Latest News

Volkswagen recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of its Parts and Accessories Center (PAC), a massive distribution center located in Vinhedo, São Paulo, Brazil.

CEVA has been supporting the Volkswagen business in PAC since 2010 and has played a crucial role in their logistics operations, particularly in recent years.

The Volkswagen Group is a German vehicle manufacturer that sells products in 153 countries. Besides Volkswagen, other popular vehicles include Audi, SEAT, Bentley, Porsche, Ducati, and more. The Volkswagen Group delivered more than nine million vehicles to customers worldwide in 2023, representing an 11.8% increase year-over-year.

CEVA provides Volkswagen with warehousing services and distribution for automotive parts and accessories, including logistics to export to more than 30 countries. PAC is the largest automotive parts distribution center in Latin America and the largest one that CEVA operates, servicing over 600 car dealers. PAC is the only distribution center supporting the Volkswagen Group in Brazil, serving as a strategic location for growth and distribution across Latin America.

Over the past 12 years, CEVA’s relationship with Volkswagen has undergone significant transformation, characterized by productivity and prosperity. Volkswagen is investing R$13 billion in logistics in São Paulo—part of which will be directed to the Parts and Accessories Center to support the automation and digital transformation of the facility. CEVA is already making significant advances in digitalization and artificial intelligence technologies across its Latin American sites to promote operational efficiency and sustainability.

PAC is a complex logistics compound with large volumes processed daily and a strong track record of stability and productivity levels. The 132,000 square meter facility is operated by over 400 employees and processes more than 6,000 packages per day. It’s one of CEVA’s global benchmark facilities when it comes to productivity and efficiency given the sheer volumes processed and the complexities of the operations achieved.

Beyond its large scale and impressive productivity, the CEVA team at PAC is proud of recent sustainability initiatives and key milestones, including the use of 100% renewable energy (LED lighting, solar and wind energy) and the recent Zero Waste Certification achieved. The facility uses packaging materials made from recycled cardboard and implemented a water waste system to reduce overall consumption.

The sustainability achievements of PAC demonstrate CEVA’s commitment to innovative and environmentally responsible logistics solutions. PAC has been an important part of CEVA’s history, and we are looking forward to the growth that the next decade will bring.

Mammoet, the global heavy lift and transport specialist, has begun work on a major bridge replacement project at Amsterdam Centraal Station.

Four steel railway bridges, and one concrete bridge, will be replaced on the east side of the key rail hub – with minimal disruption to commuters.

Working with Dutch engineering company Dura Vermeer, Mammoet is carrying out these renovations so the station can accommodate more trains and passengers.

The bridge upgrades form part of the wider High-Frequency Rail Transport (PHS) Programme, which includes track optimizations, infrastructure adjustments and construction work inside the station building.

Mammoet will support the load-out, transportation, and installation of the three sections that make up each bridge. The components measure 24 and 28 meters in length and weigh 173 and 275 tonnes.

To keep disruption down to a bare minimum, the operation is happening almost entirely on water, with one bridge replaced every year from now until 2028.

The bridge sections are being fabricated by Hollandia, in the Netherlands. They will be shipped to the Oostertoegang aspect of the station on flattop barges travelling through the river De Lek and the Lekkanaal.

To enable passage underneath a low footbridge near the Oostertoegang, the main installation barge will be partly submerged in the water using copper pontoons weighted with water.

A 90t mobile crane, positioned on a temporary bridge, will remove the pontoons from the barge and replace them with Mammoet Self-Propelled Modular Transporters (SPMTs).

Mammoet’s Mega Jack 300 system will lift the bridge sections to a height of four meters on the deck, allowing enough space for the SPMTs to drive a support frame underneath.

The SPMTs will then rotate the bridge sections 90 degrees, so that they are in the correct orientation. They will then drive them off the barge, across steel mats, and onto support towers.

For each bridge, Mammoet will install the east side section first, then the west and finally the middle section – which will be lifted and installed over water, from the deck of the barge.

Leo de Vette, Project Manager at Mammoet, said: “As a reliable partner, we have been involved in this project since 2021. We came up with the approach to install the bridges on water to limit transport movements and disruption in the city center.

This makes it a complex operation because space is limited and there are many steps that must be carefully managed. Every change you make influences something else, and that is a major challenge for this project.”

