Singapore-headquartered China Navigation Co (CNCo) opened its doors at a new branch office in Vancouver, British Columbia, on 9 August.
The new branch is CNCo’s biggest office in North America and has a team of 14 managers overseeing the dry bulk and liner businesses under its Swire Bulk and Swire Shipping divisions, respectively.
“The Vancouver branch office will be key to growing our presence in North America and supporting the growth in our regional dry bulk and multipurpose shipping businesses,” said Chris Daniells, CNCo’s commercial director.
The new office opened at the Vancouver International Maritime Centre (VIMC), developed by the province of British Columbia with the federal government of Canada and the International Shipowners Alliance of Canada. The VIMC has promoted Vancouver as the preferred global location for the international shipping market.
Canadian minister of jobs, trade and technology Bruce Ralston unveiled a plaque in the CNCo office located at W Hastings Street.
“The province recognises the significant contribution that The China Navigation Company makes to the shipping industry worldwide,” Ralston said.
“We look forward to this new regional North American office in Vancouver contributing to increased trade between BC and the Asia Pacific.”
“By building a maritime hub that brings together products, companies and expert services, Canada will gain the advantage of the resulting relationships, synergies and high-level jobs creation,” said Graham Clarke, founding chairman of VIMC.
“We look forward to increasing the economies of scale by attracting more international shipping companies, like CNCo to Vancouver.”
With the opening of the Vancouver office, CNCo now operates in 16 countries – Singapore, Australia, Canada, China, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, American Samoa,
Taiwan, United Kingdom and United States.
CNCo was founded in London in 1872 by John Samuel Swire, and remains today wholly-owned by John Swire & Sons, a family owned business conglomerate.
CNCo has undertaken a newbuilding programme comprising 61 modern and fuel-efficient handysize bulk carriers, multipurpose vessels and one cement carrier since 2013. The company owns and operates about 135 vessels consisting mainly of handysize and supramax dry bulk carriers and multipurpose liner vessels.
The company has three business divisions: Swire Bulk (dry bulk shipping), Swire Shipping (multipurpose liner services) and Swire Bulk logistics (marine solution specialists).
