Project Cargo Professionals

For years, project forwarders have complained that customers say they value quality of service but ultimately buy on price. So has the AI data centre boom finally produced a sector where the ability to deliver counts for more than the cheapest rate?Recorded live on the Voices Stage at Breakbulk Americas in Houston, this episode of Project Cargo Professionals puts that question to Andrew McNamara, director of Global Logistics at ON.energy, which is deploying 5 GW of its patented AI UPS™ technology across Crusoe’s hyperscale campuses.Andrew’s answer is carefully weighed: price still matters, of course, but “probably relative to other cargo sectors, it matters less.” The equipment is highly valuable, the cost of missing a deadline is severe, and on projects where so much is riding on energisation, he says “failure really is just not an option”. Andrew also gives host Luke King a shipper’s view of what these vast, fast-moving projects look like on the ground. He describes construction sites with 5,000 people working in parallel and equipment lead times measured in years, and explains why schedule slippage is something ON.energy is, in his words, “allergic to”. Drawing on a career that began in freight forwarding at BDP International, he sets out what separates the best logistics partners from the rest. The episode closes with questions from the Houston audience.We discuss:Whether price matters less in data centres than in other project cargo sectorsWhy the cost of failure changes what shippers will pay forWhat logistics providers must demonstrate before approaching a shipper like ON.energyBuilding resilience and contingency into deliveryON.energy’s 5 GW deployment with Crusoe, and how AI UPS™ protects the data centre from the grid and the grid from the data centreThe cargo profile: transformers, inverters, switchboards and UN 3536 batteriesDelivering to construction sites with 5,000+ workersWhy logistics providers should get involved further upstreamWhether the boom will last, and the aftermarket opportunity in service, spares and warehousingAndrew’s journey from freight forwarding to the shipper side🎥 Recorded in Houston at Breakbulk Americas 2026. Hosted by Luke King and produced by Prospect Communications, a specialist PR consultancy for the project cargo sector. For all enquires relating to the podcast, email [email protected] and visit https://www.projectcargopros.com/ About Breakbulk Breakbulk organises the world's largest events for project cargo and breakbulk logistics, bringing together cargo owners, EPCs, carriers, forwarders and ports from across the global supply chain. With flagship events held annually in Dubai, Rotterdam, Houston and Singapore, Breakbulk serves as a key meeting point for networking, deal-making and industry insight. 👉 Visit https://breakbulk.com to find out more about upcoming events and registration. About Our Series Sponsor: Rhenus Project Logistics Global Rhenus delivers turnkey solutions for complex industrial and infrastructure projects worldwide, combining in-house engineering with multi-modal transport and its own asset base. 👉 Visit https://www.rhenus.group/uk/en/projec... for more info.

At the christening of MV Patricia in Rostock, Luke King steps aboard SAL’s newest Orca Class vessel for a conversation with Dr. Martin Harren, owner of SAL and the Harren Group. Patricia is the third vessel in SAL’s new Orca Class programme. Named after Patricia Rüf of Liebherr, she was christened at Liebherr’s maritime crane facility, reflecting a relationship between the two companies that Martin says stretches back 25 years. On deck, Martin explains what makes this ship noteworthy: two cranes capable of lifting up to 1,600 tonnes together, a top speed of 19 knots, and a propulsion arrangement designed to let her operate efficiently at lower speeds. He also talks about the details that matter to the crew, from the accommodation to the onboard gym and pool. We discuss why Patricia will trade commercially for SAL while her first two sister ships entered long-term charters, where the remaining Orca Class vessels stand, and why Martin believes a ship built for heavy cargo can remain useful as energy markets change. 🎥 Would you like Project Cargo Professionals to cover your next heavy lift event, vessel christening or product launch? We can come on site, create story-led video content to capture the occasion, and share it with a global project cargo audience. 📩 To discuss coverage, email [email protected]