Martin de Ruijter, Project Manager at Dura Vermeer, added: “This renovation project will allow more trains to operate from the station and accommodate the growth in passenger numbers. Mammoet’s engineering expertise has proved invaluable, resulting in a solution that has allowed the station to remain operational while the work takes place; minimizing disruption to passengers and the city.”

The Canadian based Project Freight Forwarding team of experts at Ambercor Shipping, member to the Worldwide project Consortium (WWPC) for Canada, was part of executing and delivering two complex reclaimer booms to a project site in Canada.

The booms are part of a large, currently on-going, project that Ambercor is handling for their customer.

Mr. Christian Wagner, Vice President of Ambercor Shipping, Calgary, AB explained: “The reclaimer booms measured in at 113’8” x 14’2” x 8’5” (LxWxH) and weighed 66,500 lbs each.

They were moved from Türkiye to Canada, via Houston, USA, using a part charter vessel in the summer of 2024. Ambercor in tandem with their partners worked closely to move this cargo by truck from the factory to the port of loading, ocean transport from Türkiye to Houston, and lastly by overland transportation to site once the cargo arrived into North America.

The reclaimer booms were then transported and delivered using a bunk and dolly set up from Houston all the way up to site. Our experience ensured that the over the road portion was smooth – once it got going.

The reclaimer booms are now being inspected and will be installed later on site.

Thank you to all our partners for making this a success.”

PROLOG India is excited to announce their successful execution of a complex heavy lift cargo movement from China to India.

This significant project involved transporting an 81 metric ton heavy lift package, reaffirming Prolog’s expertise in handling oversized and heavy cargo logistics with precision, safety & efficiency.

This successful operation underscores Prolog India’s position as a leader in heavy lift and project cargo logistics.

“Our ability to handle oversized shipments like this demonstrates our commitment to innovation, efficiency, and exceeding client expectations.”

When it comes to heavy lift logistics, trust Prolog India to deliver excellence. If you have a challenging shipment or project cargo requirement, let us handle it for you.

Huisman has secured a contract for the delivery of two 250mt Knuckle Boom Cranes, to be installed on the new ST-245-designed offshore energy support vessels of Sea1 Offshore, a Norwegian shipping company.

The contract was signed with COSCO (Qidong) Offshore Co., Ltd.

The cranes will feature Huisman’s proprietary Active Heave Compensation system. This system connects the crane’s electric setup to the vessel’s DC grid, enabling efficient interaction with the vessel’s electrical energy storage system. This integration significantly reduces the net energy consumption of offshore lifting operations.

This fourth contract of the year underscores another instance of the market placing their trust in Huisman’s premium technology, following the major upgrade of its Knuckle Boom Crane series announced last year.

Cees van Veluw, Product Director Cranes at Huisman, says: “With the current surge in newbuilds in the OSV sector, we are witnessing growing demand for high-quality equipment with low energy consumption. Huisman’s Active Heave Compensation solutions address these requirements and include our patented technology for seamless interaction with the vessel’s Electrical Energy Storage System. We are pleased with the confidence both Sea1 Offshore and COSCO Qidong Offshore have shown in Huisman for the delivery of these cranes.”

In November 2024, Prumo Logística, the Port of Açu, and Sarens signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to study logistics solutions for moving components of the offshore wind chain in the port-industry complex in São João da Barra, in the north of the State of Rio de Janeiro.

The MoU was signed during HRH Princess Astrid of Belgium’s visit to the Belgian economic mission in Brazil. This is Sarens’ first agreement in the country for offshore wind projects after being active in several other sectors in Brazil since 2008.

“We want to combine integrated logistics and be an operational and maintenance hub with more competitive costs for the offshore wind industry in Brazil,” says Mauro Andrade, Executive Director of Business Development at Prumo.

The studies will evaluate the best logistics solutions for moving turbines, blades, and other manufactured components in the offshore wind value chain. The logistics of this equipment requires specific heavy lifting, designed transport, and crane operation services.

Carl Sarens, Director of Technical Solutions, Projects & Engineering stated: “We are excited to embark on this new chapter in Brazil’s offshore wind industry through our partnership with Prumo Logística and the Port of Açu. This agreement represents a significant step toward developing innovative logistics solutions tailored for the offshore wind sector. Sarens is proud to bring our global expertise in heavy lifting and transport to support Brazil’s renewable energy ambitions and help position the Port of Açu as a hub for the offshore wind value chain.”

