Lysaker: The role of ship agents is evolving to become more the commercial eyes and the ears for owners on the ground, according to one of the world’s top marine services companies.
Frederic Fontarosa, who heads up the ship agency business at Norway’s Wilhelmsen Ships Service, tells Maritime CEO: “In the world of ship agency, market intelligence and risk management is the next frontier.”
Gone are the days when agents were merely the operating arm for ship operators in port, Fontarose says, a natural trend as competition in the sector heats up.
“Customers are looking for sound data for their commercial decision making,” Fontarosa says, pointing out his firm’s extensive network now covers 2,400 ports worldwide.
On the ship agency side of Wilhelmsen Ships Service, the focus over the last few years has been around expanding operation in China, India and Brazil. Fontarosa also reveals the company will be opening a new office in Senegal in West Africa.
Last year the company made product deliveries to 24,000 vessels and handled 64,000 port calls.
