Port 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.

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.

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)…

As many companies continue the fight for survival in the challenging market conditions, shipping and offshore recruitment specialist Blue Ocean Marine & Offshore Solutions (BOMOS) announced its strategy to focus much stronger on cost reductions. “Current financial realities are calling for some tough decisions and there is an increasing demand to improve operating margins. There is no single solution to radically change the cost structure of shipping and offshore companies. Instead, these companies will reach their goals with a combination of several actions.

EMS Seven Seas announces new CEO; enters into agreement to acquire Wave Shipping, a Singapore-based maritime and port agency services company. EMS Seven Seas, an international ship chandler and leader in the provision of goods to the marine, offshore and defense sectors, has announced that it has appointed Lars Rosenkrands as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) with immediate effect. Lars has 30 years’ experience in the shipping industry, having worked for a variety of ship supply and ship services companies across Europe…

Founded by Lars Rosenkrands, CEO, and Alvin Lo, CFO, Wave Shipping was created with the vision to shake up the shipping agency industry through a fresh approach to meeting customers’ challenges and by introducing new technologies to become a global provider of port agency services. Rosenkrands, who helms the company, has more than 20 years of senior leadership experience in the shipping industry. In his previous role, he drove geographical and business expansion in new countries and markets for one of the global market leaders in port agency.

ISS-Tositti, the joint venture formed at the beginning of 2005 between the independent marine services organization, Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS), and Venice-based Tositti & C., is teaming up in a new strategic partnership with the Koper-based port agency, Navigo Logistika. After many years of cooperation in various segments of the shipping industry, the companies will form a new entity called ISS-Navigo and advance their expansion plans in the East Adriatic. The new partnership is the next milestone in the development of ISS-Tositti, which already has a growing presence in the Slovenian and East Adriatic markets, and it also develops Koper as a key gateway port for Central Europe throughout the ISS customer base, the company said.

ISS Palumbo, the offshore project logistics and freight forwarding division of Inchcape Shipping Services, has strengthened its compliance credentials by achieving ISO 9001, 14001 and 18001 and Achilles FPAL accreditation, covering operations in Italy, the U.K. and Houston. Awarded by BVQI, the accreditation body responsible for setting standards and regulations in quality, health and safety, environmental protection and social responsibility, its ISO certification was achieved in December 2013, with Achilles FPAL certification being awarded a few weeks earlier. Achilles First Point Assessment Limited (Achilles FPAL) is a supply chain management community used by major buying organizations in the oil and gas sector.

A 87-ft Z-drive tug has recently been delivered from the Jiangsu Wuxi Shipyard Co., Ltd. in China to a Peruvian owner Trabajos Maritimos S.A. The shipyard is located inland from Shanghai on Lake Thai near the town of Wuxi and the Jinghang Grand Canal. Trabajos Maritimos is a comprehensive marine organization offering everything from port agency services, terminal operations, pilotage and towing. The new tug, delivered in November of 2009, is powered by a pair of Cummins QSK60 engines each delivering 2200 hp at 1800 rpm to hrp model 7111 WM (P3) azimuthing drives with 6.681:1 reduction.