Ukrainian Maritime Agency joins GAC global agency network

The GAC-UMA collaboration covers all Ukrainian ports across the Black Sea, Azov Sea and River Ukrainian.

Established in Ukraine in 1996, UMA operates from its head office in Odessa and branches in Izmail, Nikolaev and Kerch seaports. It specialises in providing ship agency services to all types of dry bulk carriers, tankers and other tramp vessels.

Lars Heisselberg, GAC Group Vice President, Shipping Services, says the GAC-UMA alliance is a natural development as the two companies have been working together for the last nine years, and share a commitment to providing cost efficient ship agency services which comply with Health, Safety, Security and Environment (HSSE) practices.

"UMA has been acting as our sub-agent at the oil terminals in Odessa and Yuzhny ports in the Black Sea region," he adds. "Now our closer ties will enable us to jointly look after the interests of our clients by combining the strengths of UMA's local knowledge with GAC's business principles, marketing resources and global network."

UMA's Managing Director Capt Boris Khrebtov says the combined network and resources of GAC-UMA will put it in a stronger position to meet the demand for port and ship agency services in diverse sectors such as coal, steel as well as oil and gas.

GAC's global principal Chevron Shipping Company will be a direct beneficiary of the alliance, as it will use the set-up to transport crude oil from Ukraine to ports around the world.

Capt Kjell Landin, Chevron's Marine Manager, EBU M&T based in Istanbul, Turkey believes the partnership between GAC and UMA will streamline and enhance communication between key internal and external stakeholders.

"Maybe more importantly, this development and formal introduction of professional and transparent processes in Ukrainian ports will more effectively support and promote an understanding of business values that is fundamental to Chevron and, I trust, also to GAC-UMA," he adds.

The GAC global agency network is an important growth model for the GAC Group to enhance its position as a more integrated and diversified service provider with in-depth local expertise. GAC has rapidly expanded its global agency network through strategic tie-ups with suitable partners in its target geographical expansion areas over the last four years.

The company's global network agents today include Alstons (Trinidad & Tobago), Aarus (Spain), OBC Shipping (United Kingdom), Unipros (Republic of Korea), Kudrat Maritime (Malaysia), Wilford & McKay (Panama), Vensport (Venezuela), Ultramar Network (Argentina, Chile, Peru and Uruguay), Wilson & Sons (Brazil) and Seaforth (East Africa).

Rice, Unruh, Reynolds & Co (US East and Gulf Coast), once a member of the global agency network, was acquired by GAC 1 February 2005. Earlier this year, GAC has also acquired a majority stake in Ole R Olsen AS (ORO), Norway's oldest shipping agency, following a strong and positive half-year strategic alliance.