Connecting the World: Breakbulk Europe’s Role in Shaping Global Project Cargo
In the world of project cargo and breakbulk, Breakbulk Europe stands out as the key event, bringing together leading professionals from all corners of the globe. Known for being the central hub for networking, innovation, and growth, this event is where the industry comes to connect and thrive. At the centre of it all is Elizabeth Rankin, the Event Director who orchestrates this major gathering. In our exclusive interview with Elizabeth, we dive into what makes Breakbulk Europe a must-attend event for anyone in the field, discussing the opportunities it offers for making connections, learning about the latest industry trends, and much more. Join us as we explore the essence of Breakbulk Europe with Elizabeth, shedding light on its impact on the global project cargo and breakbulk community.
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Event Overview: Can you provide an overview of Breakbulk Europe and its significance in the project cargo and breakbulk industry?
Breakbulk Europe is the largest global gathering of breakbulk and project cargo professionals, under one roof, for three days. It is the main meeting point throughout the year for the industry and brings together over 4,000 companies, making it the ultimate networking platform to grow connections, generate new business, and strengthen key existing relationships. Decision-makers from major cargo-owning companies, including energy companies, industrial manufacturers and EPCs, come together in Rotterdam to drive the connections and innovation that support the completion of global projects.
2024 Expectations: What are the main goals and expectations for Breakbulk Europe 2024, and how do they differ from previous years?
Breakbulk Europe 2024 is set to be our biggest event yet – we are already over 95 percent sold out of our expanded exhibition space, we are welcoming many new companies to the show, and expect to see more visitors, more networking, greater collaboration, and more learning opportunities than ever before. We are expanding the time for learning and networking beyond the show hours this year. Firstly, with our launch of Round Tables – interactive conversations that bring together breakbulk industry peer groups to share insights, address issues, and generate actionable takeaways on key industry topics that will help drive individuals and businesses forward. “Round Tables” and “Women in Breakbulk” will both be taking place on Tuesday afternoon before the show opens for the Welcome Reception at 5 pm. We know that many of our visitors arrive in Rotterdam ahead of the show, and we want to ensure all attendees can maximise their time at the event. We believe that these new activities will add a whole new layer to the Breakbulk Europe experience.
Networking Opportunities: How does Breakbulk Europe facilitate networking and business connections among attendees?
Networking has always been at the heart of Breakbulk Europe, and it is what our exhibitors and visitors value the most from our event. Our 2024 edition will facilitate more networking opportunities than ever before. Attendees of Breakbulk Europe can pre-arrange meetings through our Breakbulk app and can set up meetings in designated areas to optimise their time at the event. Our “Women in Breakbulk” and “Round Table” sessions on Tuesday are the perfect opportunities to meet like-minded peers to discuss industry-critical topics outside of the show floor. Our “Breakbulk Boulevard,” Welcome Reception, and Boat Tours are all returning for 2024, providing even more opportunities to network in relaxed settings while enjoying the best that Rotterdam has to offer.
Exhibitor and Visitor Dynamics: With over 600 exhibitors and 10,500 visitors from more than 120 countries, how do you ensure a valuable experience for both groups?
We are so proud to be the destination where the global breakbulk and project cargo communities unite and therefore ensuring our visitors and exhibitors have a smooth onsite experience is the top priority. Our app supports our visitors in navigating our exhibition, viewing our agendas and provides the ability to pre-schedule meetings onsite as well as communicate with exhibitors ahead of the event. We have streamlined our registration process to ensure visitors are able to print badges and access the halls without delay. Our pre-event communications including our visitors guide provide handy tips and tricks to navigate Breakbulk Europe with ease and make the most of your time at the exhibition as well as throughout the city. As we know, time is precious when onsite at Breakbulk Europe, therefore events such as our Breakbulk Boulevard and boat tours enable the networking to continue into the evenings. In addition to all of this, our team is always on hand to speak to visitors and exhibitors alike to support any pre-event queries they might have.
Innovation and Trends: What are the latest trends and innovations within the breakbulk and project cargo industry that will be highlighted at the event?
