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In the summer of 2024, after the Paris Olympic Games, the sculling pioneer Kjetil Borch retired after a lifetime on the biggest international stage – with an impressive result list and medal tally to his name.

Now an intern at Höegh Autoliners through Neste Steg (Next Step), an organization preparing former elite athletes and military personnel for what’s next after their active careers, he is exploring the wonders of another ocean trait very different from the world he’s learned to master after 21 years of rowing: The shipping sector.

The Port of Le Havre is a bustling place, says Kjetil Borch. And enormous, too.

From his new temporary home onboard the Höegh Target, the former world champion and two-time Olympic medalist in rowing is soundly impressed by the size of the Normandy port from where he boarded the Horizon Class vessel a few days earlier.

Understandably, Le Havre was once a strategic stronghold and battleground during WWII. Today, it is France’s second-largest tonnage port and a vital hub for deep-sea transportation and global trade.

“After entering the port area, we drove 10-15 minutes before arriving at the vessel. At that point, the 40-meter-high steel colossus of the Höegh Target had long dwarfed most other ships and vessels in the otherwise immensely impressive port,” Borch says enthusiastically.

Le Havre is, in other words, a fitting place for Kjetil Borch to embark on his new maritime endeavors. In the summer of 2024, after the Paris Olympic Games, the rowing pioneer retired after a lifetime on the biggest international stage – with an impressive result list and medal tally to his name.

Now an intern at Höegh Autoliners through Neste Steg (Next Step), an organization preparing former elite athletes and military personnel for what’s next after their active careers, Kjetil Borch is exploring the wonders of another ocean trait very different from the world he’s learned to master after 21 years of rowing: The shipping sector.

After three weeks at headquarters in Oslo, Borch began an adventure in two parts last week.

Onboard Höegh Target, the first part will take him through the English Channel, passing Europe’s west coast to Santander and Tangier, Marocco, before heading to Durban along Africa’s western coastline, ending up in South Africa in three weeks’ time.

The second part will be spent at the Höegh office in Durban before he returns to Norway at the beginning of April.
According to Borch, the beginning of his trip was all positive. Last Tuesday’s first encounter with his 8,600-ceu home was goosebump-inducing – but not because of the chilly French winter weather: “Stepping onto the enormous ramp of the Höegh Target and into its main deck was like entering a colossal cathedral of maritime engineering.”

Sculls are narrow, lightweight rowing boats used in competitive rowing, designed for speed and agility over shorter distances.

Höegh Autoliners’ fleet – the world’s most environmentally friendly PCTC fleet – on the other hand, consists of massive, purpose-built vessels designed for the secure transportation of cars, trucks, breakbulk, and high & heavy machinery during long ocean voyages.

But apart from that difference, Kjetil Borch has prepared well for his new life while competing for gold and glory. He spent four years at maritime school, finishing as a navigator in 2013. Recently, he concluded his master’s studies in Maritime Management, a blend of technical prowess and structural ingenuity.

Although no stranger to being on the water or even to majestic vessels, Kjetil Borch experienced some hectic first days on the Höegh Target: “There was a lot to absorb and a high pace in the beginning. One thing was getting to know the nooks and crannies of the vessel; another thing was navigating the cramped confines of the car decks. Being just shy of two meters high, I don’t see much other than the overhead steel constructions on the fully packed 1.7-meter-high car decks, otherwise tightly packed with endless rows of vehicles,” Borch says with a smile.”

“All jokes aside, it has been a fantastic experience. Witnessing the meticulous loading operations and seeing how massive 50-ton belts are placed, secured, and tightly lashed in a Tetris-type operation is both impressive and a testament to the paramount importance of safety in maritime operations,” he says.

By now, Kjetil Borch has immersed himself in the daily rhythms of life at sea, documenting fire safety protocols, implementing innovative and operations-improving apps in collaboration with DNV, and soaking in every lesson the maritime world has to offer. According to the Norwegian, being a part of the Chinese crew he’s tasted more food he never knew existed in a couple of days than ever before.

One thing, however, has surprised the 35-year-old the most: the camaraderie of the Chinese crew. According to Borch, there is an atmosphere comparable to the vibe from the experiences he has had with the Norwegian national rowing team:

“I am the sole non-Chinese on board. But I have been warmly welcomed into their fold in a manner I had never imagined. The crew’s relentless efforts to communicate – even when language barriers sometimes make it difficult- and their infectious sense of humor have bridged our differences, washed away the feeling of being new, and created a sense of belonging similar to my time with the national team. The shared laughter and unspoken understanding have made it a start that has surpassed my expectations about the journey. I like life onboard.”

