For AAL Shipping, 2024/2025 marked innovation and record-setting voyages with its in-house engineered Super B-Class fleet – 256,000 total deadweight – designed to transport complex project cargoes previously deemed impossible. Featuring the revolutionary retractable ‘AAL ECO-DECK’, open-hatch sailings for ultra-tall units, flexible hold configurations, enhanced deck strength, 90,000+ FRT intake, advanced crane outreach and fuel-efficiency, they underscore AAL’s sustainability focus and commitment to the heavy lift and project cargo sector. With operational foresight, long-term fleet planning, and customer-first ethos, AAL increased sailings from key Asian ports, launched its ‘Asia–Europe Express Service,’ and provided a consistent monthly frequency across all its trade lanes – delivering trusted multipurpose cargo solutions throughout an unpredictable time.

BBC Chartering is a multipurpose and heavy lift shipping specialist, operating over 160 vessels (4,000–40,000 dwt) with cranes capable of lifting up to 800 tonnes. The fleet includes LakerMax and F500-class ships, ice-classed for Arctic operations. In 2024–25, the company took delivery of several LakerMax vessels, starting with BBC Leer. These vessels have a lifting capacity of 500 tonnes and an optimised deck layout, with the bridge located at the fore of the vessel for an unobstructed deck space of 2,830 sq m. BBC Chartering has marked a milestone in its LakerMax newbuild programme with the inaugural transit of the BBC Houston through the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System as it delivered a full shipload of wind turbine blades to Erie, Pennsylvania.

BigLift Shipping, member of the Spliethoff Group of companies, specialises in worldwide ocean transportation of heavy lift and project cargoes with a state-of-the art fleet tailormade to serve these specialised markets. A modern fleet of four heavy transport vessels and 21 heavy lift vessels – which includes the Spliethoff P8 and P14 type heavy lift vessels and the Chang Yung CY-type heavy transport vessels – are regularly utilised to carry out the most complex technical and logistically challenging projects. The fleet will be further bolstered by two newbuild heavy transport vessels, in partnership with CY Shipping. The first newbuild, owned by CY Shipping, will be delivered in Q4 2025 and the second vessel, owned by BigLift Shipping, will join the carrier during Q2 2026.

dship Carriers operates a young fleet of multipurpose, heavy lift and tweendeck vessels (around 12,000 dwt each), with onboard cranes capable of lifting up to 500 tonnes combined. Headquartered in Hamburg, it serves industries like oil and gas, renewables, and infrastructure. In 2025, dship will welcome new 15,000 dwt vessels designed for significantly reduced fuel consumption and improved cargo hold and deck capacity –– tailored by its in-house engineering and project teams. Each vessel will be equipped with 250-tonne capacity LS 250 heavy lift ship cranes. Construction has begun, with deliveries expected later this year.

Fanzhou Shipping, based in Jiangsu, China, specialises in heavy lift and deck carrier operations for global energy and infrastructure projects. Fanzhou 8 was delivered in January 2025 and is one of the world’s largest self-propelled deck carriers at 256 m long. With ice-class capability, the ship completed sea trials in late 2024 and began its maiden voyage in March 2025, transporting offshore wind monopiles from China to Europe. The vessel's large open deck has a total area of 11,700 sq m and can transport up to 58,000 tonnes of cargo such as offshore wind turbine components, offshore oil and gas platform components, and nuclear power generation equipment.

JSI Alliance unites Jumbo Shipping, SAL Heavy Lift, and Intermarine in a commercial joint venture, managing a combined fleet of around 70 heavy lift and multipurpose vessels as well as semi-sub deck carrier. With unmatched global reach, a versatile fleet, and engineering excellence, the JSI Alliance delivers complex cargo safely, efficiently, and sustainably. Their integrated approach to project logistics, offshore support, and dynamic routing ensures tailored solutions for every challenge. In the past years, JSI Alliance demonstrated leadership in innovation, reliability, and customer service, making them indispensable to critical infrastructure and energy projects worldwide. Their commitment to safety, sustainability, and operational excellence makes the JSI Alliance not just a ship operator—but a transformative force in global logistics.

King Ocean Gulf Alliance (KOGA) is a Houston-based multipurpose heavy lift operator specialising in breakbulk, energy, and infrastructure cargo across the US Gulf, Caribbean, and Central America. Operating a fleet of 12,500 dwt vessels with crane capacities up to 500 tonnes, KOGA offers ocean transportation, chartering, and turnkey logistics solutions. Supporting complex supply chains for oil and gas, mining, and power sectors, its services include liner services, flexible chartering, and custom solutions through a trusted network of local partners.

