LOC Looks to a brighter Second Decade in China

LOC are setting key objectives for their second decade in China, while celebrating 10 years in multiple port cities across the country.

“We are looking ahead to a great many things in China,” says Jon Walker, Regional Director of LOC. “These include growing our China offices over the next five years.”

“Our commitment to hiring local talent, and our resource of international specialists, ideally positions us to understand and interpret the requirements of the local market for both domestic clients and overseas customers working in Chinese ports and waters.”

Donny Ng, country manager for LOC in China goes further, saying: “We intend to expand our disciplines of work and services portfolio to address the specific needs of the markets, particularly on the shipping side with Surveys Inspections and Audits (SIA) which includes Dynamic Positioning and hull and machinery consultancy.”

“All four of our current mainland China offices, in Shanghai, Tianjin, Qingdao and Shenzhen, are involved primarily on offshore energy work. This includes recent completion of warranty services for several platforms in the Bo Zhong 28/34 block development,” said Mr Ng. “China is a very important market for us, as it is for almost all of the global offshore and maritime industry, and we are seeing growing demand for our services. The Chinese markets are expanding exponentially, with domestic companies seeking the higher quality services we provide.”

“The Chinese government is taking the growth of the national maritime industry very seriously, as it is one of the main drivers of the economy,” he adds.

LOC China opened first in Tianjin in 2005, to service several offshore development projects in Bohai Bay. LOC then quickly established subsequent offices in Qingdao, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, and also maintains a substantial office in Hong Kong. The regional headquarters is located in Singapore.

Among other projects, LOC China has been instrumental in the resolution of several maritime casualties off the China coast, including a container ship that grounded at Fuzhou, and another that grounded off Lanshan port.

“We see the next 10 years as a time of further growth in China and also in other Asian centres of maritime activity,” confirms Jon Walker. “We are also currently looking at opportunities to establish offices in other Asian countries.”