GAC forms alliance with Norway’s oldest shipping agency

The GAC Group announced its alliance with Norway’s oldest shipping agency, Ole R Olsen AS (ORO), as part of the ongoing expansion of its global agency network.

The GAC-ORO alliance brings together GAC’s global connections and best practices with ORO’s 161 years of maritime experience in Norway and the country’s oil exploration industries in the North Sea. Established in Bergen, Norway in 1845, ORO is the oldest Norwegian shipping agency. Its headquarters are in Mongstad, home to the country’s biggest oil, gas and product terminal.

Thanks to the alliance, principals with vessels heading for Norwegian ports and those serving oil platforms in the North Sea will now be able to take advantage of ORO’s in-depth local knowledge, in tandem with the benefits of the GAC Group’s global connections.

Lars Peter Heisselberg, GAC’s Group Vice President, Shipping Services, believes the GAC-ORO collaboration will help improve vessel turnaround time and enhance cost savings for operators in Norway and beyond.

"We will achieve this by taking full advantage of the combination of ORO’s strong Norwegian and North Sea expertise and GAC’s global strength in ship agency and offshore support services. Together, we will provide a seamless service to meet the increasing demands of shipping principals," he adds.

Frank H. Todtesun, ORO’s President says his company is proud to be associated with GAC.

"We shall combine our strengths with those of the GAC Group to benefit not only ships calling at Norwegian ports, but also Norwegian vessels sailing to ports around the world," he says.

Over the years, ORO has continuously expanded its portfolio to further enhance its services to the shipping community. Its traditional core business was providing shipping services to North Sea liner vessels and coasters carrying dry cargo. Since 1988, it extended its offerings to include liquid cargoes as well as support at all Norwegian oil and gas terminals.