The team at Breakbulk Europe have been conducting in-depth research with the industry to ensure the trends that we are covering at the event are reflective of the challenges the industry is facing right now. We also work very closely with our brilliant Advisory Board who support us in ensuring the highest quality content for our attendees. Key themes you can expect to see covered at the event this year include capacity and contingency planning, where industry representatives will come together to discuss how to keep supply chains flexible to limit delays and effectively navigate the impact of the current geopolitical landscape. Other key themes will include how ports are innovating to overcome space and storage challenges, decarbonisation strategies as they relate to the EU ETS, the energy transition, and how shaping the future of logistics starts with the next generation of young leaders. Breakbulk Futures, launched at Breakbulk Europe last year, will once again highlight start-up companies leading the way with innovation and we are currently open to entries from companies who would like to be considered for a pod in this space.
Women in Breakbulk: Could you tell us more about the “Women in Breakbulk” initiative and its impact on the industry?
Women in Breakbulk brings together women from different sectors to share their perspectives on building a successful career in the maritime, project cargo and breakbulk industry. Our Women in Breakbulk programme brings together key female figures in leadership positions to offer insightful tips and advice for women from all corners of the industry on how they too can climb the ranks and change the narrative on an industry that is progressing in the right direction. Women in Breakbulk is having a huge impact by providing connections to industry peers which carry on beyond the event, exposing attendees to female role models who provide advice on how best to navigate key industry challenges and offers a positive, safe space to network and learn outside of the office environment.
Educational Components: How does the Chartering Workshop contribute to the professional development of attendees, and are there other educational opportunities available?
The Chartering Workshop, in partnership with the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, is a full-day, intermediate level workshop that covers chartering principles and applications for full-time chartering professionals as well as those who work with chartering contracts. This workshop is an opportunity for attendees to maximise the value of their time spent at Breakbulk Europe by engaging in professional development to support their role within the industry, with all attendees receiving a formal certificate following completion of the course. There are many other educational opportunities available during Breakbulk Europe including Round Tables, Main Stage and sessions within our Breakbulk Futures Hub. For those new to the industry or studying relevant degrees, we host our Education Day programme which is the perfect opportunity to learn about the basics of the industry while also connecting with industry professionals from key verticals.
Rotterdam as a Venue: What makes Rotterdam Ahoy an ideal venue for hosting Breakbulk Europe, and how does the city’s infrastructure support the event?
Situated alongside Europe’s largest port, Rotterdam’s maritime heritage and buzzing cultural and social scene make it the ideal location for Breakbulk Europe. Rotterdam Ahoy has recently been refurbished, providing a great space for the event to continue expanding and is easily accessible from Amsterdam, The Hague and Rotterdam on public transport, making it great for the global audience that travel to the event. City infrastructure is changing and evolving to accommodate the growth of our show such as the newly opened Ibis Styles hotel next to Ahoy. Rotterdam is a hub for raising future generations of maritime specialists and our engagement with local universities as part of our education programme is helping support this, as well as closing the talent gap that exists within the sector.
Sustainability and the Industry: In what ways is Breakbulk Europe addressing sustainability within the breakbulk and project cargo industry?
Breakbulk Europe addresses sustainability within the breakbulk and project cargo industry in many ways throughout the show. Our Main Stage will host topics including how logistics companies can integrate more sustainable and circular solutions to optimise their project logistics setup and use case studies of real-life projects to illustrate. Decarbonisation remains a big theme across our agenda, particularly with the implementation of the EU ETS, and our session will present practical solutions towards zero carbon emissions. Our Education Day, where we work with local universities and curate a programme to help inspire them to pursue a career within the breakbulk and project industry contributes towards the future sustainability of the industry and its workforce. Outside of this, our new Round Tables programme will cover key sustainability topics connecting to our Main Stage including, measuring and reporting on carbon emissions within the breakbulk shipping sector. In addition, many of our exhibitors are leading the way when it comes to sustainability, and the networking and business connections that take place at the show will be centred around this vital topic.
Looking Ahead: How do you envision the future of Breakbulk Europe and its role in shaping the global project cargo and breakbulk industry?
Looking ahead, it’s an exciting time for Breakbulk Europe, and we look forward to continuing as the largest global meeting place for the breakbulk and project cargo industry each year. As projects evolve and the supply chains that service them continue to adapt, Breakbulk Europe will constantly innovate, grow and remain committed to providing a global destination to meet industry leaders, decision makers and access to the whole project supply chain under one roof!