Ocean7 Projects operates a versatile fleet of multipurpose and heavy lift vessels capable of lifting up to 500 tonnes. The company specialises in project and out-of-gauge cargoes, serving industries such as renewables, infrastructure and oil and gas. With offices located across Europe, Asia, the UAE, and the USA, Ocean7 offers global coverage and flexible chartering solutions. In a key milestone, Ocean7 formed the United O7 joint venture with United Heavy Lift, opening a new regional office in Dubai in 2024 to strengthen its presence in the Middle East and Indian markets and support its growing global project cargo footprint.

Roll Group operates a fleet of semi-submersible multifunctional vessels and wide deck carriers. The fleet of RollDock ST and S-Class vessels have three methods to load and discharge heavy cargo: ro-ro, flo-flo and lo-lo. The BigRoll module carriers, meanwhile, enables Roll Group to transport some of the world’s largest and heaviest modules. In 2024, this versatile fleet was further enhanced with the delivery of RollBarge 1, the first barge in its portfolio. In the second half of this year, Roll Group will add two of KMC Line’s deck carriers to its fleet – to be renamed Bigroll KMC Beaumont and Bigroll KMC Busan.

Spliethoff is a Dutch shipping company with a versatile fleet of over 50 multipurpose vessels that serve key markets, including project cargo, bulk cargo and forest products. The company achieved a major milestone this year with its first-ever subsea installation: the Marine XII project offshore Congo. In partnership with Geocean, Spliethoff delivered a base and yoke system weighing over 700 mt for ENI FLNG. This project showcased the offshore capabilities of Spliethoff’s B-type vessels. The company also expanded strategically by placing an order for eight new 28,600 dwt L-type vessels, which make them the largest in the Spliethoff fleet, thereby reinforcing our commitment to innovation and operational excellence across all cargo segments.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2025, United Heavy Lift (UHL), part of the United Group and headquartered in Hamburg, has built a strong reputation as a global expert in heavy lift and project cargo transportation. Driven by passion and sustainability, UHL operates a fleet of more than 20 modern multipurpose vessels, including 19 cutting-edge F900 Eco-Lifters with lifting capacities of up to 900 tonnes. These vessels form the backbone of UHL’s operations and are equipped with the latest fuel-efficient propulsion technology. In 2024, UHL Fable and UHL Fresh joined the fleet, both featuring Tier III engines and biodiesel capability. UHL delivers tailored, high-performance ocean transport solutions for complex, heavy, and oversized cargo across the globe.

A division of Saudi Arabia’s national shipping carrier, Bahri Line is a global leader in multipurpose ro-ro and breakbulk logistics. Its fleet includes six modern RoCon vessels (26,000 dwt each) equipped with tandem heavy-lift cranes (240 tonnes) and stern ramps rated up to 250 tonnes, enabling efficient handling of high and heavy cargo. In 2024/25, Bahri Line expanded its capabilities by adding two MPP vessels with tandem lifting capacity of up to 700 tonnes to better serve project cargo and niche markets. The Line has grown its service footprint beyond the traditional North America–Middle East corridor to include Europe, Asia, and the Indian Subcontinent. With a fleet maintaining a CII ‘A’ rating, Bahri Line stands at the forefront of environmentally responsible shipping — combining scale, specialization, and sustainability.

The CMA CGM Group is a global player in sea, land, air, and logistics solutions, active in 177 countries with 160,000 employees and a fleet of over 650 vessels. Breakbulk and project cargo are part of its core expertise, including complex shipments such as turbines, transformers, yachts, and industrial components. CMA CGM’s dedicated Project Cargo Division combines technical know-how and global coordination to deliver safe, efficient, and tailor-made solutions—positioning the Group as a trusted long-term partner for large-scale industrial projects across key sectors worldwide.

Founded in 2017 by Gearbulk and Grieg Maritime Group, G2 Ocean is the world’s largest operator in the open-hatch and breakbulk segment, managing a core fleet of roughly 90 open-hatch vessels plus 30 chartered ships. It reported more than 43,000 voyage days in 2024, during which it successfully transported 27 million revenue tons of cargo and made over 3,500 port calls to nearly 60 countries. It is enhancing its fleet with 10 dual-fuel 82,300 dwt open hatch vessels that are fitted with two 75-tonne and two 125-tonne lift capacity cranes.

The Grimaldi Group is a fully integrated multinational logistics company specialised in the operation of roll-on/roll-off vessels, car carriers and ferries.It stands out for its strong focus on environmental issues, which in recent years has resulted in important investments aimed at reducing harmful emissions. The Grimaldi Group is continuously investing in newbuildings, which will reduce the average age of its ships further still. 26 vessels are currently under construction, including seventeen 9,000 “Ammonia Ready” PCTCs designed to carry any type of rolling units as well as breakbulk cargo, and nine ro-pax ships equipped with engines capable of running on methanol, making them ready to achieve the "Net Zero Emission" goal.

