Dear Readers,
It is Thursday the 24th of February and the last Project Cargo Weekly issue of the month is here.
On the personal front there are quite a few things to do in the coming 3 weeks meaning that I will take a well deserved “spring break” from the PCW newsletter and be off until I publish again on the 24th of March. I simply need to recharge the batteries, spend time with my children as they have a school holiday for a week and some issues that require more fatherly attention. The logistics at home is often complex with different schools, after school activities, homework, language study, sports and somehow there are simply not enough hours in a day, am I right? Combining that with a bit of travel means that it sometimes collides and it can have detrimental effects if things seem to be going a bit astray at home. So PCW will be “off” for maintenance and repair which means:
1. March 3rd – we re-publish the PCW yearbook 2021
2. March 10th – off the grid
3. March 17th – off the grid
4. March 24th – publish again as normal
Last week I visited the French shipping group CMA CGM in Marseille. It was a good visit and they reside in an impressive building at the Marseille water front. They have a size-able special cargo department not only in their head office but also in their offices worldwide as they are catering (when space allows these days) to project cargo. Together with other reputable containership owners such as Hapag Lloyd are good at their job. Marseille is beautifully located in the Med where food and wine is superb, not least at the VIP lunch restaurant on the 31st floor of the CMA CGM building. I met, among others, with my good friends since my days in Hong Kong Mr. Ludovic Rozan and also the head of special cargo Mr. Stephane Berninet.
View the photo album from the trip
Then the following day it was time to come “down to earth” with Ryanair if you understand what I mean. It seems obvious that their website and online booking system is designed to make people unsure of what they booked, perhaps hoping they will click another “additional for a fee” before checking out. Still, a direct flight Marseille to Malta of 2 hrs instead of another routing with a stop-over adding 2-3 hours is preferable.
Landing in Malta is always a pleasure and it feels pretty much like home and I did live there 2003-2006 and kept a condo there ever since, which, although rented out most of the time means that I need to stay in a hotel, but there are plenty of those (and churches) on this historic island. People are very friendly but of course politics is fragmented, hopefully with the election coming soon some things can be straightened out and Malta can get off the “grey” list on banking issues etc.
And hot off the press today, Thursday the 24th of February, we have seen yet another example of Russian aggression towards an independent country. Perhaps there is not enough “lebensraum” “livingspace” in Russia? Project Cargo Weekly supports the Ukrainian people wholeheartedly but the tragidy of it all is that it will be normal people that will pay the price. We can trust that the oligarchs and powers that prop up the leadership and their families already are traveling on their 2nd or 3rd passports enjoying the living style of the west. We need to consider where we buy our oil and gas and here, Germany plays a big role – stop Nordstream-2 for good not just temporarily.
For todays interviews and due to time constraint I decided to re-publish 3 great interviews focusing mainly on AFRICA. So we have KENYA, SOUTH AFRICA and a shipowner regularly calling Africa, please read more further below.
Until next week, we remain,
Yours sincerely,
Bo H. Drewsen
bo.drewsen@projectcargo-weekly.com
Airwagon Cargo Movers Ltd. – Nairobi, Kenya
Interview with
Ms. Jane Njuguna
Managing Director
Jane, if you will, please tell us a little about Airwagon.
Airwagon Cargo Movers Ltd. specializes in clearing and forwarding. It was established in 2007 and its registered offices are located at the heart of Kenya’s largest airport (Jomo Kenyatta International Airport). It’s registered with KRA and KIFWA. Airwagon Cargo Movers Ltd. has a truly professional team from diverse backgrounds and a qualified approach combined with many years of experience
Frits Kroon Transport – South Africa
Interview with
Mr. Frits Kroon
Director
Frits Kroon is the name of the company, and it is also your name. Can you tell us the story about your company, when it was established, who owns it, and your main line of business nowadays?
Yes, I remember putting the key in the ignition of my first truck back in 1999. It was a one-man show for the first part. Today, we have grown into a well-established family and fleet that has spread its wings not only across our borders, but also offering a holistic transport service. We specialize in abnormal loads in South Africa and also cross borders.
UAL Chartering – Copenhagen, Denmark
Interview with
Mr. Samir Ferguen
Managing Director
First of all Samir, please let our readers get to know you. Who are you, and what is your background in shipping & chartering leading up to your current posting in Copenhagen?
