"If You Can Work in India, You Can Work Anywhere!"

By Simon West

Prism Logistics is leveraging its three-decade experience in executing some of India’s biggest industrial projects and turnkey third country projects to fuel its expansion into the Middle East.

The asset-rich company, which has completed over 1,000 major projects, launched new offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi last year and plans to further expand in the coming months with new bases in Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Anshuman Banka, managing director of Prism Logistics, told Breakbulk the move into the UAE was the logical next step for a company that has consistently proved its mettle in India. With a workforce of around 350, the family-run firm has been the “backbone” of much of India’s impressive industrial buildout over the last three decades, he said, providing essential support to sectors including oil and gas, power, renewables, petrochemicals, infrastructure and rail.

Recent highlights include a “ground-breaking” multimodal project for India-based conglomerate L&T to transport 34 oversized components weighing up to 1,000 tons apiece and measuring 60 meters in length – a move that won the firm “Project of the Year” at the Heavy Lift Awards 2024 – and the delivery of three huge VGO reactor modules across a 2,200-kilometer stretch of sea and land to a remote refinery in northern India.

Still, moving industrial components weighing hundreds of tons is no mean feat in India. Companies face an array of challenges such as low-draft waterways, poorly maintained roads, remote locations and heavy congestion at ports and terminals.

“In India, you have to align a lot of factors when you’re handling project cargo,” Anshuman said. “But the infrastructure is getting better every day. A lot of new ports are being developed that can handle heavy-lift vessels, and waterways are being built for the barges. I like to say, if you can work in India, you can work anywhere in the world!”

The new bases in Dubai and Abu Dhabi are already staffed by a “big team” of project professionals including engineers, crane operators, self-propelled modular trailers (SPMTs) drivers, supervisors and project directors, Anshuman said.

The company can also draw on its extensive stock of specialized equipment such as advanced SPMTs, flattop barges, crawler cranes, hydraulic axles, pullers and tugs to support the execution of projects.

“We were getting a lot of project enquiries from the UAE,” Anshuman said. “And with the energy transition emerging in the GCC, and given our asset heavy position, we recognized a growing need for us to expand into that market. That was one of the main reasons we have invested heavily in the region.”

Prism has already secured some major projects in the region, deploying heavy cranes for challenging tandem lifts in Dubai and a new barge in UAE waters. A large fleet of SPMTs and heavy axle lines are also being moved to the region to meet soaring demand for resources.

For Anshuman, cultivating strong relationships in the niche world of project logistics is essential for success and long-term growth.

“Over the years, we’ve established partnerships across continents. In the GCC, we have strong ties with many major companies,” the executive said. “We like to build good relationships with all players in the market. Then maybe we can be of help to them in the future.”

Prism Logistics is an exhibitor and sponsor at Breakbulk Middle East 2025. Meet Banka and the project team at stand Q10.