GAC global agency network expands to Italy

Established in May 2006, by leading shipping professionals with long experience, Agora has 16 offices directly covering 25 key Italian ports. Agreements with approved sub-agents increase its coverage to 51 ports.

All partners in Agora's national network are individually ISO accredited by Rina/DNV and the company itself is ISO accredited by Bureau Veritas.

Capt. Tom Bjorklund, General Manager of GAC Global Hub Services, believes that Italy's thriving maritime sector is the ideal platform for the alliance to market its Global Hub Agency Services to ship owners, charterers, operators and managers.

He says GAC-Agora's offerings - including disbursement tracking/control, negotiating local discounts, managing port calls on a regional basis, and supervising principals own nominated agency network - bring time and cost benefits to principals.

He adds, "To serve Italian principals, it is vital to have strong nationwide port coverage hinged to the door of global access and coverage. The GAC-Agora alliance is the vehicle to achieve this."

Dr Roberto Corrias, President of Agora Shipping welcomed the alliance between GAC and his company, saying:

"Through this partnership with GAC, we will now be able to strengthen our market coverage and international presence, and also use the GAC Group's commercial and IT platforms to raise our level of service to Principals."

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 few years.

The company's global network agents today include Wilford & McKay (Panama), Vensport (Venezuela), Ultramar Network (Argentina, Chile, Peru and Uruguay), Wilson & Sons (Brazil), Tomas Ruiz (Mexico), Alstons (Trinidad & Tobago), Aarus (Spain), Getma (Francophone West Africa), Maxmarin (Ukraine), Seaforth (East Africa), Unipros (Republic of Korea), and Kudrat Maritime (Malaysia).