Agency Services News

Having recently reopened its Guam office after a three-year hiatus using a partner agent, Inchcape Shipping Services resumed direct control over all operational matters on the Pacific island.Inchcape had a permanent presence in Guam since the 1990s but opted to close its office on the Pacific island in 2018. “Given the volume of business in Guam at that time, it made better financial sense to use a partner agent instead. However, the uptick in volumes after the pandemic justified the move to reopen.

Energy logistics provider Peterson has won a logistics contract with OceanXpress, a recently formed joint venture between Dutch companies Damen and Ampelmann.Damen Shipyards and offshore gangway specialist Ampelmann launched the joint venture last month to provide offshore crew change solutions in the North Sea area.Now, Peterson will deliver ship agency services for OceanXpress' Aqua Helix vessel, which will use the Port of Den Helder as its main port of operation.Mark Hol, Business Unit Manager at Peterson, said: “We’re delighted to  welcome the Aqua Helix to the Port of Den Helder and be no

Puget LNG and GAC Bunker Fuels have signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate in the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) marine fuel from Puget LNG’s terminal to GAC’s customers in the Pacific Northwest.When the Tacoma LNG Terminal becomes operational in the second quarter of 2021, it will be the first such terminal on North America’s west coast providing direct shoreside loading access for a bunker barge.GAC Bunker Fuels, a division of the Dubai-based GAC Group, will issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a Jones Act-compliant LNG bunker barge to be constructed…

As part of its European growth strategy, the GAC Group has opened its first office in the Republic of Ireland, providing a wide range of shipping services to vessels at the country’s ports as well as in Northern Ireland.GAC Ireland provides ship agency services at all major Irish ports to a range of customers operating in sectors from tankers and dry cargo to offshore and navy vessels. Through its base in Cobh, near Cork, and the Group’s extensive regional and global network, GAC also offers customers joint agency solutions between Ireland and the UK…

Japanese shipping major Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) celebrated a major milestone-25 years since the launch of MOL business operations in Indonesia.The carriers of containerized and other cargo said in a press note that it has hosted a party in Jakarta for about 200 attendees, including customers to celebrate 25th anniversary. Among those on hand for the party were Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia Masafumi Ishii, and representatives of MOL's business partners.MOL President & CEO Ikeda addressed the gathering, saying, "Indonesia is expected to show further economic growth on the back of its abundant energy resources; it is also a vast land to the world's fourth-largest population…

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) celebrated the 50th anniversary for the establishment of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (Thailand).On November 13, it held a party in Bangkok for customers, business partners, and others, marking the event and the centennial anniversary for the opening of liner service to and from Thailand by its predecessor, Osaka Shosen.Around 500 guests attended the event including Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, Minister of Transport, and Shiro Sadoshima, Japanese Ambassador to Thailand. MOL President & CEO Ikeda noted that Thailand is the historical center of MOL's extensive overseas network, and Thailand has built a solid position as an ASEAN leader.

The GAC Group has appointed industry veteran and current Chair of the Swedish Shipbrokers Association, Johan Ehn, as Managing Director of its operation in Sweden.Ehn started his career in shipping in 1989 when he joined Swedish Maritime AB, and subsequently gained logistics expertise as a partner in a freight forwarding business, before establishing his own company. He also served as Managing Director of Georg Hansen AB, and Head of Commercial with APL line in Gothenburg. In addition to his active role in the Swedish Shipbrokers Association, he is also a longstanding board member of Gothenburg Shipbrokers.Ivo Verheyen, GAC’s Group Vice President…

Offshore marine services provider PACC Offshore Services Holdings Ltd. (POSH) has reaffirmed its working relationship with GAC Angola by renewing its ship agency contract for Soyo and Luanda and extending the agreement to include Cabinda.Under the deal, GAC now provides an integrated range of services for the POSH fleet at all Angolan ports, including crew handling, spares clearance and delivery, bunker fuels and inward/outward clearance of vessels.Kelvin Teo, POSH Director Offshore Supply Vessels…

Breaking new ground: the all-electric, zero-emissions Future of The FjordsNorwegian cruise vessel offers amazing tourist experience while protecting fragile UNESCO World Heritage environmentFuture of the Fjords, the world’s first all-electric and completely emissions-free ship, launched in April this year by Norwegian tours operator The Fjords, is now operating as a cruise vessel on the spectacular Gudvangen to Flåm route along the Nærøyfjord, Sognefjord and Aurlandsfjord of western Norway.

