HONG KONG's Inchape Shipping Services wants to 'shine a light on the traditionally shadowy world of ship agencies,' through the use of digital technology for maritime leaders.
'Put it like this,' states CEO Frank Olsen, 'if you're a leading shipping company that values compliance, responsible operations and optimal efficiency, why would you choose a ships agency that offered anything less than those same standards?'
Mr Olsen, who assumed the CEO role last year, is talking about a phenomenon that he openly admits to being 'puzzled' by. Namely, 'why 80 per cent of the ships agency market is captured by small, local operations that focus on their home ports, rather than larger, more strictly controlled, international organisations,' a company release said.
'It's not a question of attacking those smaller firms,' rather of 'pondering why the industry has not woken up to the very real need for stringent standards, governance and regulatory compliance on the ground in some of the locations where it's needed the most.
'Professional shipowners, operators and charterers need professional ships agencies,' Mr Olsen said. 'I think as that realisation dawns - and it's beginning now - it's going to transform this segment, delivering real benefits for customers.
'We're positioning to be at the vanguard of that change, providing added value through transparency and building complete trust with our partners. There's very interesting times ahead,' he said.
Inschape, which can trace its routes back to Calcutta, India in 1847 has 300 offices in 68 countries, covering 2,500 ports. It provides services, ranging from full cargo agency to dry-docking, crew logistics, financial management and bunker calls in 85 per cent of all global ports with a private staff of 3,000.
WORLD SHIPPING
'Put it like this,' states CEO Frank Olsen, 'if you're a leading shipping company that values compliance, responsible operations and optimal efficiency, why would you choose a ships agency that offered anything less than those same standards?'
Mr Olsen, who assumed the CEO role last year, is talking about a phenomenon that he openly admits to being 'puzzled' by. Namely, 'why 80 per cent of the ships agency market is captured by small, local operations that focus on their home ports, rather than larger, more strictly controlled, international organisations,' a company release said.
'It's not a question of attacking those smaller firms,' rather of 'pondering why the industry has not woken up to the very real need for stringent standards, governance and regulatory compliance on the ground in some of the locations where it's needed the most.
'Professional shipowners, operators and charterers need professional ships agencies,' Mr Olsen said. 'I think as that realisation dawns - and it's beginning now - it's going to transform this segment, delivering real benefits for customers.
'We're positioning to be at the vanguard of that change, providing added value through transparency and building complete trust with our partners. There's very interesting times ahead,' he said.
Inschape, which can trace its routes back to Calcutta, India in 1847 has 300 offices in 68 countries, covering 2,500 ports. It provides services, ranging from full cargo agency to dry-docking, crew logistics, financial management and bunker calls in 85 per cent of all global ports with a private staff of 3,000.
WORLD SHIPPING