GAC Russia restructures to serve new markets

This strategic move comes in response to customer needs within the shipping, logistics and marine services industries that GAC serves.

GAC Shipping & Logistics Ltd, with its head office in Moscow, has been established to consolidate the company's existing facilities in Novorossiysk (Gulf Agency Company Novorossiysk Ltd) and St Petersburg (GAC St Petersburg LLC). It also adds a third branch office at the new port of Taman on the Black Sea where the company will specialise in providing shipping services at liquid and dry bulk terminals.

Exploring new markets

Arkady Podkopaev has returned to his native Russia to take over as General Manager of GAC Shipping & Logistics Ltd, after three years with GAC operations in Turkmenistan.

He says:

"By restructuring its business in Russia, GAC is able to focus on our core services and customers. It also makes us better positioned and equipped to explore new markets such as marine services for the fast growing offshore industry in Russian territorial waters."

The GAC Group's first office in the Russian Federation opened in Novorossiysk in 2001 to provide shipping services at Sheskharis and CPC-R oil terminals. As the business expanded, additional services such as freight forwarding and crewing were added in response. In 2005, GAC opened its second Russian office, at St. Petersburg, one of the country's largest ports.

Central Asia's significance as one of the world's principal oil and gas producing regions is reflected by GAC's presence in Turkmenistan since 2000 and the opening of two new branches in Kazakhstan in 2008. Globally, the GAC Group has more than 300 offices.