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Source:  Wind Systems Magazine, July 2010 Issue – Wind farm management, especially offshore, is a matter of economy: generate greater amounts of energy per area, and reduce the cost per megawatt. However, as the industry continues to evolve to meet enhanced power production, it also means increased challenges and risks for project managers—unknowns that push the boundaries of being able to control the transportation and logistics process and its resulting costs. Pushing the boundaries also means pushing the limits of your logistics providers. Every reduction in the cost per MW goes right to the bottom line. more»

Source: Lloyd’s, June 4, 2010 – A Mexican stevedoring company recently handled a second shipment of large steel pipe constructions for the Ormonde offshore windmill project in the Irish Sea. The transport was handled by the Antwerp based freight forwarder, BDP Project Logistics. The shipment was made up of 32 steel constructions with a unit weight of 55 ton and a unit length of 24 meter. It was loaded on board of the coastal vessel “Sea Hunter” by two simultaneous operating cranes. The first and similar shipment was handled in April as shipped as well via the Port of Antwerp.

Source:  Wind Systems Magazine, June 2010 Issue – The managers of wind farm projects face many challenges. Risk levels for EPC contractors are perhaps among the highest, as EPC contracts are often complex and exceptionally demanding. Not only does the contractor assume the risk for the entire schedule, but also the overall budget for the project. That’s not an easy task when you consider that the contractor is not only dealing with a client, but also managing a number of supplier resources that could be in multiple locations. more»

Source:  Breakbulk Magazine, May-June 2010 Issue – In China, the Year of the Tiger is traditionally associated with unpredictability and change.  But unpredictability is prevalent in China regardless of the year and the stakes can be even higher when handling out-of-gauge project cargo in the country. more»

Source:  Wind Systems Magazine, May 2010 Issue – Offshore energy production is gaining traction as consumption of electricity from conventional sources declines and renewable sources continue to grow. Countries and companies alike are gaining confidence in this relatively new opportunity for renewable power. Offshore wind velocity is generally higher and the wind more consistent, compared to onshore winds. That can provide greater capacity, increased energy production, and greater revenue for offshore wind farms. Plus, as turbines are built further offshore, perhaps on special floating platforms, even greater amounts of wind energy can be harnessed. more»

Source:  Breakbulk Magazine, March/April 2010 Issue – Although Colombia relies on hydroelectric power for its basic electricity supply, when rainfall is low, the country turns to power plants run by natural gas and other fuels. more»

Source: Breakbulk Magazine and Breakbulk.com, March/April 2010 Issue – The secret to moving project cargo in Colombia is improvisation, companies such as Kuehne + Nagel say. Although the size of France, Germany and Britain combined, Colombia has only 102,526 miles of road, and few of these are more than two lanes, making it a challenge to move cargo wider than 13 feet. more»

Negotiation, persistence and knowledge of culture are keys to success in winning contracts in India

Source:  Breakbulk Magazine, March/April 2010 Issue – India has survived the global recession relatively unscathed.  Just look at its gross domestic product – growth of 7.3 percent in 2008 and an estimated 6.4 percent in 2009, according to the World Bank — compared with global GDP growth of 1.7 percent and minus 2.2 percent, respectively. more»

Source:  Breakbulk Magazine, March/April 2010 Issue – Moving pieces of project cargo that weight hundreds of metric tons or are five stories tall or higher from point A to point B can be a challenge of monumental proportions.  And when the location is remote, the river is shallow, and the best bet for a berth is a muddy riverbank, the challenge can easily reach epic proportions. more»

Source: Breakbulk Magazine and Breakbulk.com, March/April 2010 Issue – Colombia has almost come full circle in the past two decades, evolving from a country that in the 1990s suffered an exodus of foreign investors because of rampant political insecurity to an attractive economy that is today luring a surge of investment as the military wins back control of resource-rich areas from cocaine-smuggling rebels. more»

Source:  Wind Systems Magazine, April 2010 Issue – In the January issue we noted that 2010 promises to be a challenge for the wind power industry as general equipment availability and transport capacity begins to tighten up, placing additional constraints on supply chains. As more countries enter the market, the shortage of equipment to transport and to erect wind farms will be felt on a global basis in the second half of 2010 and into 2011. more»

China is becoming an increasing influence on the world mining industry in terms of both extraction and machinery, writes Phil Hastings.

Source:  Heavy Lift & Project Forwarding International, March/April 2010 Issue – The importance of China and India cannot be over-estimated at a time when demand for commodities in Europe and North America is still feeling the effects of the global economic downturn. more»

A return to near normality in recently terrorist-ridden Colombia has seen energy companies moving into the country to explore its rich carbon reserves, writes Rainbow Nelson in Cartagena.

Source:  Heavy Lift & Project Forwarding International, March/April 2010 Issue – While neighbouring Venezuela falls off an economic cliff, Colombia is basking in an unprecedented moment in the country’s development, with record foreign investment more than tripling the levels of heavy lift cargo flowing into the country. more»

New opportunities are bringing a range of new challenges for project cargo forwarders, writes Phil Hastings.

Source:  Heavy Lift & Project Forwarding International, March/April 2010 Issue – South America, Africa and Asia are emerging as three of the key areas for future mining industry developments and related heavy lift/project cargo business.  With that new business, though, could come a raft of new operational challenges for logistics providers forced to work with often inadequate transport infrastructures. more»

Source:  Heavy Lift & Project Forwarding International, March/April 2010 Issue – Peru has been the Latin American economy least affected by the fallout from the global crisis, based on figures for economic growth and foreign investment.  While the economy grew by 0.8 percent last year, compared with a regional average of -1.8 percent, foreign direct investment was up 28.1 percent, compared with a regional decline of 40.7 percent. more»