Project cargo – a definition proves elusive

Defining project cargo in South
Africa seems to be as challenging
and complex as transporting it.
Project cargo is especially large
or bulky cargo that cannot be
transported in a container, says
one importer. No, said another
when asked by FTW, it is the term
that refers to the transportation
of over-sized materials and
equipment which are critical
components of large-scale
infrastructure projects.
Dave Logan, CEO of the South
African Association of Freight
Forwarders, says there is no doubt
that people view project cargo
very differently.
“My definition of true project
cargo is freight or cargo that is
shipped for a specific project ie,
a new mine, power station, hotel
or refinery, or major additions or
renovations to these.
“It is usually managed by a
specialist freight management
company or specialist department
that only manages project cargo
(as opposed to general cargo),
and is usually managed from
source and original indent(s) right
through to the final delivery site.
Shipments are often multimodal
(and often abnormal breakbulk
freight), time sensitive, and are
closely managed and reported
on, possibly using a project
management software tool.”
Wikipedia on the other hand
defines it as the transportation,
handling and installation of heavy
items which are indivisible, and of
weights generally accepted to be
in the range of 1 ton to over 1000
tons and of widths/heights of more
than 100 meters that are too large
to fit into normal containers or
onto conventional transporters.
From an insurer’s point of view
project cargo is not always a large
load. “They are often oversize
and overweight, but we have
had instances where we have
insured project cargo that was
packed in containers,” says Mike
Brews, chief operating officer of
Associated Marine.
Sunil Kalu, business
development manager of Africa
Project Logistics, a company
within the ICM group of
companies, agrees saying project
cargo is not defined by size but
rather that it is specific types of
components that are crucial to the
building of a plant.