As Kjetil looks ahead to his time in South Africa, he is filled with a mix of curiosity and anticipation. The internship with Höegh Autoliners promises a wealth of experiences, from engaging with various departments to understanding the intricacies of maritime operations.

He is eager to explore the opportunities for growth and personal development, unbound by the constraints of a fixed position: “My goal is to get as much experience within shipping and the different departments and get wiser about what I want to do long-term and which direction I should take. I feel this opportunity is the perfect place for just that,” Kjetil Borch says.

For now, the direction is due south, with Santander and the Bay of Biscay as the first stops on his onboard adventure.

Outside, the temperature doesn’t allow for the top-deck basketball court to be used – unless we would use skates, as Borch jokes on the WhatsApp call after a loading stop in the Swedish winter in Gothenburg.

“So far, I’ve only experienced losing in ping-pong to a guy who played poorly out of politeness but crushed me anyway. But the crew has promised me that when we get to the western coast of Africa in a few weeks, we will barbecue and play basketball. I hope I can take advantage of my height,” he says, doing little to hide the fact that his competitive instinct is fully intact despite his retirement from elite sports.

Project Cargo Network are pleased to introduce TSL Australia as new members.

The company have been operating for 20 years and offer professional services in project and OOG cargo handling with comprehensive solutions.

Their responsive team have expert knowledge in complex projects and Allan Hou (Director of Business Development) says they welcome new partnerships with PCN members.

“TSL Australia is a Melbourne based logistics company established by a team of experts in international transportation services. We are experienced professionals working with a wealth of knowledge gained over the years in Australia and we have one aim – to transport cargo quickly and efficiently.”

“Our focus is on reliable and effective services with tailored solutions. Handling every project with care and integrity, we are skilled in predicting challenges and finding timely solutions to any issues that may arise.”
“With years of experience in project logistics, we service all major sea and airports in Australia including remote areas and bulk ports. Our project expertise includes complete project logistics management & handling, breakbulk & RORO shipping, full & part chartering, OOG & heavy lift transportation by land & coastal, surveys & project planning, port & terminal operations and customs clearance.

Our team have experience in handling a range of projects including factory relocations, solar power farms, power plants, motor vehicles, yachts & boats, infrastructure & construction equipment, dairy & agriculture farming equipment, commodities & manufacturing and mining.”

Energy and marine consultancy ABL launches a new entity in Namibia, expanding its growing operations in-country to support the local oil & gas market, whilst also developing its offering to support Namibia’s energy transition.

“ABL has been supporting energy and marine projects in Namibia for over a decade. Opening an official entity is the natural next step for us, and cements ABL’s commitment and local engagement to support the country in delivering on its energy objectives.” Anne Myers, ABL’s Country Manager to South Africa and Namibia.

Namibia is a significant player in African energy, with a focus on traditional oil & gas development, alongside plans to harness its extensive solar and wind energy resource. The country’s renewable energy potential is also evident in its promise as a green hydrogen hub for the African continent.

ABL Namibia will provide the company’s full technical service offering in energy and marine consulting, with a focus on marine technical due diligence, rig inspections and rig moving, marine inspections and surveys, marine warranty survey, and maritime services including ports consulting.

Via the support of its sister company the renewable energy consultancy OWC, the new entity will also provide a springboard off which to expand the company’s expertise in energy transition and green energy technical advisory, engineering and consulting.

“ABL Namibia adds to our legacy presence in the South African market, based in Cape Town. It also represents the next step in our continued expansion as the go-to energy and marine consultant to support safety and sustainability in African energy and oceans. We are very excited to see what will come next from this exciting new venture.” Donald MacMillan, ABL’s Regional Managing Director for Middle East, North & South Africa & India.

ABL Namibia complements the company’s further presence in the African continent, with offices in Egypt, Republic of Congo, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa. ABL is further supported by consultancy presence in Algeria and Morocco.

ABL is part of Oslo-listed ABL Group ASA, an independent energy and marine consultancy group to the global oil & gas, renewables and maritime sectors.

Protranser, our members from China, are glad to share an update of their recent regular logistics service to a client in Australia involving conveyor belts.

