier market heats up.

Breakbulk carriersEnergy projects

SAL, Jumbo launch super-heavy-lift alliance after regulatory approval

Special Correspondent Keith Wallis |

German regulators approved an alliance between Jumbo and SAL that concentrates super-heavy-lift capacity in the hands of fewer players as the project market begins to recover from both long-term and pandemic-driven doldrums.

Breakbulk carriers

MPV/HL boost from bulk, container vessel congestion won’t last: Drewry

Janet Nodar, Senior Editor, Breakbulk and Heavy Lift |

Drewry’s multipurpose index bounced 15 percent and the inaugural Market Sentiment Index has revealed a wary optimism as the MPV sector benefits from container chaos.

Breakbulk carriers

Busy breakbulk market will not spur MPV newbuildings

Janet Nodar, Senior Editor, Breakbulk and Heavy Lift |

The MPV/HL market is on the upswing, but a lack of finance and lingering overcapacity will hold back investment in new ships.

Breakbulk carriersProject cargo

MPV charter rate gains show no sign of slowing

Janet Nodar, Senior Editor, Breakbulk and Heavy Lift |

Toepfer's multipurpose rate index tracks recovery as container-side chaos continues to benefit the breakbulk market

Breakbulk carriers

Industry encouraged by renewed push for US offshore wind

Janet Nodar, Senior Editor, Breakbulk and Heavy Lift |

The Biden administration's push for offshore wind will jumpstart the industry, but may stymie breakbulk wind imports.

Energy projects

Lack of supply chain visibility particularly acute in project logistics

Janet Nodar, Senior Editor, Breakbulk and Heavy Lift |

Voyager and GSA create “line of sight” visibility tool for managing ocean transport for project cargo shippers.

Changing energy mix complicates breakbulk cargo demand rebound

Janet Nodar, Senior Editor, Breakbulk and Heavy Lift |

A chaotic container segment, rising bulk prices, and vigorous wind energy development on- and offshore are pushing volume toward the MPV/HL sector.

Mining, renewables to usher in next economic cycle for breakbulk sector

Janet Nodar, Senior Editor, Breakbulk and Heavy Lift |

The breakbulk sector is likely heading into a new economic supercycle focused on renewables and metals instead of oil and created by a policy-driven energy transition, rather than by demand-driven commodities growth.

Breakbulk NewsProject cargoEnergy projects

Jumbo, SAL form JV amid improving MPV/HL outlook

Special Correspondent Keith Wallis |

A new super-heavy-lift joint venture, if approved, will benefit from an offshore wind market poised to expand through 2050.

Breakbulk carriersEnergy projects

Toepfer’s March multipurpose forecast rebounds on demand signals

Janet Nodar, Senior Editor, Breakbulk and Heavy Lift |

Container market woes and a booming bulk market are cutting competition and boosting freight rates for the multipurpose/heavy-lift sector.

Project cargoBreakbulk carriers

Ro/ro carriers ordering green ships as auto demand rises

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent |

Grimaldi and United European Car Carriers are pursuing lower emissions vessels, and Wallenius Wilhelmsen is taking three more ships out cold layup to serve a rebounding vehicle cargo market

Ro/ro cargoBreakbulk carriers

Wind cargo surged last year at Port of Vancouver USA

Special Correspondent Chris Barnett |

Turbine components, including 216-foot-long wind blades, crossed Vancouver USA’s docks last year bound for a regional high, wide, and heavy transport corridor to Canada.

High and heavy cargo manufacturer Deere sees earnings rebound

Janet Nodar, Senior Editor, Breakbulk and Heavy Lift |

High and heavy shipper John Deere's earnings spiked 137 percent year over year in the first quarter of the company’s fiscal 2021 as strong crop prices and post-pandemic inventory restocking boosted sales.

Wallenius Wilhelmsen designing wind-propelled ro/ro ship

Special Correspondent Keith Wallis |

The IMO's low-carbon standards and shippers eager to reduce their carbon footprints are pushing vessel operators toward lower-emission designs such as WW’s wind-powered ship.

Ro/ro cargoBreakbulk carriers

MPV fleet will benefit from container chaos through Q2: Drewry

Janet Nodar, Senior Editor, Breakbulk and Heavy Lift |

Drewry's charter rate index is up 2.2 percent for February as COVID-19 lockdowns drive consumers to favor premium container cargoes.

Breakbulk carriers

US land-based wind installations boom in Q4 2020

Chris Barnett, Special Correspondent |

MPV/HL carriers and breakbulk ports benefited last year from record US wind cargoes as expiring tax credits, improved technology, and increasing demand accelerated development

Energy projects

Washington state ports see breakbulk surge in 2020

Chris Barnett, Special Correspondent |

Wind energy cargoes boosted the Port of Longview’s breakbulk volumes, while high and heavy drove growth at the Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) ports of Seattle and Tacoma.

Breakbulk carriers

Final penalties handed down in Australian car carrier cartel case

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent |

Regulators have now fined ocean carriers Wallenius Wilhelmsen Ocean (WWO), NYK RORO, and “K” Line a total of $63 million for price fixing on vehicle shipping services on routes to Australia.

Breakbulk carriersRo/ro cargo

US high and heavy imports see rebound as 2021 opens

Janet Nodar, Senior Editor, Breakbulk and Heavy Lift |

As congestion and rate pressure continue to squeeze the container market, some breakbulk cargo is shifting out of boxes back to ro/ro.

Multipurpose index forecast up 2 percent amid renewables optimism

Janet Nodar, Senior Editor, Breakbulk and Heavy Lift |

Toepfer Transport's MPV/HL rate forecast climbs to $7,146 as optimism grows in the breakbulk market amid a new US presidential administration seen as favorable to renewables.

Energy projectsBreakbulk carriers

US auto imports expected to continue rebound after late 2020 recovery

Janet Nodar, Senior Editor, Breakbulk and Heavy Lift |

A microprocessor chip shortage and new COVID-19 spread could slow recovery by hampering vehicle production.

Ro/ro cargoBreakbulk carriers

Fagioli spots green shoots in oil and gas sector

Special Correspondent Keith Wallis |

New contracts firm up heavy transport and heavy lift firm Fagioli’s 2021 outlook despite the pandemic-driven industry-wide downturn of 2020.

Heavy-haul transportProject cargo

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