Sturrock Shipping opens more port offices in Africa

The new offices in the ports of Mtwara in Tanzania and Pemba in northern Mozambique complement the company's existing presence in Dar es Salaam in Tanzania and in Maputo, Beira and Nacala in Mozambique. Both have been established in order to service the burgeoning gas fields of the Rovuma basin, on the Mozambique/Tanzania border.

Sturrock Shipping director Clive James says that the recent discovery of commercially viable reserves of liquefied petroleum gas creates opportunities for the company to extend its agency and logistics services in this area to existing as well as new customers involved in the oil and gas and support industries.

Well-positioned to offer services

"We believe that the expansion of our well established marine operations in both Tanzania and Mozambique to the ports of Mtwara and Pemba respectively is a natural progression, as we already handle a significant share of oil and gas shipments in both these countries. We are well positioned to offer agency and logistics services to the majors, drill ship operators, as well as to a host of offshore and ancillary players," he says.

In Ghana, the company has partnered with an established local ship's agency company and will commence operations at the ports of Tema and Takoradi on 1 October 2012. "With existing customers producing, purchasing or prospecting in the area, it makes good sense to establish a presence in the area, in partnership with a local company and with a view to further regional expansion in the short to medium term," says James.

Gateway to gulf of Guinea

"Strategically we view Ghana as a gateway into the gulf of Guinea area, but in Ghana itself we are already receiving requests for attendance to exports from the Jubilee offshore field and a strong demand for our services to the maritime security industry, a specialisation honed on the pirate-plagued East African seaboard. Our entry into West Africa was kick-started two years ago with the opening of Sturrock Angola. We continue to experience strong growth in that country," he adds.

In 2010 Sturrock Shipping acquired the businesses of two successful ships agencies based in Australia, thereby firmly establishing Sturrock Shipping as an international player. It recently ceded its South African clearing and forwarding division to Rohlig-Grindrod in exchange for a 15% stake in that company, while continuing to explore avenues for expanding its ship's agency business.