Their team has been selected to provide a monthly service from Taicang, China to the client’s jobsite in Dampier, Australia by breakbulk vessel.

Protranser measured the weight of each unit to vary between 25 and 43 tons.

The company covered a wide scope of work for this service, including cargo retrieval from a local factory, port operations, chartering service for the breakbulk vessel, as well as transport across 700 kilometres to the jobsite of their client.

Protranser currently stand strong at over 100 professional experts in 11 regional offices throughout China, offering flexible solutions with value-added services and optimising the various modes of transportation. Over the years, Protranser have established a good cooperative relationship with local terminals, carriers and truckers.

Modus Logistics Management, representing Greece in the Project Logistics Alliance, has successfully completed a crucial transport project for a prominent customer in the Power Generation and Energy sector.

The project involved transporting two heavy lift modules from Poland to Greece.

The team began with meticulous planning, conducting comprehensive route surveys and performing bridge static calculations to ensure every aspect of the transport met strict time and budget constraints.

This achievement highlights Modus Logistics Management’s dedication to providing reliable, safe, and efficient solutions for complex logistics in the energy sector. Congratulations team Modus Logistics Management.

Sarens is proud to be a key partner in the Zambia Fertiliser Project, a major industrial development that will boost the local economy, create jobs, and strengthen agricultural growth in the region.

Selected for our global reputation as heavy lifting experts, we have been providing critical lifting and transport solutions for the construction of this vital facility.

Executing complex lifts in confined spaces has been one of the project’s defining challenges. The site conditions required meticulous planning to navigate tight roads and space constraints, ensuring seamless coordination between teams working in both English and Chinese.

To meet the project’s demands, our team deployed the Terex Demag CC 2800-1, equipped with an S7 boom system and 300 tons of superlift ballast, significantly enhancing its lifting capacity. The crane was initially configured in HSSL_S7 with an 84m main boom and was later reconfigured to HSSL_S7 with a 108m main boom, following a strategic approach to balance crane capacity and boom length for critical lifts. This method ensured optimal performance by leveraging shorter boom lengths for heavier lifts while reserving extended reach for specific tasks.

As the project progresses, the CC 2800-1 will be further reconfigured to HSWSL_S7 (84m main boom + 54m luffing jib) to provide the necessary reach for upcoming construction phases. This phased setup enables the efficient hoisting of key equipment, including compressors, tanks, columns, furnaces, hoppers, drums, filter presses, and modules—with the longest column reaching 80m and the heaviest lift at 250T.

The S7 boom system, combined with 300T of superlift ballast, has significantly enhanced lifting capacity, eliminating the need for a 750T lattice crawler while providing the necessary hook height and reach to install massive structures. The CC 2800-1, working in tandem with a client-supplied Sany 250T crawler crane, executed complex tailing operations with precise slewing and crawling movements to position the loads safely.

Despite periods of rainfall and the challenging terrain, Sarens ensured safe and precise operations through careful site preparation and communication. The team’s expertise in heavy lift planning and execution has kept the project on track, with the CC 2800-1 still active on-site since November 2024.

As work progresses, Sarens remains committed to delivering world-class engineering solutions that contribute to Zambia’s industrial growth. We are proud to play a role in this transformative project and look forward to its successful completion.

Bertling are happy to inform you that the Bertling Logistics in Jakarta Indonesia office move is now completed and that their colleagues are now fully operational at their new location.

This is to reconfirm our updated address: Bertling Logistics Indonesia held its grand opening ceremony for the new office on the 20th of February 2025. To celebrate this special occasion, we welcomed clients, partners, and vendors to our new premises.

The evening featured a tour of the new office for our guests, accompanied by a spread of tasty canapés and refreshments.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was performed by Sarvanen Supaya (Managing Director, Indonesia) and Ling Sheng Xiong (Regional Finance Manager), with a pair of feng-shui wealth figurine statues gifted by Ron See (Managing Director, Singapore) and Punithan Murugan (Chief Accountant, Shipping).

A highly successful event was planned, organized, and executed by the dedicated staff of Bertling Logistics Indonesia.

We wish our colleagues in Indonesia a great start in their new office, with much success and happiness to come.

A US energy company has appointed ABL to optimise its asset management system data configuration for their gas plant.

ABL’s scope of work is to mark up the plant’s piping and instrumentation diagram (P&ID) drawings, building an asset hierarchy and material masters system, and cataloguing all actuators and solenoids. Consequently, the client is no longer required to go out in the field to check equipment as it is all loaded up in its enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.

