Q INTERVIEW
H
eavy lift vessels are the true workhorses of the shipping world, tasked with safely transporting massive project cargo (often for infrastructure projects) across the globe. This niche
requires a significant amount of operational expertise and technical know-how because these jobs are high value and are geographi- cally dispersed. However, there are a number of hotspots explains Panos Patsadas, MD of specialised heavy lift and cargo project brokerage Target Maritime Transport do Brazil. Headquartered in London, the company is focused on the Brazilian market, which is expected to continue as a heavy lift hub. “Although best known for its dry bulk
exports of sugar and iron ore, Brazil is also home to a few other secondary markets – both import and export – that absorb a significant number and diverse range of vessel types and make certain trade lanes sustainable. First and foremost among these is project cargo imports,” Patsadas informs, adding that although the country is investing heavily in wind and hydro-power to diversify its energy sources, it is still very reliant on its oil resources – a lucrative sector that is a long-term heavy lift customer.
Brazilian business
The relaxed lifestyle in Brazil extends to the manner in which business is carried out, making it a rather difficult market for outsid- ers. “It’s rather more informal and has a slower pace, which clashes with how business in done in many other countries,” the broker tells The Marine Professional. “It is heavily reliant on a person’s word and handshake, which is seldom followed up by appropriate or timely paperwork, which some people can find challenging. In fact, you may have fixed a cargo and not even see the paperwork for the transaction until three hours before the vessel is loading!” Given that the lion’s share of Patsadas’
previous working experience was in the UK, Denmark and Germany, he was one of many expats that needed a period of adjustment to cope with the informal working environment. However, he now feels part of the local community, an aspect that he finds extremely rewarding: “This isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I’ve been in Sao Paolo for over a year now and really understand the South American
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