I have been working within the project, chartering, and heavy-lift industry since 2008. I started my career as a trainee with Scan-Trans in Denmark at the age of 21. At that time, the industry was still surfing the wave of high economic reward, which quickly changed at the end of my 2-year stay at the office in Denmark, but nonetheless, Scan-Trans was one of the best places to be as a trainee. I was lucky to be offered a chartering position in Houston. I continued my training and worked there from 2010 to 2011. Thereafter, I relocated to the Asian HQ, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where I took part of the chartering team from 2011-2015. During this period, Scan-Trans merged with Intermarine.
The Enabler Magazine from WALLENIUS SOL
Editor’s Note:
Huge RORO carrier WWL are now further expanding their presents in North Europe with large RORO tonnage into the Baltic good for project cargo see their latest newsletter.
Russia issues largest ever warning zone in Norwegian part of the Barents Sea
Editor’s Note:
The Russian president is really out and about at the moment expanding their “territory” obviously the country is not big enough…? but here something that involves shipping too and the Northern Sea Route and its risks.
A NOTAM, or Notice to Airmen issued by Russian authorities for this week warning of an “impact Area for Russian missiles” covers an unusually large area in the waters off Norway, prompting pushback from Norwegian fisherman.
“The Russian NOTAM is the largest since the Cold War. It is the largest ever in modern times,” confirms Major Elisabeth Eikeland, spokesperson with the Norwegian Armed Forces, in an email to the Barents Observer.
Oversize and Heavy-lift Logistics in the Caspian Seas region
Editor’s Note:
An interesting area of the world Caspian Sea – Central Asia so to speak with lots of “stan” countries that sooner or later will develop more also with project cargo.
After a two-year forced break we once again invite you to take part in the main event of the year for everyone who involved in the oversized, project and veavy cargo transportation and installation – VIII international “HEAVY CASPIAN” conference, which will take place on the 31st of March 2022 in the Uzbekistan capital, Tashkent (Ramada by Wyndham Tashkent Hotel).
Posidonia 2022 Newsletter
Editor’s Note:
And Posidonia seems to be on again the very huge international shipping exhibition in the “cradle” of civilisation, Greece.
ISSUE 01 FEBRUARY 2022 – Posidonia 2022 will be held this summer from June 6-10, with the 27th edition of the world’s most prestigious shipping event gearing up to welcome the international maritime community back to its Athens Metropolitan Expo venue, following the pandemic-induced disruption of the 2020 event.
First Waste-To-Hydrogen Plant in Egypt Moves Closer to Reality
H2 Industries, a hydrogen energy and H2 supply solutions company based in the United States of America has revealed that it has received preliminary approval from the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone), a global investment hub and a dynamic export platform that is managed by the General Authority for the Suez Canal Economic Zone, for the construction of the first waste-to-hydrogen plant in Egypt.
Grant for Ghana’s Mini-Grid and Solar Photovoltaic Net Metering Project
The Board of Directors of the African Development Fund, the concessional financing window of the Bank Group, has reportedly approved a US$ 27.39M grant for the development of Ghana’s mini-grid and solar photovoltaic net metering project.
The scope of the project includes the development of 35 mini-grids, standalone solar photovoltaic systems in 400 schools, 200 units in healthcare centers, and 100 units for community energy services centers in the Volta Lake region.
Perseus Mining Expands its Footprint in Africa by Acquiring Stake in Orca Gold
Already recently considered as one of the new major players in the gold sector in Africa, the Australian company Perseus Mining will consolidate its status. While it is targeting 500,000 ounces of production in 2022, it is now looking for inorganic growth opportunities.
The mining company Perseus Mining, which owns several gold mines in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, announced on Monday January 31 an agreement with Resolute Mining to acquire its 15% interest in the Canadian company Orca Gold. The latter is active in Sudan on the Block 14 gold project and owns shares in the Koné gold project in Côte d’Ivoire.
Keppel Infrastructure, IES and Envision Ink MOU to Offer Renewable Energy Solutions for ASEAN
Keppel Infrastructure Holdings Pte Ltd, Impact Electrons Siam Co., Ltd. and Envision Group have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on the development and supply of low-carbon electricity, storage and intermittency management solutions, as well as the pursuit of opportunities in ASEAN grid interconnectivity.
Bumpy Ride Landing in Stockholm During a Snowstorm
Editor’s Note:
The return trip from Malta via Frankfurt (which is a very boring airport on a good day) to Stockholm was long. With a snowstorm in Arlanda, Stockholm and stormy winds we also had a bumpy ride. Not pleasant to depart +18c and arrive to -6c – but we made it.
Editor’s Note:
From my trip to Malta I can say that this picture epitomizes business and relaxation in shipping perfectly. Took the picture from my hotel balcony with unrestricted sea view.
