The Rise of RoRo in Project Cargo | Carsten Wendt, Wallenius Wilhelmsen

Wallenius Wilhelmsen has long been known as one of the world’s leading RoRo operators, but as Carsten Wendt explains in this episode of Project Cargo Professionals, the company is making a renewed push into breakbulk and project cargo at a time when global trade patterns, sourcing strategies and fleet deployment are rapidly evolving. Recorded in Bremen, Germany, Carsten discusses how Wallenius Wilhelmsen navigated the post-Covid vehicle boom, why shifting manufacturing from Europe to Asia is reshaping global shipping routes, and how RoRo carriers are positioning themselves as a safer and more flexible option for oversized cargo. We also dive into one of the company’s standout recent shipments: the transport of a 334-ton generator stator from Germany to Brisbane for Siemens Energy and CS Energy — the heaviest single piece ever transported on one of Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s RoRo vessels. A major focus of the conversation is sustainability and the commercial realities behind decarbonization in shipping. Carsten speaks candidly about the lack of a “silver bullet” fuel solution, why customers still prioritise price over green transport, and why Wallenius Wilhelmsen has taken the unusual step of separating sustainability-related costs transparently rather than hiding them within freight rates. Hosted by Luke King, this interview also explores EV fire risk mitigation, fleet renewal, the challenge of decarbonization and the growing overlap between shipping lines and freight forwarders. In this episode of Voices of Breakbulk Europe: • Why Wallenius Wilhelmsen sees project cargo as a strategic long-term growth area • How tariffs and geopolitical shifts are changing vessel deployment and cargo flows • The operational advantages of RoRo for oversized and heavy cargo • Why the company is investing in methanol- and ammonia-ready vessels • The reality of sustainable shipping — and why customers still prioritise price • How Wallenius Wilhelmsen is expanding beyond ocean freight into end-to-end logistics • Why shipping lines and freight forwarders are increasingly overlapping Carsten is Vice President Industrial Sales EMEA at Wallenius Wilhelmsen. 🎥 Recorded in Bremen, Germany 👉 Connect with Carsten on LinkedIn:   / carsten-wendt-6490a72   For all business enquiries relating to the podcast, email [email protected] and visit https://www.projectcargopros.com/ About Breakbulk Breakbulk organises the world's largest events for project cargo and breakbulk logistics, bringing together cargo owners, EPCs, carriers, forwarders and ports from across the global supply chain. With flagship events held annually in Dubai, Rotterdam, Houston and Singapore, Breakbulk serves as a key meeting point for networking, deal-making and industry insight. 👉 Visit https://breakbulk.com to find out more about upcoming events and registration. About Our Series Sponsor: Rhenus Project Logistics Global Rhenus delivers turnkey solutions for complex industrial and infrastructure projects worldwide, combining in-house engineering with multi-modal transport and its own asset base. 👉 Visit https://www.rhenus.group/uk/en/projec... About Our Supporter: Procam Group Procam Group is a leading integrated project logistics company in India specializing in heavy haul, chartering, installation, and project freight. 👉 Visit https://procamgroup.in/ 00:00 Introduction 00:19 Carsten Show Intro 00:36 RoRo’s Role After Covid 01:55 Why Cargo Mix Matters 02:59 Bremen & Key Markets 03:42 Tariffs & Asia Shift 06:07 EV Fire Risk Measures 07:39 Why Choose RoRo? 09:07 Flexible Port Deviations 10:09 334 Tonne Generator Case 11:33 Fleet Renewal & Fuels 13:30 Look Ahead to Breakbulk Europe 13:58 Our Sponsor: Rhenus Logistics 14:30 Demand For Green Shipping 16:29 Transparent Surcharges 19:33 ALS Acquisition 24:18 Life In Bremen 25:49 Our Supporter: Procam Group