INCHAPE SHIPPING SERVICES: Keeping Safe Passages Available

Global trade depends on vessels arriving, loading and departing safely, yet the pressures on that system are building. Analysis from Menzies points to disrupted trade routes, tariff volatility, funding constraints, tightening environmental regulation and cyber threats among the key risks facing global shipping. In that climate, the businesses that keep cargo, crews and compliance moving smoothly are more valuable than ever, and few sit closer to the centre of the network than Inchcape Shipping Services.

The company’s roots stretch back to 1847, when two Scottish merchants, William Mackinnon and Robert Mackenzie, founded a trading partnership in Calcutta. That partnership grew into a shipping line, and a later chairman, Lord Inchcape, led the merger of British India with P&O. The Inchcape Group created Inchcape Shipping Services in 1993 to run its global shipping agency operations and standardise service across the network. The business has been independently owned since 1999 and, in 2022, around its 175th anniversary, it was acquired by UK private equity firm Epiris.

Today, Inchcape Shipping Services operates in 61 countries through more than 250 offices, supported by over 3,100 people. Its network covers around 85% of the world’s ports, more than 2,200 in total. The offering spans port agency, including full, protective and bunker agency, canal transit, husbandry and dry docking, alongside marine services such as machinery support, survey and inspection, project logistics and a marine supply chain hub. Digital solutions including OneCape, World of Ports and the Optic Platform bring transparency to port costs and activity, and the company holds ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certification.

It is that combination of reach, expertise and reliability that has made Inchcape a trusted name for demanding customers. In April 2026, the company announced a global husbandry agency contract from the NATO Support and Procurement Agency, covering all classes of naval vessels, including surface ships and submarines, across six Areas of Operation stretching from Greenland, down the Atlantic coast of Africa, through the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean, to Australia. Chief Commercial Officer Svend Stenberg said: “In today’s rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape, NATO’s role in maintaining global maritime stability has never been more vital. We are honoured that NSPA has entrusted Inchcape with this responsibility.”

He adds that the award is a mark of confidence in the business. “Covering six AOOs through to late 2027, this award reflects the confidence placed in our people, our global network, and our ability to deliver consistent, mission-ready support wherever required.”

GROWING FOOTPRINT

That ability to be present where customers operate is now being extended through a run of new openings. In Brunei, the company has established Inchcape Shipping Services (BN) Sdn Bhd in Bandar Seri Begawan, covering the ports of Muara, Kuala Belait, Lumut and Seria. The office will initially focus on offshore, oil and gas tanker, naval and integrated logistics activity, and follows the company’s appointment as authorised ship to ship agent in the country. General Manager Timothy Mpothraju explains: “The opening of our Brunei office marks an important step in strengthening our support for customers operating in this market. With strong local partnerships and regional backing from our Malaysia team, we are well positioned to support offshore, tanker, naval and logistics operations safely, efficiently and in full compliance with local requirements.”

In Indonesia, where Inchcape already had an office in Jakarta, new offices in Merak and Dumai add capacity in two of the country’s most important port clusters. Merak is an established industrial hub for liquid and dry bulk cargoes such as chemicals, iron ore and refined petroleum products, while Dumai, on the Malacca Strait, is a key centre for tanker and bulk operations, handling crude palm oil and fuel oil among other cargoes. Each area sees roughly 150 port calls a year. “Our mission is clear: to be close to our customers and present where their operations take place,” says Galih Wicaksono, General Manager for Indonesia. “The opening of these offices in Merak and Dumai strengthens our ability to deliver exceptional service and local expertise in two of Indonesia’s most critical port clusters.”

South America is also in focus. The new branch in Mollendo, Peru, is positioned to serve both Mollendo Terminal and the adjacent Matarani Port, gateways for fuels, grains, containers and copper concentrates, and it gives Inchcape a foothold in the dry bulk market. The team is led by Branch Manager Roberth Velez and Operations Manager Jean Arevalo, and Peru Marine Services Manager Hector Cardenas says: “Inchcape’s move into Mollendo marks a pivotal step in strengthening our presence and capabilities within Peru’s maritime sector.”

Growth is not limited to ports. In the United States, Inchcape has been granted a licence by the Federal Maritime Commission to operate as a Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier, allowing it to offer full and less than container load services, issue its own house bills of lading and work directly with ocean carriers. “Becoming an FMC-licensed NVOCC is a major milestone for Inchcape Shipping Services and for the customers we serve,” says Irem Gokmen, Regional CEO Americas. “This license reflects our commitment to operating at the highest standards of compliance, transparency, and service.”

Gerard Bradley, Director Americas Liner, adds: “Our customers expect a partner they can rely on, especially when navigating the complexity of international ocean freight. Being FMC-licensed isn’t just a regulatory checkbox; it’s a signal of trust.”

SUSTAINABLE PROGRESS

Expansion sits alongside a strengthening commitment to responsible business. The company’s latest Responsibility and Beyond report organises its efforts around three pillars of People, Environment and Business Conduct, and CEO Philippe Maezelle is clear about the role Inchcape can play. “As a business positioned at the centre of the maritime value chain, we recognise both the responsibility and the opportunity we have to influence positive change. Through our global network, we are working to support safer operations, reduce environmental impact, and uphold the highest standards of integrity across every port and partnership.”

On people, the StaySafe 360° programme has driven measurable results. Inchcape recorded a Lost Time Incident Frequency of 0.03, a Total Recordable Incident Rate of 0.08 and zero fatalities in 2025, while driving and travel related incidents fell by 25% globally. “In People, we have continued to strengthen our safety culture through our StaySafe 360° programme, while investing in the development, well-being and engagement of our colleagues,” says Maezelle. “Our performance reflects a strong and increasingly proactive safety culture, underpinned by greater reporting, learning and accountability.”

On the environment, the company has built the foundations for credible action. “We have established a verified greenhouse gas emissions baseline aligned to recognised global standards, providing a clear and credible foundation for action. We have also set a defined pathway towards Net Zero by 2050 and are actively working with our customers, vendors and industry partners to support the transition to lower carbon operations,” says Maezelle.

Business conduct completes the picture. Inchcape holds a four-star rating in the Achilles supplier risk audit, is a member of the Maritime Anti-Corruption Network and ran 109 Compliance Week events with 2,463 participants in 2025. For Maezelle, the aim extends beyond the company’s own operations. “Importantly, our approach goes beyond managing our own impact. We are focused on enabling our customers and partners to progress their own ESG ambitions. Whether through safer operations, more transparent data, or more sustainable supply chain solutions, we are helping to raise standards across the industry,” he explains.

With a heritage dating back to 1847, a network that reaches most of the world’s ports and a growing list of new offices and services, Inchcape Shipping Services is both an enabler of global trade and a business determined to make it safer and more sustainable.