ISS to put focus back on liner agencies

Marine services provider Inchcape Shipping Services plans to boost its liner agencies business with new contracts in emerging markets.

Speaking in London last week, Jon Corner, ISS group business development director, said his company represents 11 leading container lines in various locations and wants to make that 20 by 2012.

While admitting that ISS has taken its eye off liner agencies in recent years amid a trend for ocean carriers to open their own offices, Corner declared that liner is back firmly in the company's strategic thoughts.

Shipping companies still like to have third-party liner agents in difficult and smaller locations. These locations include parts of South America, Africa and the Middle East. At the same press briefing, ISS announced it has recently expanded its footprint in Mexico and Nigeria.

In West Africa, ISS has established a joint venture with United Kingdom-registered ship owner Union Maritime Ltd. to offer full agency services with offices in Lagos and Port Harcourt.

Nigeria is home to Africa's largest population — around 120 million — as well as being the world's sixth-biggest oil exporter. The economy is buoyant and we see good potential for our core port agency business and for several of our other activities as well, said Chief Executive Officer Claus Hyldager.

In Mexico City, ISS has started up a Greenfield operation with Octavio Armas as country manager with responsibility for establishing offices in the country's major ports.

We see Mexico as a country with great potential and vast opportunities, which is of strategic importance to our region, said Lars Westerberg, regional managing director for North and Central America.

 

Source: American Shipper