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From war zones to weather, Robert Blades of Peters & May reveals how planning and precision safeguard global cargo transport

To begin with, could you share details of your career history and how you came to be in your current role? After studying global shipping and trade at university, I accepted a job at Peters & May within UK sales. I soon took on sales and marketing for the group. At this point, it became evident that almost 100 percent of our cargo moved were private yachts and motorboats. There was clearly a gap in the market and an opportunity to do more and branch out into the offshore commercial marine market. So, in 2016, after a few years of testing the waters in the commercial market, the decision was made for me to focus 100 percent on developing the commercial sector for the P & M group.

How would you describe the current state of global commercial maritime logistics, and what are the most pressing challenges asset and cargo owners are facing right now? There is a more uncertain and volatile global operating environment for shipping companies amid politicized trade conflicts, territorial disputes and sanctions disrupting shipping routes and cargo flows. This means the movement of heavy out-of-gauge cargo on multi-purpose vessels( MPVs) has become even more challenging. Operating within the spot charter market, MPVs are particularly affected by the shifting landscape, with new supply / demand dynamics meaning that planning for MPVs is more complex.

There is an increased demand for MPVs compared to 2019 / 2020, but we are still suffering an element of Covid fallout with the added pressures of the avoidance of the Suez Canal. The prolonging of the Ukraine / Russia conflict and escalations in the Middle East will all continue to have an adverse effect on available tonnage and market stability. Combined with the increased transit times around the Cape of Good Hope, we are seeing less available spot tonnage in the market than in previous years, but not necessarily in every region.

For cargo owners, the new challenges around route planning and MPV availability make it particularly difficult to manage their schedules, budgets and risks with confidence. In some cases, organizations must accept increased transit times because of the instability and traditional routes becoming more complicated.

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