Faymonville is making its biggest move yet in North America: investing more than $100 million in its first US production facility in Little Rock, Arkansas.In this episode of Project Cargo Professionals, Luke King visits the Faymonville Group in Luxembourg to explore the company’s US expansion, its ambitions in the global heavy transport market and how the seventh generation of the Faymonville family is preparing the business for its next chapter.CEO Alexander Fickers explains why Faymonville chose Arkansas, how the new factory will bring production closer to its North American customers and why demand in the US is already exceeding the company’s current capacity. He also discusses the launch of Faymonville Group North America, which will give customers direct access to the group’s four brands: Faymonville, MAX Trailer, Cometto and Morelo.Luke also speaks with Anne Faymonville, Communications Team Lead, Board Member and part of the seventh generation, about the company’s evolution from a small Belgian blacksmith’s workshop to a global manufacturer – and the challenge of modernising a family business without losing the values that built it.Finally, Jeremy Keller, Head of Sales – Export, offers a wider view of the international market, including the highly specialised requirements of US operators, emerging opportunities in Brazil and Asia, and how Faymonville supports heavy transport customers around the world.We discuss:• Faymonville’s investment of more than $100 million in Little Rock• Why Arkansas was selected for the group’s first US factory• Plans to produce at least 500 additional vehicles annually in the first phase• The importance of locally produced, “Made in America” equipment• The launch of Faymonville Group North America• Bringing Faymonville, MAX Trailer, Cometto and Morelo closer to US customers• How US regulations influence trailer design and engineering• Faymonville’s journey from an 1843 blacksmith’s workshop to a global manufacturer• The role of the seventh generation in the family business• Opportunities in Brazil, Asia and other international markets• Whether more freight forwarders are investing in their own heavy transport equipment🎥 Recorded at the Faymonville Group in Luxembourg for our Voices of Breakbulk Americas series.Hosted by Luke King and produced by Prospect Communications, a specialist PR consultancy for the project cargo sector. For all business enquiries relating to the podcast, email [email protected] and visit https://www.projectcargopros.com/About BreakbulkBreakbulk organises the world's largest events for project cargo and breakbulk logistics, bringing together cargo owners, EPCs, carriers, forwarders and ports from across the global supply chain. With flagship events held annually in Dubai, Rotterdam, Houston and Singapore, Breakbulk serves as a key meeting point for networking, deal-making and industry insight.👉 Visit https://breakbulk.com to find out more about upcoming events and registration.About Our Series Sponsor: Rhenus Project Logistics GlobalRhenus delivers turnkey solutions for complex industrial and infrastructure projects worldwide, combining in-house engineering with multi-modal transport and its own asset base. 👉 Visit https://www.rhenus.group/uk/en/project-logistics/ for more info.

