Interview of the week – NMT Projects – Australia
this week we speak with
Grant Bell,
Partner & Operations Director,
NMT Projects, Australia
THE "WHO-WHERE-WHAT" CHALLENGE
Grant joined NMT in 2005 and, after 12 years abroad in senior chartering roles based in China and Singapore, returned in 2020 to help lead operations globally. Now a Partner and Director, he drives execution and growth across Australia and key Asia-Pacific markets.
Known for his systems thinking and hands-on style, Grant is passionate about building capable teams and delivering practical, no-nonsense solutions. He’s also a firm believer in keeping things simple, staying grounded, and sharing a laugh along the way.
Tell us about NMT Projects. Who owns the company?
NMT is a privately owned, independent freight forwarder specialising in project cargo. We were founded in the Netherlands and have since grown into a global business. Our ownership structure is simple - we’re still privately held, with several senior leaders including myself holding equity in the group.
Tell us a few words about your personal experience, your expertise and the company's business in general.
I’ve been with NMT since 2005 (albeit with a short stint abroad) and currently serve as Partner and Operations Director. Between 2009 and 2020, I worked with several multipurpose heavy-lift carriers, first in Beijing and then for over a decade in Singapore — a key regional hub for project shipping. That time gave me valuable insight into carrier operations, vessel planning, and the commercial realities behind heavy-lift transport, which I’ve carried back into NMT’s project execution model.
Our business centres on delivering complex logistics solutions across mining, energy, infrastructure, and defence. We focus on getting involved early, solving problems before they occur, and executing projects in some of the most remote and challenging environments our clients operate in.
Where are your offices located?
Our main offices are located in:
- Perth, Australia - Global head office and primary operations base
- Rotterdam, Netherlands - Key hub for European and international project coordination
- Houston, USA - Strategically focused on EPC and mining projects across the Americas, with critical expertise transferred from our Perth team to support project execution and consistency
In addition, we operate several important support and cross-trade offices:
- Chonburi, Thailand and Shanghai, China - Cross-trade and regional execution offices, integral to successful delivery of complex projects throughout Asia
- Philippines - Providing essential documentation and back-office support across multiple time zones
- Managua, Nicaragua - Strategically positioned to manage and execute heavy transport and logistics projects across Central America and the Caribbean
Tell us about projects that you have handled recently.
We’ve recently delivered oversize cargoes from Henderson to a major mining project in Western Australia and managed the international transport of process equipment for a large-scale gold project, sourcing cargo from multiple global locations, particularly China. We’ve also been awarded a new government contract to support a remote infrastructure upgrade, with execution planning now underway.
In addition to physical transport, we continue to support long-term clients with route studies, logistics feasibility, and execution planning across the mining, renewables, infrastructure, and defence sectors.
Which are the main industries served in Australia and which one seems to be your focus point?
Mining is without a doubt our dominant sector in Australia - iron ore, lithium, gold and other resource developments. We’re also increasingly active in renewables, supporting wind, solar and battery storage projects as the energy transition accelerates.
Is Project Cargo Forwarding a competitive sector in Australia? How do you ensure that you stand out?
It’s a very competitive market, but also very specialised. Our edge lies in execution – we’re known for being hands-on, pragmatic, and technically competent. We also invest heavily in planning and risk mitigation, often supporting clients early in the project lifecycle, not just at award.
What parts of Heavylift project management seem to be challenging in Australia? Any advice to be shared as a precaution or as an important highlight to a potential customer?
Australia’s remoteness and regulatory framework pose real challenges. Quarantine, permitting, road transport compliance and Indigenous engagement are all critical. Our advice to customers is: involve your logistics team early. Most cost blowouts or execution delays come from underestimating what’s required on the ground.
What made you personally join the industry?
Like a lot of people, I sort of stumbled into logistics straight out of uni - but it didn’t take long to get hooked. The mix of challenge, travel, problem solving, and just figuring things out on the fly really clicked with me. Nearly 20 years on, it’s still never boring. And truth be told, some of the people I’ve met along the way have become my closest mates - that’s been one of the best parts of the journey.
What do you like the most about your business?
Without a doubt, it’s the people. Across all our regions, I’m lucky to work with a team that shows up every day with a “never say die” attitude. They tackle challenges head-on, embrace change, and constantly look for ways to do things better. That passion and commitment - not just to the job, but to improving how we work - is what I love most about what we do.
Who should be approached in NMT Projects for inquiries?
For project cargo inquiries, feel free to reach out directly to me or contact your closest regional office. Our teams are set up to be responsive, practical, and easy to deal with - we’re here to find solutions, not make things complicated.
