Asia/Pacific News
Bunker Firm Adds Cochin Office
GAC Bunker Fuels Ltd (GBFL) has opened a new office in India and hired a trader in Singapore, the company said in an emailed press release Wednesday.
GBFL said the new office in Cochin, to be run by Sathya Chandrashekar, supplements its existing team in Colombo, Sri Lanka, giving it a stronger presence in the Indian Subcontinent.
"GAC has a significant ship agency presence at India's ports, and our agency offices have long been generating enquiries for us," said Nick Browne, the company's global director.
"That gives us a good foundation on which to build the GBFL presence in India from which to handle growing demand."
Browne said India is a strategic shipping location and is likely to become more attractive for ship refuelling thanks to price reductions and moves by the government to reduce bureaucracy.
In recent months Cochin Port has simplified bunkering procedures and added a bunkering vessel that can operate during monsoon season in an effort to compete with Colombo.
In Singapore, GBFL's new hire, Dave Goh, joined Steve Chen, bringing 17 years of shipping experience including four in international bunker trading with blue chip customers.
GBFL is part global shipping, logistics, and marine services company GAC Group.
