Wolfgang Harms News

Leading global ocean transport operator, serving the breakbulk, heavy lift and project cargo industry AAL is set to strengthen its growing presence in the China region, with the appointment of specialist project and steel cargo freight forwarder Central Oceans, as Commercial Agent for Hong Kong and South China. Wolfgang Harms, Deputy Managing Director of AAL commented, "Central Oceans took the decision a decade ago to specialise in this very tough sector and has been at the forefront in terms of service quality and reliability ever since. The timing of the announcement is significant, with Beijing making clear in its recent 13th five-year plan that it will provide greater economic support to Macau and Hong Kong and help the latter further develop as a global financial…

The global breakbulk and heavy-lift markets have had to navigate choppy waters in recent years. Not necessarily due to a shortage of freight, but as a consequence of unsustainably low freight rates. The global economic recovery since 2009 has been slow, and competition for the multipurpose sector has intensified due to bulkers, container lines and RoRo’s making forays into the breakbulk and heavylift market, as they look to diversify their business and make up for the lack of demand in their respective core markets.

AAL said the move aims to provide services and on-ground operational support directly to customers in the country, building on AAL’s presence in Asia and driving its continued international development as a global carrier. Based in Tokyo, AAL Japan will focus on providing services to key industries, particularly the EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) sectors, where Japan has a reputation for the export of high-end quality products. AAL Japan will provide a range of transportation and logistics services…

Rickmers-Linie, the Hamburg-based operator of heavy lift and project liner services,  is expanding its market coverage in China and is enhancing its sales and marketing activities into central China and in Southern China. According to Wolfgang Harms, Rickmers-Linie’s Chief Representative for Greater China, moving closer to the major industrial production facilities and engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) companies will enhance the company’s ability to offer its clients tailor made, innovative and efficient transportation solutions from the factory up to the construction site.