Açu is being structured to be a hub to support the offshore wind industry in Brazil. The port-industry complex is located close to one of the country’s best regions for offshore wind potential, is connected to the National Interconnected System (SIN) and can benefit from synergies with existing logistics for the oil and gas sector. In addition, the Port also wants to become a manufacturing and assembly hub for the offshore wind value chain, attracting wind turbine, blade and cable players.

The Supervisory Board announces that Daan Koornneef will step down as CEO, effective January 1, 2025, and will be succeeded by Peter de Bree as the new CEO of Jumbo.

Over the past two years, Daan has successfully guided Jumbo through a period of economic growth. Following constructive discussions, it was mutually agreed that Daan would pursue new opportunities outside the company. The Supervisory Board expresses its gratitude to Daan for his contributions to bringing Jumbo to where it is today and wishes him every success in his future endeavours.

“After two years as CEO of Jumbo, I have achieved my key objectives, and it is the right moment to transition leadership. Together with our partners in the JSI Alliance, we have enhanced our service and quality to our clients. I want to thank everyone for their support and dedication during this journey”. Daan Koornneef.

“Peter brings extensive leadership experience from the maritime sector, having held executive roles at Heerema Marine Contractors and Seaway Heavy Lifting/Seaway 7, as well as serving as Director of the Newbuilding Program (a.i.) at Jumbo over the past nine months. His proven track record as a collaborative leader and his ability to connect with stakeholders across all levels (shareholders, the Supervisory Board, and team members), position him as the right person to guide Jumbo.” Rob van Wingerden (Chairman Supervisory Board).

Energy and marine consultancy ABL has completed its scope of work as marine warranty surveyor (MWS) to support the successful transport and re-installation of the floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) Toscana, off the coast of Livorno, Italy.

ABL was appointed on this project by OLT Offshore LNG Toscana, the owner of FSRU Toscana.

In mid-April 2024, the FSRU Toscana was successfully towed with the support of two tugs, to the port of Genoa, Italy, where it began the first phase of an ‘extraordinary maintenance intervention’ campaign. The FSRU Toscana was subsequently towed to the port of Marseille, France, where maintenance was completed. The FSRU has recently been towed to its site offshore Livorno, Italy, where it resumed commercial operations at the end of November 2024.

ABL’s UK operations, headquartered in London, acted as MWS for the de-installation and to support the safe and successful delivery of the marine operations, including the tow-back from Marseille to Livorno, and the subsequent hook-up and pre-commissioning of the FSRU Toscana.

ABL’s scope of work covered the document review of all project and operational documentation and drawings, suitability surveys of the proposed support fleet, management of risk assessment meetings HAZID and HAZOPs, and on-site attendance to ensure operations were carried out in line with approved documentation. The MWS project management was executed by Rudra Varma, ABL’s MWS Project Manager.

“This was a technically interesting project to work on, due to the tight schedule and also to the complexities of de-installing the significant subsea infrastructure of an FSRU of this calibre. The project matched perfectly ABL’s expertise and long track-record as marine warranty surveyor, with experience from installation to operations and maintenance, to decommissioning. Furthermore, we have a strong surveyor presence in Italy, which enabled us to provide the most pragmatic and rapid support to on-site attendance.” Sergio Leone, ABL MWS Contract Manager for the FSRU Toscana project.

ABL is part of the leading global independent consultancy ABL Group ASA – delivering energy, marine, engineering and digital solutions to drive safety and sustainability in renewables, maritime and oil and gas markets. ABL Group’s extensive global footprint across 43 countries worldwide, includes an office in Genoa, Italy, via the group’s engineering and design branch, Longitude Engineering.

Megagon Project Solutions are glad to report on their movement of drilling machines of various types, from Turkiye to CIS.

This cargo was unloaded from containers aboard a vessel at Ambarlı Port, before being transferred securely onto trucks.

Megagon also covered storage, demurrage as well as local payments and other operations.

The company decided to deliver the drilling machines by RO/RO service from Ambarlı to its CIS destination.

This shipment was safely & efficiently transported thanks to the diligence of all teams involved.