“Digitising and optimising the data configuration of the gas plant’s asset base will provide significant time and cost savings for our client in the execution of their asset management programs,” says Luis Gonzalez, ABL’s US country manager for asset integrity management.

The asset hierarchy build, and material masters are being done using ABL’s Effio software. Effio is a cloud-based master data build and optimisation software that makes it easy to build and upgrade an asset management strategy and optimise data during operations.

In addition, ABL is using its ePAV software to conduct an on-site physical asset verification, identifying missing data for actuators connected to shutdown valves in the plant and compression stations. ePAV is a digital data collection, audit, and verification tool that enhances the accuracy of the on-site physical asset data collection process and ensures alignment with company data standards.

ABL’s asset integrity management team in Houston, Texas, is managing the project. The company has not disclosed the value of the contract.

“This project exemplifies ABL’s commitment to advancing industry standards and operational excellence, focusing on optimising the client’s work management processes and data architectures across facilities in the United States. Utilising our software on this scope of work allows the team to accurately mark up the plant’s P&ID drawings so they’re correct first time and don’t have to be manually uploaded to the EAM system, which prevents the need for rework from the client’s team,” adds Luis Gonzalez.

ABL’s extensive footprint runs coast-to-coast in the USA and Canada, supporting with the full range of marine assurance & risk services, ports and harbours consultancy, asset integrity management, and offshore and onshore wind consultancy.

Huisman announces the launch of its latest innovation in data driven solutions, Performance Insights.

This cutting-edge application empowers Huisman equipment owners to optimise operations, enhance efficiency, and ensure the longevity of their equipment through comprehensive usage monitoring, advanced system analytics and condition monitoring.

Huisman introduces Performance Insights: a data driven solution for maximised predictability
The Performance Insights application, accessible via the client portal myHuisman©, analyses equipment data to provide actionable insights across key areas such as equipment performance, alarms and warnings, energy consumption, and component usage. These insights enable clients to make justified, data-driven decisions to maximise operational uptime, improve maintenance scheduling, and streamline project efficiency.

Enhanced maintenance based on equipment use
The introduction of Performance Insights marks the beginning of new era in equipment monitoring. It is developed for clients focused on project analysis and optimising maintenance strategies based on the actual use of the equipment.

The platform supports: Improved maintenance scheduling and cycle times; Proactive fault resolution to minimise operation interruptions; Reduced operational costs and extended component lifespan.

In the near future, Huisman will expand the features of Performance Insights with more valuable technical insights through condition monitoring and system analytics.

David Roodenburg, CEO of Huisman: “Our commitment to continuous innovation ensures that Huisman stays ahead in delivering technologies that not only focus on the safety and efficiency of our equipment but also optimise its performance throughout its entire lifecycle. Performance Insights exemplifies this commitment, providing a digital platform that empowers our clients with the data needed to drive efficiency and sustainability in their operations.”

Kalmar has signed a service contract with PSA Singapore in Q4 2024, covering maintenance and repair work on PSA’s cargo-handling fleet.

PSA Singapore is the world’s largest container transshipment hub, handling 40.9 million TEUs in 2024. It is one of the flagship terminals of PSA International, a leading port group with a global network spanning more than 180 locations in 45 countries.

Kalmar has been one of PSA Singapore’s service providers for the servicing and maintenance of both Kalmar and third-party equipment in Singapore. This includes equipment such as empty container handlers, terminal tractors and forklift trucks.

Thomas Lim, Director, Services, Kalmar SSEA: “We are pleased to be able to strengthen our long-term cooperation with PSA Singapore through this new service contract. The agreement demonstrates our continued commitment to our customers as well as our ability to deliver tailored, reliable and innovative service solutions that keep our customers’ business moving.”

Founder Air and Sea Cargo are glad to share a recent service they completed involving a large volume of breakbulk from China to Japan.

The shipment comprised of four units weighing 113 tons with a total freight volume of 204 cbm.

The company transported this hefty cargo from Shanghai, China to Mojiko Port, Japan.

Founder had good rapport with the shipowner, demonstrating meticulous attention to booking space, lashing, and discharge at Mojiko Port.

Two of the transported units were overweight and demanded a floating crane to unstuff the shipment.

Founder implemented seamless procedures with consideration of the weather conditions and water level at the port of loading.

Norsepower, the leading provider of wind propulsion systems, has announced a new collaboration with Climate Tech start-up Syroco.

