China-based freight forwarder Global Star Logistics (GSL) has bolstered its business in the maritime sector by expanding both its husbandry and agency services.
GSL is now once again offering comprehensive ship husbandry and support services tailored for vessel owners following increased demand for sophisticated planning when working on projects, especially with its chartering activities.
Leo Ge, managing director, explained: “We noted that vessel owners are looking for capable port agents, beyond the standard daily representation/document transfer etc. We intend to bring our value-added services – looking after cargo, vessel and crew – to these owners, particularly tramp operators.” This strategic advancement, he said, leverages the company’s proven expertise in vessel chartering and project management.
In addition, the company has expanded its project cargo capabilities to include the transportation of both International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG) chemicals and non-IMDG items. This includes the handling of lithium battery-powered vehicles and lithium battery energy storage systems (BESS).
Speaking of the company’s project cargo activities, Ge painted a positive picture, despite the difficulties in the post-covid period, the ongoing war in Ukraine and the introduction of US tariffs, including the US Trade Representative (USTR) fees for vessels operated by Chinese ship operators or those built in China that dock at US ports.
He noted that the project cargo sector is closely tied to global trends and foresees a shift from broad globalisation toward more regional or geographically concentrated trade. Even so, he remains optimistic about the market’s resilience, highlighting GSL’s ability to provide a full range of services for projects, utilising breakbulk, multipurpose, ro-ro and container vessels, as well as airfreight solutions.