Jumbo is preparing to expand its fleet from eight vessels to ten – while also embarking on a series of complex offshore projects in South America.In this episode of Project Cargo Professionals, Luke King sits down with Peter de Bree, CEO of Jumbo Maritime, to discuss the company’s growth plans, its new L-class heavy-lift vessels and the advantage of combining ocean transportation with offshore installation capability.One major focus is Argentina, where Jumbo has secured roles on three offshore projects. These include the landmark contract awarded to CoreMarine and Jumbo Offshore to transport and install the soft-yoke mooring systems, and perform the hook-up of the Hilli Episeyo FLNG and MKII FLNG vessels in Argentina’s Golfo San Matías.Peter explains why developments in Argentina are becoming increasingly visible to Jumbo, and how the company can collect complex structures in Europe or Asia, transport them across the world and then install them offshore using the same vessel.We discuss:• Jumbo’s three offshore projects in Argentina and the country’s growing importance • The Hilli Episeyo FLNG and MKII FLNG installation and hook-up project • Why combining shipping and offshore installation gives Jumbo a distinctive position • The two new L-class vessels scheduled for delivery in 2028 and 2029 • Why Jumbo chose larger cargo holds but reduced crane capacity to 2 x 1,200 tonnes • How employees, captains and engineers helped shape the new vessel design • Jumbo’s plan to grow its fleet from eight vessels to ten • Why the new ships will be methanol-ready rather than methanol-fuelled from delivery • The relationship between Jumbo, SAL and Intermarine through Jumbo-SAL-Alliance • Wind-assisted propulsion trials and how a 700-nautical-mile detour helped save fuelPeter also reflects on Jumbo’s history as a family-owned heavy-lift shipping company, his first 18 months as CEO and where he sees the strongest opportunities for its next phase of growth.🎥 Recorded at Jumbo Maritime’s headquarters in Rotterdam, the Netherlands for our Voices of Breakbulk Americas series.👉 Connect with Peter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-de-bree-0a53722/Hosted by Luke King and produced by Prospect Communications, a specialist PR consultancy for the project cargo sector. For all business enquires relating to the podcast, email [email protected] and visit https://www.projectcargopros.com/ About Breakbulk Breakbulk organises the world's largest events for project cargo and breakbulk logistics, bringing together cargo owners, EPCs, carriers, forwarders and ports from across the global supply chain. With flagship events held annually in Dubai, Rotterdam, Houston and Singapore, Breakbulk serves as a key meeting point for networking, deal-making and industry insight. 👉 Visit https://breakbulk.com to find out more about upcoming events and registration. About Our Series Sponsor: Rhenus Project Logistics Global Rhenus delivers turnkey solutions for complex industrial and infrastructure projects worldwide, combining in-house engineering with multi-modal transport and its own asset base. 👉 Visit https://www.rhenus.group/uk/en/projec... for more info.

Battery energy storage systems are becoming one of the biggest growth markets in project logistics – and the volumes heading towards the industry are staggering.In this episode of Project Cargo Professionals, Luke King sits down with Christian Ohlrich, Head of Global Logistics at Fluence, to explore what is driving the global BESS boom, why the physical logistics requirement is growing even faster than industry revenues, and whether existing shipping and heavy-haul capacity can keep up.Christian explains why BESS logistics is less about moving one exceptional piece of cargo and more about delivering hundreds of heavy units to a precise, production-line schedule. With data centres being developed at extraordinary speed, a delayed battery delivery can prevent a facility from opening – potentially costing tens of millions of dollars.We discuss:• Why data centres are accelerating global demand for battery storage • How falling battery prices translate into even faster growth in physical cargo volumes • The dangerous-goods, vessel-capacity and on-deck stowage challenges surrounding BESS • Why Fluence is moving towards more modular product designs • How logistics earned a seat at the table during product development • Why Christian is “buying a schedule and a solution” – not simply freight • What freight forwarders must offer beyond a competitive price • The engineering ideas that can materially improve project execution • Why AI cannot replace trust, experience and strong supplier relationships • The trailers, trucks and specialist capacity the industry will need as projects become largerChristian also explains what logistics providers need to do if they want to enter the BESS market — from developing first-class dangerous-goods compliance to securing sufficient heavy-haul capacity.This episode forms part of Voices of Breakbulk Americas, celebrating the people, projects and partnerships shaping the project cargo and breakbulk industry.🎥 Recorded online from Hamburg, Germany and Atlanta, USA👉 Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianohlrich/Hosted by Luke King and produced by Prospect Communications, a specialist PR consultancy for the project cargo sector. For all business enquires relating to the podcast, email [email protected] and visit https://www.projectcargopros.com/About BreakbulkBreakbulk organises the world's largest events for project cargo and breakbulk logistics, bringing together cargo owners, EPCs, carriers, forwarders and ports from across the global supply chain. With flagship events held annually in Dubai, Rotterdam, Houston and Singapore, Breakbulk serves as a key meeting point for networking, deal-making and industry insight.👉 Visit https://breakbulk.com to find out more about upcoming events and registration.About Our Series Sponsor: Rhenus Project Logistics GlobalRhenus delivers turnkey solutions for complex industrial and infrastructure projects worldwide, combining in-house engineering with multi-modal transport and its own asset base. 👉 Visit https://www.rhenus.group/uk/en/project-logistics/