Acrus Shipping looks beyond Sri Lanka by foraying into Singapore
View(s):With several major shipping companies promoting their full bouquet of services in a hotbed of competition in Colombo, Hambantota and Galle ports, Acrus Shipping (Pvt) Ltd has forayed outside Sri Lanka by establishing their first regional office (hub) in Singapore recently, after over five years of operations in the island.
This marks one of the first such instances, where a Sri Lankan shipping firm has ventured into shipping business in Singapore’s commercial port, Acrus Shipping Managing Director, Kanchana Silva told Business Times.
He has over 16 years experience in the field of shipping after serving in major shipping companies in Sri Lanka and in the Middle-East, Indian Subcontinent, Europe and Far –East.
With a limited domestic economy, it is crucial for companies to internationalise for access to broader global markets, resources and to scale up their businesses, he said adding that his company will venture into Dubai by August and establish representative offices in all key global commercial ports in the future.
With Singapore’s extensive trade links and unparalleled connectivity, companies in that country are well-positioned to capitalise on these growth drivers to expand their international footprint, he revealed.
Venturing abroad not only enables Acrus Shipping to overcome constraints of the domestic market but intense competition in the international arena sharpens the company’s competitive edge, he opined.
Within a month of opening the new Acrus Shipping office in Singapore flying Sri Lankan Lion flag, the company has been able to secure business with the keen support of Singaporean workers serving for Acrus, he added.
Acrus Shipping office in Singapore provides shipping services including Port Agency Services (Vessel berthing/sailing arrangements plus cargo discharging/loading assistants),Ship Supplies, Sea Marshal Transit Services, Ship Chandelling, Bunkering, Dry Docking Assistance, Cargo clearing assistants and other services , he disclosed.
The company handles over 300 clients from Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, UK, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Estonia, Ukraine, UAE, Bangladesh, Singapore, Oman and Russia; he said adding that they hope to double this clientele through their Singapore office.
Mr. Silva noted that expanding beyond one’s home country can be a daunting venture, especially for smaller companies with limited resources and lack of market knowledge or business partners.
But nothing will prevent willing shipping companies from doing business both here and overseas and earn much needed foreign exchange for Sri Lanka extending their skilled services in a disciplined manner, he pointed out. Acrus Shipping was also awarded ISO Certification 90012015 by DNV’GL OF Sweden.
This company is also handling shipping services in Galle Port, at Sri Lanka’s southernmost tip which is the natural spot for ships plying the busy East-West route to replenish ship’s supplies, stores and bunkers.
It also handles ship arrival and clearance, loading, unloading and fee payment in the ports of Sri Lanka especially at the Galle Port and Sea Marshall business as well as providing accommodation to Sea Fares in three Villas in Galle, he revealed.
However he noted that “he always makes it a point to boost the image of Sri Lanka” by deploying disciplined and properly dressed staff at ports as the first impression counts a lot for foreign visitors to local ports. (BS)