Höegh Autoliners is a ro-ro shipping specialist with a fleet of approximately 38 vessels that also cater for breakbulk, high and heavy shipments and out-of-gauge units. It has been steadily overhauling its fleet with deliveries of its next-generation Aurora-class vessels, the first of which was delivered in 2024 and is arguably the world’s largest and most environmentally friendly car carrier ever built. The first Aurora-class vessels are running on LNG, biofuels and low-sulphur oil. From 2027, the aim is that the last four of the 12 Aurora-class vessels on order will run on green ammonia, reducing emissions by close to 100 percent.

Headquartered in Copenhagen, Maersk operates around 900 vessels, accounting for over 20 percent of global teu capacity. Beyond its core container operations, Maersk has a dedicated project/special cargo division that handles oversized, heavy, and out-of-gauge shipments using open-top and flat-rack containers, floating and gantry cranes, and custom stowage planning. In recent years, Maersk has expanded its project handling capabilities significantly, successfully transporting complex loads such as a 350-tonne tugboat, 46 m crane arm, and a 17 m propeller. The 2023 acquisition of Martin Bencher strengthened Maersk’s presence in high-end industrial logistics. Maersk also continues decarbonising its fleet, with several dual-fuel methanol vessels entering service as part of its 2040 net-zero strategy.

MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, is a global leader in transportation and logistics, privately owned and founded in 1970 by Gianluigi Aponte. With renewed focus, the shipping group has rapidly expanded its breakbulk and heavy-lift capabilities, exemplified by the transport of a 390-tonne hydraulic hammer from Rotterdam to Singapore, as well as the numerous breakbulk cargoes handled globally every day. With access to an integrated network of road, rail, air, and sea transport resources which stretches across the globe, the company prides itself on delivering global service with local knowledge. MSC’s shipping line sails on more than 300 trade routes, calling at 520 ports, and is targeting net zero decarbonization by 2050. For more information about its journey to net-zero please visit: www.msc.com/sustainability

Royal Wagenborg operates a modern fleet of roughly 150 vessels (1,700–23,000 dwt) and a specialist ro-ro liner service in the Baltic–Europe region. With 3,000 professionals and an extensive fleet on both land and sea, it delivers safe and sustainable logistic solutions. In the past year it introduced the next-generation EasyMax design and laid keel for six vessels; these general cargo vessels will be able to operate on bio-MGO and will be prepared for alternative fuels such as methanol, ammonia and LNG.

Since its launch in 2009, Varamar has evolved into a leading ocean carrier for breakbulk and project cargo, delivering complex shipments to the world’s most demanding and remote markets. Its operations span breakbulk, containerised, and out-of-gauge transport, with a strong focus on engineered solutions and tailored execution. Over the past year, Varamar has managed critical shipments across five continents, serving sectors from renewable energy and infrastructure to manufacturing and petrochemicals. Varamar’s integration of the AI-powered platform ShipNext has driven smarter routing, lower emissions, and improved fleet efficiency, while maintaining a strong commitment to safety and reliability.

The Netherlands-headquartered Vertom Group has a general cargo and multipurpose fleet of more than 100 vessels (650,00 dwt) ranging from 1,500-12,000 dwt. With a strong presence in the shortsea shipping market, it continues to enhance its capabilities including the addition of the first of 12 diesel-electric shortsea vessels ordered from Chowgule Shipyards in India. It also placed an order for four 10,700 dwt geared tweendeckers; scheduled for delivery in 2027 and 2028, each vessel will be equipped with two 80-tonne capacity electric cranes and have propulsion systems consisting of a main engine and two diesel-electric gensets.

Wallenius Wilhelmsen is a market leader in ro-ro shipping & vehicle logistics, operating 125 vessels servicing 15 trade routes to six continents, a global inland distribution network, 66 processing centres & seven marine terminals. For decades, Wallenius Wilhelmsen has supported breakbulk customers in numerous sectors. Its capabilities were demonstrated when it shipped a 275-tonne generator from Germany to Australia utilising its vessel’s 500-tonne capacity ramp. It has a large, diversified fleet of handling equipment including roll trailers, multipurpose bogies, Samson heavy-lift trailers, bolsters, blocks, beams and can handle breakbulk cargo up to: H: 6.1m W:12m, 400 tonnes in weight. Since 2020 Wallenius Wilhelmsen has reduced emissions through technical upgrades, operational improvements, & strategic fleet investments. A major milestone will be the introduction of methanol-capable Shaper-class vessels – designed for heavy & high cargo – ready to run on methanol from day one.