Maersk Delivers Complex Heavy-Lift Logistics Solution from Korea to the US
- Aug 10
- 2 min read
Maersk Project Logistics has successfully developed an integrated logistics solution for the transportation of specialised and oversized cargo from South Korea to the United States, supporting the international expansion of a leading Korean energy solutions provider.
The cooperation follows a strategic partnership established in April 2026. The Korean company, which has been manufacturing power transformers and electrical equipment since the late 1970s, required a reliable logistics partner capable of handling extremely large and heavy cargo while maintaining schedule certainty and operational visibility throughout the entire supply chain.
Moving Multi-Hundred-Ton Transformers
One of the key challenges is the transportation of oversized power transformers weighing several hundred tonnes from manufacturing facilities in Korea to destinations in the United States.
The logistics scope extends far beyond standard ocean transportation. Maersk coordinates the complete journey, including inland transportation, specialised heavy-lift handling, terminal operations, ocean freight and onward connections at destination.
Cargo is collected directly from the manufacturing site before undergoing heavy-lift export handling in Busan. From there, specialised breakbulk cargo is transported aboard container vessels to Houston, where the next stages of the journey are coordinated.
An Integrated Project Logistics Approach
The project requires the handling of several different cargo types and transportation methods, including breakbulk shipments, out-of-gauge and in-gauge containers, flat racks and dangerous goods.
Schedule reliability is particularly important for major energy infrastructure projects. By using its global network and fixed weekly services supported by the Gemini Cooperation network, Maersk aims to provide greater schedule predictability and flexibility compared with traditional bulk shipping solutions, which can have more limited sailing frequencies.
The integrated solution also provides greater visibility throughout the transportation process, with teams across different countries and business units coordinating the shipment from origin through to final handover.
Strengthening Project Logistics Capabilities in the US
The Korea-US project is also part of Maersk's broader expansion of its project logistics capabilities in the United States.
The company has strengthened its specialised US team, expanded its integrated logistics capabilities and is exploring additional opportunities to support the Korean customer's projects at other destinations across the country.
By combining terminal capabilities, operational resources, global transportation networks and specialised project cargo expertise, Maersk is positioning itself to manage increasingly complex end-to-end logistics requirements for the energy and infrastructure sectors.
The project demonstrates the growing importance of integrated logistics solutions for oversized and heavy-lift cargo, where successful execution depends not only on transportation capacity but also on detailed planning, schedule reliability and close coordination across every stage of the supply chain.
Image source: maersk.com