Ben Line Agencies and Sharaf Shipping Agency have jointly launched a new global shipping agency to go live on 1 April.
With 299 offices in 49 countries, WaterFront Maritime Services will focus on the wet and dry bulk shipping markets.
Terry Gidlow will lead WaterFront’s operations after spending years at senior positions with Inchape Shipping Services, LBH Group and Chemoil Energy.
He said during the company’s launch in London earlier today: “This is a bold move by two of the industry’s most respected regional port agencies and will set a new standard in port agency.
“Built on solid financial, technical and historical foundations, we are offering a tailored, holistic approach to global supply chains that will set us apart from the competition.”
Sharaf Shipping and Ben Line have a long-standing presence in the Middle East and Asian markets.
They will equally own WaterFront, which will be headquartered in Dubai with commercial offices in Singapore and Miami.
Duncan Ramsey, chairman of WaterFront and managing director of Ben Line, said: “WaterFront leverages our strengths and capabilities as a business with Sharaf Shipping Agency, which shares the same commitment to quality, integrity and transparency that we do; providing our customers with global access and solutions that help them to compete.”
The executives added they had been working on the deal for more than a year and their aim is to simplify processes for owners and charterers.
