Maersk adds focus to breakbulk offering

Serving the needs of global shippers, Maersk Line has continued to expand its scope of service with a significant investment in new breakbulk and out of gauge (OOG) container equipment. It recently purchased over 10 000 new-build flat-rack and open-top containers, expanding its breakbulk capacity as part of a major commitment to the breakbulk trade. With the final delivery of new equipment during the fourth quarter of this year, Maersk Line is confident it will be fully suited to handle what it considers the “unique demands of the breakbulk and out of gauge marketplace”. With proper handling and planning, according to Maersk’s SA MD David Williams, breakbulk cargo is easily integrated into the cargo mix on the wide variety of ships deployed on many of the line’s current routes. “Breakbulk cargo, by definition, represents a dynamic array of products. Whether it is green technology infrastructure – such as wind turbines, outof- gauge parts destined for the next step of manufacture, even trucks, tanks, and helicopters or those personal assets such as yachts – we can now serve as the shipping line of choice,” he said. US-based Ed Long, director of project sales for North America, had more to tell FTW. “By bringing more focus to the breakbulk market,” he said, “we are able to develop a true and sustainable transport partnership with breakbulk shippers,” he said. Williams also stressed that Maersk’s extensive global scheduling supported the international breakbulk market.