A world-renowned specialist for the transport of heavy-lift, project and break-bulk cargoes across all oceans of the world, Hansa Heavy Lift is a perfect fit for the wind industry. The company’s young fleet of special heavy-lift vessels and highly qualified crews ensure an exceptionally smooth service. We spoke to Managing Director Joerg Roehl.
PES: Welcome back to PES, how has business been since we last spoke? Is the wind sector continuing to repay your investment?
Joerg Roehl: There are signs of recovery in our industry and although rates are still not as strong as we would like them, we are encouraged by the uptick. The wind sector is one of our core markets and accounts for an important percentage of our operating income. The offshore market in particular is developing further and also supports our investment.
PES: Can you tell us about a recent project that you’ve been involved with?
JR: We have been involved in a number of projects in the wind sector this year. We recently undertook two voyages from Rostock and Brake/Germany, to Muskegon/USA, carrying blades and nacelles on the first trip and blades on the second. We have other similar projects in the pipeline.
PES: How do you meet the challenges posed by the increasing dimensions and weights of wind power hardware?
JR: Our young fleet of vessels, offer flexible, maximum capacity and have state-of-the-art lifting equipment. We can operate quickly and safely independent of the port infrastructure thanks to our onboard cranes. These have a combined capacity of up to 1400 tons and an outreach of up to 30 meters which enables us to load cargo units weighing up to 700 tons and measuring up to 82 metres in length such as monopiles under deck and on deck.
The adjustable tween decks guarantee a maximum intake of cargo. They are movable to four different heights which makes us more flexible and gives us bigger loading capabilities. HANSA HEAVY LIFT’s in-house team of experienced CSI’s ensure safe loading and maximum intake as well as safe and accurate sea fastening of cargo.
PES: We recall that one of the company’s major strengths was punctuality. Is this still upheld, and what steps do you take to ensure timely transport solutions?
JR: Of course safety, first class cargo handling, quality and punctuality are the most important factors we pay attention to. We have a clear customer focused approach and we have in depth knowledge thanks to our experienced teams to meet customers’ requirements.
Teamwork is important and core to our success as a company. We have a dedicated in-house cargo management and technical department which works on solutions developed by our own teams. This gives us an advantage over competitors who have to outsource those services.
Looking two steps ahead is important, that’s why we are process driven and have a six step process within the organization. Each department has its own function. We have teams analyzing the market, cargo flows and upcoming projects to keep the company informed about market conditions and market insight.
PES: If you could pick one, what is the defining advantage of HANSA HEAVY LIFT over its competitors?
JR: As mentioned earlier on we believe in insourcing and concentrating on our core business and capabilites. We operate 30% of the vessels in the market which have a lifting capacity of more than 1000 tons and we have the youngest MPV fleet available.
All vessels are built to the highest ice-class, E3 equivalent to Finnish-Swedish 1A so they can transit sea routes with an ice thickness of up to 1 meter and have “bubble” devices in the ballast water tanks that stop the water from freezing inside. We undertook the Northern Sea Route five times with our vessels last year. Of course there is the southerly Suez Canal route but this is much longer and at the end of the day more expensive for the customer.
PES: What does the recent addition of ISO management and environmental accreditation add to your offering?
JR: HANSA HEAVY LIFT’s management systems for both its offices and its vessels have been ISO 9001:2008 and IS0 14001:2004 certified. The ISO 9001 standard demonstrates HANSA HEAVY LIFT’s commitment to quality, process-oriented management.
ISO 14001, the internationally recognized standard for the environmental management of business, underlines HANSA’s dedication to the protection of the environment, with a focus on measures to improve energy efficiency and eliminate pollution.
We are committed to raising standards further, and we are currently working towards health and safety management standard OHSAS 18001. We consider these standards to be integral to our business principles.
ISO 9001:2008 sets out the criteria for a quality management system, whilst ISO 14000 addresses environmental management.
PES: When we spoke last time, Asia was a prime market for you. Is this still the case, or have you moved into new territories?
JR: China and Asia in general is an important market with further growth potential. We also see potential in areas like Russia, India and Australia. In India we work with an exclusive agent and in Australia we have extended our network with a HANSA office, based in Perth, which we opened at the beginning of January 2014.
We want to strengthen HANSA HEAVY LIFT and continue growing. We also opened an office in Brazil, Sao Paulo at the beginning of the year supported by a new agent Platetrade, based in Buenos Aires, to cover Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.
We are committed to developing a strong network of professionals with industry-specific knowledge, and solid local connections, and we are proud to have experienced partners onboard.
PES: To what extent does the weather impact upon your service? Is it a consideration that your clients have to take into account?
JR: Extreme weather conditions such as storms and monsoons always impact a voyage as we are often carrying sensitive cargoes which have a value in the hundred-million-euro range. For this reason we have good connections with meteorologists and if necessary we have to avoid sea routes with extreme weather which has an impact on a planned voyage as the trip could take longer.
Our in-house Transport Engineering team can calculate ship motion and acceleration activity on the cargo units in advance of a voyage based on weather forecasts and statistics so that complicated or sensitive cargoes can be protected for the whole voyage. Safety first is always our immediate reaction and our customers are thankful for it.
PES: Finally, what are your thoughts about the coming 12 months? Is 2015 looking as positive for you as 2014?
JR: We are certainly continuously positive about development in our sector as well as the results. We have seen an improvement in 2014 already which is ongoing and even a slight recovery on the freight rate levels. Certainly those still need developing even further and this we will see happening in 2015.
About the expert
Joerg Roehl is responsible for global business development activities, overseas offices and worldwide agent network within HANSA HEAVY LIFT. Previously, he supported the investor Oaktree Capital Management and advised the CEO Roger Iliffe on setting up HANSA HEAVY LIFT as well as the Asian activities and an office in Singapore.
With more than 20 years of experience in the logistic and maritime industry Joerg Roehl held various senior management positions with Kuehne & Nagel, SDV Group and Agility. He spent ten years in Asia with responsibilities as Managing Director and Director Asia Pacific with various logistic companies
Education: Degree in Business Management and logistics from a German Academy
