High expectations for business from oil and gas industry.

Securing project cargo work at a price that allows one to still be competitive and deliver a professional service is probably the biggest challenge facing the industry currently, says Owen Bottomley of Cape Crating. A major crating company providing logistic services to the freight forwarding and clearing industry, Cape Crating has always been heavily involved with project cargo and the company believes there are many opportunities in this sector. “Project cargo opportunities do not diminish in a recession,” says Bottomley, commenting on the market conditions of 2009. The upgrading of a berth in Cape Town targeted at the offshore industry is creating much expectation around project cargo work in the oil and gas industry in Cape Town. “The expectations are that oil and gas work will increase and that the government will create a tax/customsfriendly environment to help attract major oil and gas work to Cape Town.” He says if the correct business climate is created then growth can be expected and Cape Town could become an offshore supply hub servicing the oil and gas industries in both East and West Africa. According to Bottomley, much opportunity also exists in the power generation industry that is expected to provide project work. It is, however, necessary to do the job well and that includes correctly assessing a client’s needs before the work starts, effective planning, excellent communication to all parties and having competent staff on board. “It is also important to have the right equipment and be able to effectively manage subcontractors, and then to continuously plan throughout the project.”