GAC Greece has become the latest GAC company to sign up to the Green Award (GA) Foundation’s scheme, underlining its commitment to environmental issues. Under the scheme, GA-certified ships that use GAC's ship agency services at Greek ports can claim a 10% discount on the company’s agency fees. By joining the incentive scheme, GAC Greece demonstrated its commitment to applying and promoting measures to encourage green shipping. The Green Award Foundation is a non-profit, independent international platform for the maritime industry to stimulate safer, cleaner shipping by supporting vessels that go beyond legally required standards. Participating ports and maritime service providers provide incentives for vessels through the scheme, to achieve a safer, greener and sustainable future.

Wallem Ship Agency has been appointed by G2 Ocean to provide Ship Agency services to all their vessels calling in ports in SE Asia. The agreement has been made with Wallem Ship Agency in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, and Myanmar. This news comes after Wallem was appointed by G2 Ocean back in July of 2017 for calls to China, totaling an estimated number of 700 calls per year. Managing Director of Wallem Ship Agency Dickson Chin says, “We are delighted to extend our relationship with G2 Ocean to handle their vessels calling throughout Southeast Asia. Our teams are very experienced in handling multi-purpose vessels and have done extensive preparation work for these calls which commenced at the end of 2017.

BIMCO and FONASBA have once again joined forces to create and launch a new general agency agreement for port agents, shipowners and ship operators contracting port agency services. The new standard contract, which can be downloaded from the FONASBA website and BIMCO’s IDEA, formalizes and sets out clear terms for any agreements made, for the benefit of both sides. Drawn up by the group responsible for drafting the Agency Appointment Agreement which was released earlier this year, the new contract is easy to use and can readily be adapted for single use or a long-term contract. Parties can select their requirements from a list of functions such as sales and marketing, port or general agency and husbandry and can agree other services to suit their needs.

Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS), the world’s leading maritime and logistics service provider, has won a global port agency contract with Hurtigruten, a world leader in expedition travel. The new business sees ISS providing Hurtigruten with port agency services across the globe for up to four years, as well as helping to support and advise the company with the management of its rapid worldwide expansion plans. In addition, ISS will provide hands-on advice on hotel operations, shore excursions and itinerary planning. As the world leader in expedition cruises, Hurtigruten operates along Norway’s western and northern coast and also offers explorer cruises to Antarctica, Greenland and Iceland.

ELA Container Offshore GmbH delivered an Offshore Living Quarter to Netherlands based SeaMar Services BV in Den Helder. The container was placed on board the Offshore Support Vessel ‘SeaMar Splendid’ and provided extra accommodation for subsea work in the North Sea. “We decided to hire an A60 ELA Offshore Living Quarter with DNV 2.7-2 offshore certification as SeaMar standards demands quality and all rental of additional high critical equipment need to comply to all local and international legislation on- and offshore”, says Sybrand Spijksma, Technical Superintendent at SeaMar Services BV. The SeaMar Group has a long term experience in agency, logistics & management services and as ship owners offers an all-round service package for the offshore and shipping industry.

Maritime and logistics service provider Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS) has officially opened its new head office in London. Based in Fenchurch Street in the heart of the City, the new office for ISS’ leadership team has been opened to bring it closer to key customers’ London offices and more accessible for customers and staff visiting from overseas. Other core functions now based in London include Innovation, Marketing, Sales Support and Accounts. Guests joining ISS at the official opening celebrations represented a number of ISS’ key customers, trade journalists and other industry contacts. Chris Whiteside, Chief Executive Officer, ISS said, “Our focus on customer engagement highlighted a need to be located closer to our key principals and London is a key maritime market.

