Cover Story Breakbulk & Project Cargo
expertise, stronger quality governance and more structured execution models. Capacity planning, specialized equipment availability and cross-border regulatory alignment will all become more challenging as demand increases, particularly for remote-area deliveries, renewable energy projects and next-generation storage systems.”
And although it may be supercharged, the power drive isn’ t likely to be steady or uniform, according to a spokesperson for Chipolbrok who asked not to be identified.
The multipurpose and heavy-lift vessel( MPV) operator has seen a“ remarkable decline” in oil and gas development, with traditional power plant equipment volumes now“ significantly exceeded” by demand from renewable energy and infrastructure projects, the spokesperson said.
Earlier this year, Chipolbrok announced an order for up to 10 60,800-deadweight-ton MPVs that will increase its fleet to more than 40 vessels. The ships, the first of which is scheduled for delivery in November 2027, will be capable of carrying containerized energy storage systems, battery packs and electrical charging equipment, including BESS units, as well as other power-related project cargoes, such as wind farm components.
Demand is also uneven among geographical regions.“ Despite the uncertain market situation due to customs agreements, we are seeing continued growth in the US market,” the spokesperson said, adding that Chipolbrok is“ focusing heavily on developments in the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent.”
The situation in Central Europe, however, remains“ somewhat unclear,” he said, as infrastructure projects have been overshadowed by military buildup and the war in Ukraine, even though there is a significant need for development there.
Investors, developers and logistics providers must also deal with sudden policy upheavals, such as the Trump administration’ s decision to cancel five major US offshore wind projects in late 2025. A January court ruling allowed construction to resume on all five sites— Dominion Energy’ s Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind-Commercial and Vineyard Wind 1, Ørsted’ s Revolution Wind and Sunrise Wind, and Equinor’ s Empire Wind 1,— but the administration plans to appeal that decision, US Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said in an interview with Bloomberg Television.
Colin Charnock Group CEO, Trans Global Projects
Jack Zhou General Manager, AAL Shipping
An‘ evolving’ environment
Charnock said the global transition toward lower- and zero-carbon energy sources has further accelerated freight demand from the power generation and storage sector, but noted that TGP’ s current cargo pipeline“ spans every major
8 Journal of Commerce | March 2026 www. joc. com