The Heavy Lift Group Hosts 74th Annual Supply Chain, Logistics Conference

Companies from Africa, Europe, the US and Latin America offered strategies for steering through a challenging period of complex geopolitics, price volatility and supply chain congestion at a session of The Heavy Lift Group's (THLG) 74th Annual Conference.

Moderated by Colin D'Abreo, VP Director Rhenus Project Logistics Global, panellist Iris Mueleians, Managing Director of Germany's Ried Group, told an international audience that customer priorities focused on securing local know-how to manage risk, price stability over time and help towards achieving zero emissions.

With projects sometimes taking two to three years to come to fruition, factoring in general inflation and rising fuel prices was now a feature of customer agreements to help manage forward costs, Muellejans said.

Being close to the market to identify challenges early was also a vital skill for carriers, she said, citing regular lock closures on German waterways. "It can be a critical price increase if there are no barges left because there's a lock closure or you can't execute the project," she added.

Nevertheless, unexpected developments could undermine even the best laid plans, according to Ragan Watson, Project Manager for Sales, of US-based Barnhart Crane & Rigging. Spiraling fuel costs due to events in the Strait