Throughout 2023, the project logistics sector saw some key players expand their footprint to target new markets or reinforce their position. It comes off the back of a largely positive outlook for the market, with several industry verticals set to provide a swathe of work around the globe.
At the beginning of 2023, Maersk completed its acquisition of Danish project logistics provider Martin Bencher Group, setting the stage for the official launch of Maersk Project Logistics later in the year. That was not the only (semi) new name to the market in 2023, as former Tschudi Logistics boss Thomas Vestergaard launched United Project Forwarding Group (UPF Group) at the start of the year, backed by UHL’s ceo Lars Bonnesen as an investor. Described as a “cousin” to the United Shipping Group, UPF is made up of a group of logistics companies from around the world and aims to be a personal partner in an increasingly digitalised market.
Further still, Maersk was not the only container conglomerate to target the logistics space once again this year, with CMA CGM placing an offer to acquire Bolloré Logistics during April. That deal has progressed throughout the year and industry sources suggest that by 2024, Bolloré Logistics will be integrated and become CEVA Logistics – CMA’s other transport and logistics subsidiary. Bolloré Group’s previous deals with container titans also saw the former Bolloré Africa Logistics rebrand as Africa Global Logistics (AGL) following the 2022 acquisition by MSC.
Africa – where various large-scale projects to make the most of oil, gas and renewable energy sources are under way – has also been a target for project cargo specialist Roll Group, which in February launched Roll Africa and subsequently partnered with several players in the region including Nigeria’s Cranes “R” Us and Laso Transportes’ branch in Mozambique. It also appointed CMTL Logistics as its commercial agent in Tanzania. Engineered transport specialist Sarens, meanwhile, bolstered its presence in Tanzania too, signing a memorandum of understanding with Raphael Logistics.
It was a busy year for Sarens, which launched a wind energy division in collaboration with a Polish partner; acquired the shares in Italy-based Zanetti Solution; and established a joint venture with Trans Wonderland (TWL) in Papua New Guinea. During April, the Sarens family also regained 100 percent of the shares of the Sarens Group after reaching an agreement with minority shareholder Begoos (Group Luc Tack) – a move it said highlighted its robust standing in the heavy lift area at a time “when key contributors in the sector are experiencing an opposite evolution, looking for new shareholders, away from the stable long-term shareholding they have enjoyed in the past”.
That development came at the brief time when Netherlands-headquartered Mammoet was put up for sale by its owner SHV. It swiftly turned on a sixpence stating that it “decided not to pursue any of the interest expressed in the purchase of Mammoet as they do not meet our aim of finding a better owner”.
Elsewhere in the engineered transport and project logistics space, expansion has been under way for project logistics group deugro, which established an Indian entity that will own and operate barges and specialised trailers, DHP Heavylift Solutions; Express Global Logistics (EXG) and Italy’s Fagioli formed a Mumbai-based joint venture that will handle transport and logistics projects in the construction, petrochemical and heavy industrial sectors – Megaload; Türkiye’s heavy lift and engineered transport provider Hareket signed a strategic partnership agreement with UAE-based Arab Development; and ADNOC Logistics & Services (ADNOC L&S) – the shipping and maritime logistics arm of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) – unveiled its integrated logistics services platform (ILSP).
Spain-headquartered Erhardt Projects, meanwhile, formed a joint venture with Earth Reservoir for Oil and Gas (EROG Holding) based in Saudi Arabia. In the Kingdom, its megaproject NEOM is moving ahead and has seen freight forwarder DSV form a controversial USD10 billion exclusive joint venture to support the development projects taking place.
In the Americas, Rhenus Projects has been on an expansion drive. It opened business sites in Halifax and St John’s to serve the project logistics and offshore markets in eastern Canada; opened an office in Utah; and expanded its project portfolio in Latin America (LATAM) with two key appointments. With regard to ports and terminals in the region, a major deal from Logistec Stevedoring saw it acquire the Canadian and US marine terminal business of Fednav in March 2023, adding 11 terminals to Logistec’s network, bringing the company’s total operations to 90 terminals in 60 ports across North America.
Eyes were also firmly fixed on Caribbean opportunities. Guyana has been a focal point in the area, with the oil and gas sector being a major driver of work, followed by Suriname and Trinidad. Blue Water Shipping received renewed approval for its local content certification in Guyana during summer of this year, and then further committed to the region with the appointment of Gerson Sporkslede as general manager of a newly established office Blue Water Suriname. Bertling, meanwhile, announced a joint venture company targeting the project logistics market in Guyana during September. Partnering with Rafeek & Moore, the JV will explore the various business opportunities available in Guyana’s oil and gas, mining and construction sectors.
Looking ahead, and there is positivity amongst the market. One would assume that 2024 will bring about further developments from project logisticians hoping to tap into opportunities around the world. Speaking with HLPFI in late September, Colin Charnock, managing director of Trans Global Projects Group (TGP), explained: “I could reel off five countries off the top of my head that have so many opportunities. You could go anywhere. Suriname, Guyana, Chile, Namibia – Shell and Total had huge finds there and there will be huge developments on a similar scale to Mozambique, so Namibia is definitely one to watch – Finland too is a large manufacturing market, with the likes of Metso or Wärtsilä… there is a lot going on.”
