A global provider of port agency, marine services, and digital solutions, Inchcape Shipping Solutions takes care of all its clients’ international needs so they can concentrate on staying ahead of the competition. We revisit the company with David Pratt, Regional CEO – Asia Pacific.
A LEGACY OF INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP
With a mission to use technology and a vast global network to help partners connect to a smoother, smarter ocean, Inchcape Shipping Services (Inchcape) boasts nearly two centuries of experience to support its clients’ operations, wherever they may occur.
Having been in business since 1847, the company recognises that international trade has always been dependent on port services and prides itself on providing the local knowledge and means to deliver port calls that enable businesses to ship smoothly and trade successfully.
“With 260 offices in over 60 countries and an extended network of partner agents, Inchcape covers approximately 85 percent of the world’s commercial ports,” introduces David Pratt, Regional CEO – Asia Pacific.
Though port agency is Inchcape’s primary offering, it is truly a marine services provider, delivering services for marine supply chain and logistics, survey and inspections, a full range of liner agency products, information solutions, and global hub solutions such as its OneCape HUB and OneCape DA products.
The latter are designed to provide outsourced solutions to customers in terms of port call management and managing, auditing, and optimising disbursement accounts – a key part of a port call.
“It’s about port cost control and management on behalf of our principals, enabling us to continue our role as a reliable partner on both the operational and financial side and ensuring customers know they are always working with a trusted, global partner,” Pratt details.
Port agency plays a very unique role within the industry, one that Inchcape excels at. Although it may not be the most well-known part of the shipping process, port agency requires a team to coordinate safe, efficient, and cost-effective solutions for both vessel and crew calling at a port.
Port agency can encompass anything from berth and operational planning for cargo operations to providing local support to crew and vessel, such as water supply or medical support. It’s a critical part of the shipping process and Inchcape provides a global solution, acting as a partner to vessel operators, charterers, ship managers, and shippers and receivers.
Since last featuring the company in 2022, the industry has notably evolved alongside the global economy.
One of the areas where Inchcape sees a strong growth opportunity is providing tailored solutions to each customer.
“There is huge opportunity out there in the supply chain market at the moment, but it requires having a deep understanding of customers’ requirements and building solutions that hit the mark and add value to their business,” Pratt confirms.
“There is huge opportunity in the supply chain market at the moment, but it requires having a deep understanding of customers’ requirements and building solutions that hit the mark and add value to their business”
David Pratt, Regional CEO – Asia Pacific, Inchcape Shipping Services
LEVERAGING A GLOBAL NETWORK
Inchcape differentiates itself from the global competition in a variety of ways. Most notably, it leverages the power of its global network to the benefit of its customers to improve operations, reduce costs, and make better data-driven decisions in every port.
“Our people, global connections, and product range are key factors for us,” Pratt specifies.
“It’s about understanding what our customers are looking for and how we can work to deliver value as part of that process.”
The company also recognises that trust is crucial for a long-term client relationship, and it works to ensure a mutual partnership to not only achieve the best results but also truly make a difference.
“We can see that Inchcape has been growing strongly for the last few years, and it’s because we’ve been able to deliver value-adding outcomes whilst investing in new technology that assists with providing perspective and transparency what is happening in global trade lanes and at local port level,” he expands.
Equally, the company provides strong governance and focuses on health, safety, security, and environment (HSSE) within the industry, always working to drive operational efficiency and ensure it’s functioning in the safest, most cost-effective manner.
Inchcape prides itself on helping clients concentrate on their core businesses by providing real-time port data and information generated by its global network.
The company’s various networks allow it to source information at a local level whilst also providing global market intelligence to customers. This ability to offer insights and impacts on the logistics chain is crucial for many customers.
“Information is becoming a strong part of our service delivery. Cargo moves from origin to destination, so the ability to have our own local port network and business partners in over 85 percent of global ports gives us a key ability to provide global information across the entire cargo movement rather than in a single location,” further informs Pratt.
INNOVATION DRIVING EFFICIENCY
Inchcape has achieved enviable logistics growth over the past few years, with the company having recently expanded to 260 offices and opened new warehouses in Singapore.
“We looked at our ability to service the current logistics demands of our clients and recognised there are further opportunities in places like Singapore where customers are looking for additional support from their marine services provider,” Pratt explains.
The company opened its first warehouse 18 months ago, and within just six months, it was full. Inchcape is now taking that growth capability and moving to a new facility later this year, quadrupling the size of the space available within the country.
However, Singapore is not the only location where Inchcape has expanded. It acquired and opened new offices in Norway, South Korea, Spain, the UK, Denmark, and the Philippines to name a few, with the company also looking to open in Brunei and other key locations in 2025.
“Customers come to us looking for an international agency that can represent and protect their interests within these locations, so we are expanding to meet these needs,” he informs.
Equally as important to continuing this growth is Inchcape’s ability to consistently provide reliable supply chain logistics.
Being a key component of each customer’s business in one form or another, the company delivers an effortless way to manage both the procurement and logistics process.
“Procurement can be an outsourced solution for a lot of our customers, helping them streamline their logistics channel, providing anything from provisions to spare parts,” insights Pratt.
“We give them full access to a global network and reliable and carefully selected suppliers, streamlining communication through one centralised point and ensuring 24/7 worldwide access that’s fully supported with a strong governance and compliance mechanism.”
As a marine services provider, the company also enables its customers to optimise their supply chain from a pricing perspective, ensuring they receive the best service possible and tailoring each solution to individual requirements.
“Each customer is different and has unique needs. Our solution gives them that operational resilience whenever they need it,” asserts Pratt.
DEDICATED TO A CONNECTED FUTURE
With a long and storied history, Inchcape readily recognises that one of the primary components of its long-term success is its workforce.
“People are our most valuable asset. We’re a service industry, so we need to be focused on supporting and enabling our staff,” Pratt affirms.
“People are the cornerstone of what we do on a day-to-day basis, and we have to be cognisant of how we can leverage their strength, knowledge, and relationships within the industry and provide them with room to grow and become entrepreneurial.”
In parallel, Inchcape prioritises corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives and works to assist its clients in lowering their emissions and carbon footprint.
As these customers move vessels around the world, Inchcape helps them manage their Scope 3 emissions in port through various methods.
“Our inventory management tool, which allows customers to manage and monitor their emissions, helps minimise both their costs and environmental impact,” he details.
Additionally, the company provides other eco-friendly offerings to its customers, including underwater cleaning, inspection for biofouling, and even sustainable boiler suits, further proving its ability to deliver innovative solutions.
As Inchcape looks towards the future of the global supply chain logistics industry, it is planning to continue expanding its geographical footprint.
With the market constantly adapting and shifting in line with trade patterns and the global economy, the company is identifying growth opportunities and how it can further connect its customers to ports around the world in a seamless manner.
“We utilise our network to connect customers to our overall global capabilities. We are able to adapt to whatever market changes occur and provide customers with a solution wherever they may need it,” Pratt concludes.