Megagon Project Solutions are experts in oversized and heavy lift cargo transportation by land and sea as well as port operations, door-to-door services, chartering solutions, route surveys, project planning, feasibility studies, loading & unloading, load securing and engineering solutions.

DEME has been awarded a contract1 for the construction of an offshore wind terminal in the Port of Cuxhaven in Germany.

The terminal will boost Cuxhaven’s position as a key offshore industrial hub to support the handling of heavy-duty loads, particularly components for offshore wind farms.

Operated by Niedersachsen Ports (NPorts), the expanded offshore wind terminal will consist of three (5-7) berths and 1,250 metres of quay wall for heavy loads, as well as a storage area of 38 hectare.

As part of a consortium, which includes leading German civil marine construction companies Depenbrock and TAGU, DEME will carry out the dredging and land reclamation works, with a total volume of more than 3 million m3 expected to be reclaimed. Two trailing suction hopper dredgers, a backhoe dredger and several barges will be deployed.

Lutz Dröge, Area Manager Germany, says: “Construction of the expanded terminal requires an innovative technical approach. The project includes the installation of combi-walls and land reclamation in a dynamic estuarine environment, meeting the complex engineering requirements tailored to a heavy load terminal and demanding geotechnical conditions.”

With a proven track record in the Port of Cuxhaven, DEME and its consortium partners previously delivered the neighbouring berths 8 (2008–2009) and 4 (2016–2018), located directly east and west of the current project site. Additionally, DEME used Cuxhaven as the base port during the construction of the Borkum Riffgrund 2 offshore wind farm. DEME has a strong footprint in Germany, with notable projects such as the deepening of the Elbe River and the widening of the Kiel Canal.

The project will start in early 2025 and is expected to take 3.5 years. Upon completion, the terminal will play a key role in further advancing the energy transition in the North Sea region and the German government’s wind energy expansion targets.

After a construction period lasting a good 18 months, Rhenus Logistics AG will open its future-proof Swiss logistics center in January 2025.

The new center will have 30 P40 Geek+ robots and seven RoboShuttles which can handle the 30,000 containers up to 70 percent faster and run on green electricity.

The plan is to make transshipment in Basel – Switzerland’s logistics hub – more sustainable and more efficient. After a construction period of 18 months, the Rhenus Group will open its future-proof logistics center in Möhlin (Canton Aargau) in January 2025.

Around 80 employees will carry out interesting, future-oriented tasks at the Möhlin (Canton Aargau) logistics center and will be assisted by 30 P40 Geek+ robots and seven RoboShuttles. Together they will handle a total of 30,000 storage places spanning 2,000 square metres, and the cooperation will result in a time saving of up to 70 percent.

In order to meet rising demands, the logistics center is equipped with special storage rooms that enable storage of temperature-controlled goods and the safe storage of hazardous goods in line with the most stringent safety standards. A photovoltaic plant that produces a million kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity per year will supply the entire building with green, reliable electricity and will thus ensure low-emission and autonomous transshipment. “Our new logistics center in Möhlin (Canton Aargau) is an impressive example of modern logistics: more automation and greater efficiency while retaining jobs, and promoting sustainability targets and quality” – Andreas Stöckli, CEO Rhenus Alpina and a member of the board of the Rhenus Group, states confidently.

The Heavy Lift Exchange Forum, a working group initiated by DNV, has released the “Guidance on Stability of Lifts”, a comprehensive operational guideline aimed at enhancing the safety and stability of heavy lift operations.

This collaborative achievement marks a milestone in the heavy lift sector by addressing a crucial gap: providing specific guidance for complex cargo shapes where established procedures were previously unclear or absent. The guideline is the result of years of work by industry leaders, including BBC Chartering, BigLift Shipping, DNV, Heerema Marine Contractors, Jumbo, SAL Engineering and United Heavy Lift.

The guidance brings together decades of experience and expertise from leading heavy lift shipping companies, resulting in a structured approach for assessing lifting stability. With a focus on clear, step-by-step procedures, the guideline ensures a common understanding among engineers and operators, enhancing predictability and safety across various heavy lift scenarios.

Ambercor Shipping USA, has appointed Mr. Martin Smith as their Project Manager. Ambercor Shipping is member to the Worldwide Project Consortium (WWPC) in the USA and Canada.

Martin Smith will head up the company’s recently opened Chicago, Illinois, office and is tasked with regional responsibility for the business development of key target clients and industries in Mid-West markets.

