Decarbonization Breakbulk & Project Cargo
Shippers look inland to move swelling project cargo volumes
By Autumn Cafiero Giusti
As demand for infrastructure projects like data centers, power plants and mining facilities grows, inland waterways are emerging as a greener and more efficient alternative for breakbulk and project cargo shippers.
Hans Vermij, port hinterland logistics professional for international consultancy Haskoning, told the Journal of Commerce that project cargo is well positioned to expand the role of inland waterways for transport, especially when it comes to moving cargo for energy, mining and construction projects.
Along with production of bulk raw materials that require inland water access to ship large volumes, mining companies also transport oversized project cargo such as mining or port handling equipment.
“ Transport by road [ faces ] severe restrictions regarding the dimensions of the load,” Vermij said.
Vermij cited the Rhine River as a key inland route for regularly transporting project cargo across parts of Europe. The Rhine runs from the Alps in Switzerland to the North Sea in the Netherlands and is regularly used to ship machinery, mining equipment and transport vehicles.
“ As equipment becomes more specialized and the
10 Journal of Commerce | March 2026 www. joc. com