by Betty White

Are you in the business of moving large cargoes? Then you know that overwhelming feeling when you are just hoping and praying that everything will go as planned. International transportation of large and heavy machinery from point A to point B is a path riddled with obstacles which sometimes may be unsurpassable. But your hopes and prayers do very little to ensure that a failure of massive proportions won't take place. What you need are some proven ways to solve the biggest challenges those dealing with project cargo shipping face. Unless you want to be caught in a vicious trial-and-error cycle, take a look at these challenges and solutions for project cargo shipping. They may be an answer to your prayers.  

 Safety issues and solutions

These days, project carriers are moving cargoes bigger and heavier than ever. The boundary has been pushed which, while good for the volume of business, is not ideal for safety. With heavier loads come greater safety issues and bigger possibilities of low-quality operations. And the safety of everyone involved must be of paramount importance. Since safety comes first, certain actions must be taken in order to protect everyone with any stake in the process. Being one of the biggest challenges to project cargo shipping, a lot of suggestions have been made in an attempt to solve this burning issue. 

Safety is the biggest concern when dealing with heavyweight cargo.

While some see a solution in better regulations and more strict rules, others feel that licenses needed for operating heavyweight cargo must be set in motion. It is licenses paired with proper and extensive training that can singlehandedly pose a solution to this problem that has lately been weighing heavily on project carriers' shoulders. Of course, these measures won't be sufficient without a proper set of regulations and standards when it comes to operating abnormally heavy cargo. Besides, greater safety and strict rules will most likely result in less cargo theft and incidents, which is a secondary goal of everyone involved. 

Economic challenges and solutions for project cargo shipping

While the 2009 global financial crisis may be long gone, project carriers still feel the detrimental effects it brought. With the stronger US dollar having a dampening effect on exports worldwide, finding a cost-efficient shipping solution is becoming next to impossible. How do you surpass a challenge as big as this one? A challenge present on a global scale? Project carriers have been trying to deal with this obstacle by realizing cost reductions. Even though operating on a budget when shipping goods overseas by air or sea will remain an ongoing battle, there are some ways to reduce the price of your shipment. 

Project carriers are running out of business due to rising costs.

One such solution is adjusting the service speed of the vessels from a fast one to a more economical and cost-efficient one. Traveling at a speed that's less than 20 knots will result in slower cargo delivery, but it will also result in prices that will be more suitable for your customers’ budget. And any improvements in shipping prices will further result in an influx in business and interest for your logistics company. After all, that is the end goal as well as your long term plan. 

Project carriers have a problem determining the best option

When entrusted with a shipment, you as a project carrier have many different ways of getting that same shipment from point A to point B, even if the latter point is overseas. But what you may not have is an answer to the question which the best shipping method is. The truth is that the answer is never as easy and straightforward as it seems, which is what makes challenges and solutions for project cargo shipping that much more vital for the success of this project. There are many different factors to take into account while making a final decision, and they include the funds, the type of cargo, and the time you have at your disposal. It takes knowledge, as well as a highly trained team of specialists to decide on the best means of transportation. 

Finding the best way to transport a specific cargo is a problem for project carriers worldwide.

Which brings us to another point of order - your team. Handling tons upon tons of cargo is not a one-man job. It will take a village of trained and well-informed individuals. Individuals who are familiar with the latest air freight and sea freight advancements, and are not afraid to use them. With the digitalization of airfreight, cargo shipping has become somewhat easier. But things are still far from perfect, which is why you need all the help you can get. 

 It takes an innovative mind to solve some of the biggest project cargo shipping challenges

What started out as a shipment of a few tons is now a massive undertaking. These days, project cargo shipments can weigh up to staggering 24,000 tons, and that bar is being set higher with every year that passes. Besides the common obstacles such a heavy load can bring, the biggest challenge pose the mechanics and the equipment of the whole project. Traditional methods no longer do the trick, which is why specialists have been on the pursuit of better and result-bearing methods. Developing new concept cranes is one of the only solutions to the increased weight problem. That and innovativeness. 

It takes a mind with an outside of the box mindset to come up with solutions good enough and safe enough for transporting heavyweight cargo across the sea or air. After all, if the technologies that allow us to track a shipment from start to finish have been developed, why not put brilliant minds to work and come up with a groundbreaking solution? At the end of the day, challenges and solutions for project cargo shipping come with every step of the way. It's up to you, project carriers, to recognize them and come up with a solid and effective solution to a problem that’s been bothering companies worldwide. Be a pioneer in your industry and put all of your wit into coming up with a solution on your own.