THE China Navigation Company has announced the creation of Swire Projects, an entity aimed at providing specialist shipping services to the energy, resources, and infrastructure sector.
Swire Projects is to work closely with the various marine services of the Swire group to develop an independent global strategy in the multipurpose and heavy lift segment.
The Projects division is to be led by Namir Khanbabi, general manager of Swire Projects, based in Singapore and is to have global coverage.
Swire Projects has also hired three senior project managers: Matthias Kremser, global head of chartering, and Nicki Schumacher as head of Europe, both based in Hamburg; and Rufus Frere-Smith, regional general manager, who is to lead the Americas team that will be based in Vancouver and Houston.
“By bringing together trade routes, fleet, and expertise across the Swire Group’s marine activities, Swire Projects is set to lead a smart network of resources, enabling highly efficient, trusted and flexible shipping solutions to service clients in the project logistics sector, particularly project forwarders, EPCs, heavy civil and offshore energy construction players,” Mr Khanbabi said.
Working closely with Swire Bulk, a leader in bulk transport and logistics solutions, global project parcelling services can be offered to the sector particularly for wind cargo components, tubulars and heavy civil infrastructure material.
Swire Bulk’s global network is to also enable the projects team to participate in early works infrastructure requirements where bulk construction materials are required for civil and marine infrastructure.
This includes offering trans-shipment solutions in order to access draft restricted or undeveloped facilities.
As well as using CNCo’s fleet of 180 vessels operating in a global dry-bulk network as well as dedicated MPP services, Swire Projects will also operate specialised tonnage tailored to specific projects.
