May 7 - A new heavy lift shipping line that will focus on the shipment of over-dimensional and heavy cargoes in coastal waters, or inland waterways has been launched.

Baris Schifffahrts, which began operations on May 1, was founded by industry veteran Ralf Maehmel. Other parties in the new venture include established shipping line Imperial, based in Dusiburg, and Ed Line, based in Berlin.

 

Mr Maehmel points to the advantage of inland waterborne transport of heavy lift and project cargoes and is targeting the new service initially at German manufacturers of oversize and out-of-gauge equipment.

 

"Provided that access to water is guaranteed, inland waterways solutions in this field are simple and straightforward. Inland waterways are capable of shipping heavier loads, they do not suffer road traffic jams and there are fewer restrictions on inland waterways than other modes," claims Mr Maehmel.

 

"We have already won our first jobs and will soon be taking to the water with them."

 

Baris will offer project cargo logistics, heavy consignment forwarding and shipping services for heavy tonnage items. Large volume and heavy capital equipment will be warehoused and transported for German exporters such as the plant construction sector with typical cargoes including turbines, transformers, generators and wind power plant. The project logistics operation will handle the floating assembly of hydraulic engineering structures and the transport of ship segments.