He contributes to Ambercor Shipping and their clientele his extensive experience over more than 20 years in international project logistics operations in oil and gas, power generation and relocation of industrial plants. He is reporting to Marcel Hafemann, Vice President, Ambercor Shipping USA Inc.

Three Norsepower Rotor Sails (NPRS) have been successfully installed and commissioned onboard the 100,449dwt Post Panamax bulk carrier Chinook Oldendorff (ex. Dietrich Oldendorff).

In a joint operation coordinated between Norsepower engineers and CSSC Chengxi Shipyard in China, the vessel was able to set sail just a day after the commissioning work was completed to pick up her next cargo in Vancouver, Canada. During the first voyage, a team of specialists conducted sea trials to assess the rotor sails’ performance.

The equipment supply agreement between wind propulsion industry leader Norsepower and the centenary industry giant Oldendorff Carriers for the installation of three 24m x 4m Norsepower Rotor Sails was announced in February 2024. This triple rotor sail solution is expected to reduce the Chinook Oldendorff’s fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions by about 10-15% on the vessel’s North Pacific trade route. With tiltable foundations, the NPRS can be securely stowed on deck during cargo operations, ensuring seamless integration with the ship operation by avoiding disturbances during loading and unloading activities. The installation and commissioning processes were performed simultaneously with the vessel’s hull painting and other necessary repairs.

The Norsepower Rotor Sail is a modernized version of the Flettner rotor. Utilizing a small amount of electricity to spin cylindrical sails on the deck, the NPRS harnesses wind and the Magnus effect to generate powerful thrust. This innovative product bolsters the main propulsion, resulting in reduced fuel consumption, emissions, and fuel costs. Each NPRS is partially made from recycled materials, equivalent to about 342,000 plastic bottles.

With over a decade of proven use, Norsepower Rotor Sails have accumulated more than 385,000 operational hours on vessels operated by some of the world’s most renowned shipping companies, contributing to a collective reduction of over 25,800 tons of CO₂ emissions. The installation onboard the Chinook Oldendorff represents the first milestone in the collaboration between Norsepower and Oldendorff to advance wind-assisted propulsion in maritime shipping.

Antti Aapro, Chief Production Officer at Norsepower, added: “While we worked on the Norsepower Rotor Sails for Oldendorff, our European and China operations had to respond to ever-growing demand. Norsepower has now seen a quantum leap towards industrial production. Our staff has grown from 30 to over 120 people over the past two years and our new factory in China is now operational, with production being ramped up. Its capacity will be 50 units by the end of 2024 and 100 NPRS per year expected by 2027. Expanding our capacity is the only way to respond to our customers’ needs, which have dramatically increased recently across all ship types and under all flags.”

The partnership between Norsepower and Oldendorff exemplifies the two companies’ commitment to sustainable shipping: – an innovative technology provider joining forces with a 103-year-old renowned company to safeguard the planet for future generations. Neither can achieve this transformation alone; the transition to a sustainable future requires both large-scale fleets and the latest technological advances.

Russ McNeil, Managing Director of Oldendorff Vancouver, said: “The collaboration on this project exemplifies how partnerships can drive meaningful progress. The Chinook Oldendorff reflects our commitment to deliver practical environment conscious solutions that align with our clients’ needs and our long-term sustainability goals.”

Jennifer Natland, Vice-President, Properties and Environment, Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, commented: “We applaud Oldendorff Carriers and Elk Valley Resources for their leadership to reduce emissions from the shipping industry. Their innovative efforts are in line with the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s ongoing commitment to environmental protection, and we are pleased to welcome the Chinook Oldendorff at the Port of Vancouver.” (Norsepower to check with Port of Vancouver for usage rights)

Originally built in 2020 as the Dietrich Oldendorff, this Post Panamax vessel was renamed the Chinook Oldendorff to reflect the synergy between the Norsepower’s technology and the natural wind patterns in the Pacific Northwest. The word “Chinook” originates from the First Nations people of the Pacific Northwest referring to a type of wind with coastal and inland variations. Coastal Chinooks are south-westerly winds blowing in from the ocean, while the inland Chinooks are warm, dry winds that descend the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains. The name references the innovative use of mother nature to lower emissions on the vessel’s journeys.