... as breakbulk services
almost disappear
Alan Peat
A NEW and increasing problem for forwarders of project cargoes is a shortage of appropriate ships on the SA route, according to industry sources.
The operators of breakbulk multi-purpose services have almost all disappeared in recent years, and tramp steamers of the old school are no more, they told FTW.
"South African sea trade is now mostly container traffic. The lines are looking at where their dollars and cents come from so there's little merit in running breakbulk vessels any more."
That leaves project cargo operators with lots of overheight and overwidth cargoes, and nowhere easy to put them.
"Container operators are not keen on carrying out of gauge boxes. If they do accept, you pay a premium rate for the adjoining slots."
Everything depends
on timing
Karl-Heinz Balzer, m.d. of Kuehne & Nagel - one of the majors in project cargoes - asserts: "The problem is that the export routes around the world are running full. So why should they allow overgauge cargo? It's expensive in time and effort for them."
Balzer suggests that getting to know the shipping lines is one answer.
"You've just got to be creative. You need contact with the container ship operators.
"With a little bit more flexibility from them, they can make things possible."
And if they do, Balzer indicated that you can get the right rates. "They can be cheaper than breakbulk," he said.
Forwarders agree that it's part of the challenge for project cargo operators and one that they must overcome to stay in the business.
Chartering vessels can be an answer, they told FTW, but only if the price and timing is right.
"The shipper or manufacturer of the project cargo must be clear about their cost calculations," said Balzer, and, if chartering is the only solution then it must be done."
There are lots of project cargo and heavy-lift vessels wandering the oceans, he added, but everything depends on the timing of the cargo movement.
