Purpose-built equipment moves freight to remote sites

Dilapidated road and rail infrastructure as well as regular f looding means that logistics operations that could be comparable to those used for military purposes are required to move freight to remote regions within Mozambique, according to Gerard Ryan, regional vice president EMEA at Crane Worldwide Logistics. “In some cases, purposebuilt and specialised equipment is required,” he adds. Crane Worldwide Logistics continues to make “significant” investments in all terrain heavy transport equipment in order to meet the needs of the local Mozambique environment. The company has also introduced its “Hotshot” service for expedited delivery of loads of 3.5 tons and less to remote sites. This is despite hold-ups in the roll-out of the expected oil and gas boom, as well as political factors which are affecting investment decisions by logistics companies in general, he says. There have been delays in various tender processes for the planned LNG facilities in Northern Mozambique. “In fact some projects are almost a year behind their planned schedules. “Therefore there is a time lag between the completion of the exploration drilling and the beginning of the EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) work,” adds Ryan. The delay in these operations impacts heavily on the logistics players in the Mozambique market who are ready and able to assist in the import and export of materials needed for such projects. Crane Worldwide Logistics opened an office in the port of Pemba in June 2013 in order to service the oil and gas industry in Mozambique, and is awaiting the outcome of the upcoming presidential elections in order to determine their strategy going forward. INSERT & CAPTION “Hotshot” service introduced for expedited delivery of loads of 3.5 tons and less to remote sites. – Gerard Ryan