Kanoo Shipping, one of the largest specialised shipping agencies in the region and a fully-owned business of Yusuf bin Ahmed Kanoo Group (YBA Kanoo), has announced the opening of a general agency office, Kanoo Shipping India, in Mumbai which will allow it to have a complete port coverage in India.

The office will handle crew transfers, spare parts deliveries, customs and immigration formalities and will work closely with the Indian local authorities. Port Captaincy and Cargo Survey as well as ISO tank handling are expected to be introduced during the last quarter of 2019.

Fawzi Kanoo, deputy chairman of YBA Kanoo, said: “This step comes as part of Kanoo Shipping’s growth strategy which focuses on entering new markets.”

“Last year Kanoo Shipping successfully strengthened its presence in the African continent through acquiring Wallem South Africa; a major provider of integrated maritime solutions, and now Kanoo Shipping is in India, one of the largest trade partners of our region and the 16th largest maritime country in the world,” he added.

An experienced operations and finance team will be managing the general agency office in Mumbai led by Captain Amresh Jha, Kanoo Shipping India country manager.

Jha commented on the launch of operations in India by saying “Kanoo Shipping India, is a ship agency house with International standards dedicated to provide excellent service quality at competitive prices. We consider ourselves the extended arm of our customers with local eyes and ears on the ground.”

Existing and new customers of Kanoo Shipping will benefit from an onshore experience which focuses on operational quality and cost-effective efficiency. Kanoo Shipping India, will recruit local operational expertise and will build competence through development programmes tailored for the Indian market.

Nikolai Norman, chief commercial officer of Kanoo Shipping, said: “We are certain our expansion into India will provide Kanoo Shipping with the necessary growth it requires. It is also a clear demonstration of our willingness to go the extra mile to meet our customers’ expectations.”

“India is one of the fastest emerging markets in the world and its ports witness unprecedented traffic growth that is likely to continue for many years to come,” he said.

“We believe that there is ample room for Kanoo Shipping, a trusted brand with more 100 years of legacy, in the Indian Ship Agency Market,” he added.

Kanoo Shipping operates in 20 countries, covering all principal ports and offshore terminals around the Arabian Peninsula. In addition to its fully-owned offices and joint ventures in the Arabian Peninsula, the Company’s regional network operates through well-established partnerships in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Seychelles, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique and South Africa.

India has 200 notified minor and intermediate ports. Under the National Perspective Plan for Sagarmala, six new mega ports will be developed in the country. The Indian ports and shipping industry plays a vital role in sustaining growth in the country’s trade and commerce, it stated. – TradeArabia News Service