Wallem’s Agency team in Japan recently welcomed the MSC Lirica on her maiden voyage. The cruise ship recently arrived in Fukuoka (Hakata) with 1,764 passengers and 743 crew onboard before heading back to Shanghai. This call marks both the first Japanese port for the ship in its inaugural season in Asia and the first cruise call for Wallem’s agency team in Japan. Thanks to Wallem’s experience in the cruise business, particularly in Asia (handling more than 450 calls across Asia this cruise season)…

Being in a position to accurately anticipate change in the shipping markets is becoming ever more crucial for maritime service providers, as owning principals demand more solutions to the problems created by over-ordering, according to Braemar Group Asia President Denis Petropoulos. Speaking at a press conference during Singapore Maritime Week, Mr Petropoulos said this need for in-depth industry knowledge and experience in understanding how to deal with market downturns means that shipping service clusters like Singapore would find themselves in a strong position when the times start to improve. “Owners and charterers rely on these services…

Nordana Project and Chartering and Rickmers-Linie, Hamburg announced that Rickmers-Linie represents Nordana in China effective as of March 17, 2016. With this step, the two companies extend an already existing partnership which began in June last year when Rickmers (Japan) Inc was appointed as the sole General Agent of Nordana Project and Chartering in Japan. The Rickmers-Linie Representative Offices in China will support Nordana on marketing in China and will also coordinate documentation including agency services through sub-agencies.

The Scandinavian arm of the world’s third largest container shipping company CMA CGM has signed an agency, husbandry and NOx reporting agreement with GAC Norway for its ships calling at the port of Oslo. The CMA CGM Group has a fleet of 470 vessels serving 400 of the world's 521 commercial ports. In 2015, it transported an estimated volume of 13 million TEUs and vessels from its fleet make 52 calls per annum to Oslo to load/discharge a wide range of goods carried in containers from around the world. Its weekly service links the Scandinavian ports of Oslo, Moss, Brevik and Gothenburg with the CMA CGM hub in Rotterdam, and beyond to its global network.

Deal to provide agency, husbandry and NOx reporting at Oslo. The Scandinavian arm of the world’s third largest container shipping company CMA CGM has signed an agency, husbandry and NOx reporting agreement with GAC Norway for its ships calling at the port of Oslo. The CMA CGM Group has a fleet of 470 vessels serving 400 of the world's 521 commercial ports. In 2015, it transported an estimated volume of 13 million TEUs and vessels from its fleet make 52 calls per annum to Oslo to load/discharge a wide range of goods carried in containers from around the world. Its weekly service links the Scandinavian ports of Oslo, Moss, Brevik and Gothenburg with the CMA CGM hub in Rotterdam, and beyond to its global network.

Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS), the world's leading maritime and logistics service provider, has signed a contract with CGG to provide offshore agency support services for a new oil and gas exploration project in the Barreirinhas Basin in the equatorial margin of northern Brazil. As a specialist geoscience company, CGG is conducting the multi-client seismic project, which will be the oil and gas industry’s first regional broadband survey of the Barreirinhas basin. ISS will provide a range of services for the Barreirinhas project including port agency, crew transfer, visa assistance and cargo services. CGG is deploying its specialized seismic vessel, the Oceanic Vega, to acquire the 14,500-km² 3D seismic survey.

Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS), the marine, cargo and supply chain solutions provider, said it is continuing its expansion program in the Black Sea region with the opening of a new office in Ukraine. Situated in Odessa, this new base is part of the company’s drive to expand its presence across the Black Sea region alongside its existing Turkish offices in Istanbul, Izmir, Mersin and Izmit, ISS said. With a diversified market for overall shipping calls and strong trade connections between Turkey and Ukraine, the new office location offers numerous strategic benefits. For example, ISS will now be able to provide agency services for the Turkish Straits and Ukrainian ports from one location…

GAC Russia informs it has opened an office to provide ship agency and support services for vessels calling at the newly built port of Sabetta. Sabetta sits on the Ob Bay in the Yamal Peninsula, located within the Northern Sea Route. According to GAC, the region holds vast potential in terms of onshore and offshore oil and gas fields development and a number of considerable oil and gas projects are already at various phases of development. The port, where air temperatures drop to around -40 degrees Celsius in winter time, is ice-bound from October to June, and ice breakers have to be used to make the port accessible year-round. The opening…