2026 Event Agenda

* Additional purchase required *

Women in Breakbulk at Breakbulk Europe 2026 is designed to support and celebrate women in the project cargo and breakbulk industry. The program includes a dedicated breakfast and is open to visitors, shippers and exhibitors alike. Created by women, for women, the program brings together professionals from across the industry who understand both the challenges and opportunities of working in this sector - whether just starting out or already in leadership roles.

This keynote sets the global context for our industry, examining how geopolitics, conflict, sanctions and policy fragmentation are reshaping global trade. It focuses on why predictability has eroded and what this means for long-term economic and supply-chain decision-making, providing the strategic backdrop for the discussions that follow.

Building on the global context, this panel takes a strategic look at how project cargo stakeholders are responding in practice to the reshaping of global trade routes. Exploring emerging trade corridors, insurance implications, corridor competition, and strategies to embed resilience into long-term routing and project planning.

A review of current fleet data, demand indicators and trade-lane developments in project cargo and multipurpose shipping. This briefing highlights areas of uncertainty and divergence across trades, offering a data-driven foundation to inform discussion on capacity, pricing and fleet strategy.

A balanced debate on supply and demand across all breakbulk and project cargo carriers. Covering the realities of fleet renewal, demand outlook, and capacity shifts – particularly the potential for container overcapacity – we’ll also examine how the expected Suez reopening could rapidly reset capacity, pricing and competition across the market.

A forward-looking view of global project demand, pricing and capacity across oil & gas, offshore wind, nuclear, CCS, data centers and BYOP logistics – plus where growth will come from geographically over the next cycle.

Across the industry there is broad agreement that decarbonisation remains essential, yet delayed IMO decisions and unclear rules are complicating investment choices. This session examines the real commercial impact of ETS and FuelEU Maritime, how shippers assess “green versus dirty” pricing, and offers a reality check on the consequences of the industry’s current “wait and see” approach.

* Open to all – first-come, first-served. BBEU badge required for entry *

After the Welcome Reception on Tuesday evening, continue the excitement at Breakbulk Boulevard on Schiedamse Vest! This vibrant street party comes alive with delicious food and drinks from local restaurants, energising music and unparalleled networking opportunities. Mingle, unwind and celebrate with fellow attendees in a lively atmosphere you won’t want to miss.

A scenario-based session examining how geopolitical escalation translates into real supply chain disruption – from security risks and access constraints at global chokepoints to sanctions expansion and political fragmentation. Combining expert geopolitical insight with industry response, the discussion explores how carriers, EPCs and insurers prepare for shocks, and what military mobilization could mean for commercial capacity.

* Pre-registration required *

NextWave 30 is designed to connect early-career professionals. The Networking Hour will take place in the Sports Bar in Hall 2, offering an informal setting with light refreshments to meet peers and grow your network. Free to attend, this session is open exclusively to professionals aged 30 or under (as of 18 June 2026) with at least one year of experience in logistics, transport, project cargo or related industries.

Explores how planned and sustained military logistics demands are reshaping commercial project cargo. Covers dual-use infrastructure, priority access to assets, defence-driven port upgrades, and whether the industry is truly prepared for long-term capacity competition between military and civilian projects.

A deep dive into seaport constraints driven by offshore wind growth. Examines land scarcity, heavier components, competing port uses and real-world expansion case studies – highlighting how ports are deciding where (and when) to invest ahead of demand.

Focuses on the inland constraints quietly blocking projects: ageing bridges, weight limits, inconsistent waterways and analogue permitting. Explores digital mapping, AI-enabled route planning and what harmonization could unlock for faster, safer, more sustainable project execution.

A shipper- and EPC-led session on changing expectations. Covers early logistics involvement, transparency, digital gaps, emissions data, and why reliability and partnership now matter more than lowest price in an uncertain market.

Addresses the industry’s growing talent gap. Looks at apprenticeships, career pathways, upskilling and how breakbulk must modernize its image and working practices to attract and retain the next generation alongside automation and AI.

* Additional purchase required *

AI is increasingly transforming logistics across industries, but its application in specialized breakbulk and project cargo remains underexplored. This interactive session demystifies AI by showcasing practical, real-world applications in transport engineering, vessel operations, and supply chain tracking specifically tailored to the breakbulk sector. Discover how forward-thinking companies are leveraging AI technologies for efficiency gains, risk mitigation, and process automation while preserving the crucial human expertise that defines the industry. This is a half-day workshop and includes lunch plus one networking coffee break.

* Additional purchase required *

This workshop, presented in partnership with the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, is an intermediate level course that provides a deeper understanding of chartering principles and applications. It is suitable for full-time chartering professionals as well as those who work with chartering contracts.

* Additional purchase required *

This workshop is designed for professionals involved in the transport and logistics of project cargo. The course covers the fundamentals of heavy-lift logistics, emphasising both sea-based transport and land-based transport. The workshop includes lunch and one networking coffee break.

Explores how data centers, life sciences and fast-build industries are changing breakbulk. Smaller, modular, high-precision cargo is replacing iconic heavy lifts – driving new expectations around speed, sequencing, materials management and logistics involvement beyond transport alone.

This session explores the competing future fuel pathways facing shipping – from low-sulphur fuels and LNG to methanol, ammonia and hydrogen – and why no single solution is yet dominant. It examines how scale, regulation and infrastructure are shaping choices, and what ports, carriers and shippers can realistically prepare for now across infrastructure, safety, cost and fleet strategy while long-term uncertainty remains.

AI is widely discussed, yet adoption in breakbulk and project logistics remains cautious. This session explores how operational habits, fragmented data and organizational silos – not technology – limit progress, and where ports, carriers and EPCs are using AI in daily planning, permitting and execution. It reframes AI as an operational challenge, not just an IT one.