Gulf Agency Company Ltd (GAC) and Rice Unruh Reynolds (RUR) have formed an alliance encompassing the global marketing and provision of port agency services of both companies.

The alliance offers a greater geographical spread of port agency services to ship owners, ship operators, traders and chartered clients of wet bulk, dry bulk and specialist carrier tonnage.

It is expected to manage approximately 35,000 port calls through its combined network of port agency offices, servicing over 1,500 ports and terminals around the globe. GAC will provide service coverage in Europe, the Mediterranean, the Black Sea, Africa, the Middle East, the Indian Subcontinent, Asia, Australia/Oceania and the Americas.

RUR will, through United States offices, cover the US East and Gulf Coasts. GAC’s Group Shipping Division vice president, Lars P Heisselberg, described the alliance as a strategic advance in the provision of services to the global shipping community. “This new agreement represents GAC’s ‘Global Reach - Vision X’ strategy implemented in mid-2002,” he said.

RUR’s president, Bob Bandos, welcomed the alliance as a commercial concept beneficial for all parties.  “We believe our alliance with GAC will provide significant benefits to our customers and provide us with global access to ensure our company’s continued growth,” Bandos said.

The GAC Group, whose corporate headquarters is in Dubai, is the world’s largest independent shipping and transport services provider, with over 200 offices worldwide.
Established in 1956, its core business covers three areas - shipping, logistics and marine services. GAC employs more than 5,500 people worldwide.