Together, the two companies are delivering innovative energy efficiency solutions for merchant vessels, reducing fuel consumption, minimising carbon emissions, and accurately measuring the savings enabled by Norsepower Rotor Sails.

The joint deployment of Norsepower and Syroco onboard Socatra’s tanker Alcyone demonstrates how combining wind propulsion with cutting-edge digital technologies can help shipowners overcome operational complexities and maximise the benefits of wind propulsion. Vessels with rotor sails require advanced calculations to optimise routes, balancing wind propulsion with other factors such as waves and currents. Their integration with AI-driven platforms provides ship operators with reliable, real-time insights into how to maximise efficiency, savings, and sustainability.

This partnership has already demonstrated success onboard several vessels, including Socatra’s tanker Alcyone. Syroco’s performance evaluation technology has validated the effectiveness of Norsepower Rotor Sails, confirming fuel savings of up to 21% per voyage. By combining Norsepower’s wind propulsion systems with Syroco’s weather routing technology, these savings are amplified, with initial results revealing voyages where combining the technologies can as much as double the performance.

Jarkko Väinämö, CCO at Norsepower, commented: “Our collaboration with Syroco is an important step forward in optimising the potential of wind propulsion. By accurately validating the performance of Norsepower Rotor Sails and demonstrating how advanced AI can amplify their benefits, we are driving significant progress in sustainable shipping. Together, we are proving that cleaner, more efficient shipping is not only achievable but measurable.”

Syroco combines weather and sea data with advanced naval architecture principles and IoT data collected from onboard systems to create a digital twin of each vessel. This virtual representation of the ship accounts for key characteristics such as hull design, windage, appendages, propulsion systems, and the most accurate models of the Norsepower Rotor Sails. This digital twin enables vessel operators to optimise routes in real-time, considering wind propulsion, waves, swell, currents, arrival times, safety constraints, and cargo-specific parameters.

Alex Caizergues, Cofounder and CEO of Syroco, said: “By integrating Norsepower Rotor Sails with digital twin models, the Syroco platform helps the crew obtain the most optimised routing at any time, and essentially amplifies the effect of wind assistance. This collaboration showcases the great potential of combining innovative technologies to meet the maritime industry’s decarbonisation goals.”

“Syroco also provides a precise evaluation of the contribution of wind propulsion to fuel savings and emissions reductions. The user-friendly interface not only enables vessel operators to make data-driven decisions but also to quantify the impact of these decisions,”, he added.

With further joint deployments upcoming , this success highlights the importance of integrating complementary technologies to meet the maritime sector’s growing regulatory demands and climate commitments. Norsepower and Syroco continue to pave the way for innovative, sustainable shipping solutions, proving that effective and verifiable decarbonization is not a thing of the future, but already available today.

Ramps Logistics is thrilled to support Geohidra on the first on-site work for the long-anticipated Dragon Field development.

The project involves acquiring geotechnical data and high-resolution 2D seismic data, essential for designing subsea infrastructure and determining the pipeline route from Dragon to Shell’s Hibiscus platform.

The project launch was marked by a tour of Geohidra’s vessel, Dona Jose II, and Ramps Logistics’ Shorebase in Chaguaramas on Friday, October 11th.

Distinguished attendees included the Prime Minister, Dr. the Honourable Keith Rowley, the Minister of Energy and Energy Industries, the Honourable Stuart Young S.C., as well as representatives from Shell, the National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited, and primary project contractors.

The Dragon Field development achieved a significant milestone by securing the OFAC license in May 2023.

This crucial permit, granted through skilled diplomacy amid complex international sanctions, has accelerated actions over the past year, transforming Dragon Field from a licensed concept into a dynamic development site.

“We extend commendations to Minister Stuart Young and the team at the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries, Shell, and NGC for their exceptional efforts, which not only advance the Dragon Field project but also strengthen T&T’s economic outlook.”

DEME welcomed 60 students from the Dutch Maritime Academy to their jack-up vessel ‘Neptune’.

The students were welcomed by the captain and crew, who gave them an exclusive tour of the vessel, whilst sharing their experiences aboard. At DEME we love to share what we do, and we strive to inspire the next generation of captains, crew and maritime officers, giving them a glimpse of the exciting career opportunities available at DEME.

We’re looking forward to what the future brings for them and maybe we’ll see some of the students back on our vessels someday!