7th December 2017
LOC takes next step for MWS services across North Africa
Client news
The UK’s Ambassador to Egypt H.E. John Casson has welcomed LOC Group, the independent marine, engineering consultancy and survey organization, at the opening of their new office in Cairo, Egypt to increase the company’s presence across North Africa and the Middle East.
LOC has worked on projects in the region for more than 15 years, mainly offshore in the gas fields of the West Delta Deep Concession, however, an increasingly optimistic economic outlook in the region is driving greater demand for LOC’s services.
The new Cairo office will be staffed by local engineers and surveyors. All of LOC’s services will meet the company’s global quality service standards and every project will be locally delivered, with group-wide support offering additional expertise, experience and skills 24/7 whenever needed.
Ultimately, the Cairo office will act as a bridge into the North Africa markets giving access to countries to the west and ultimately to be LOC’s regional hub for North Africa. Longer term, LOC plans to develop the Cairo office into a larger multi-function office providing marine warranty surveying, marine surveying, marine casualty response and engineering consultancy.
Andrew Squire, Group Chief Executive says:
“This is an exciting region to work in, we have long standing relationships with many clients from our work over the last decade, but the volume of the work and demand for our different services is increasing. It now makes good sense to have a solid base in Cairo, employing local talent supported by our international specialist teams. We look forward to developing our client relationships and building new ones, while supporting positive economic growth in the region”.
Peter Baggaley, LOC's Group Energy Director covering Europe and Africa, officially opened the office on Wednesday 6 December saying:
"Egypt, for us offers and exciting growth opportunity, not least because a third of the world’s shipping fleet passes through the Suez Canal. The country is attracting significant investment internally and from abroad. As a result, there are some significant oil & gas projects underway and in the pipeline, with further opportunities on the West Delta Deep Concession, Atoll and Zohr gas fields in the Mediterranean.
“We know these sites well and have many years of experience working in the region. Our new office will allow us to offer a much more enhanced range of services to both existing and new customers”.
UK’s Ambassador to Egypt H.E. John Casson said:
“I am happy to welcome LOC as the latest British company entering the Egyptian market which aims to create jobs for bright Egyptians and ultimately make Egypt’s office its hub to the North Africa region. I am also proud of the outpouring British interest to invest in Egypt as we continue to unveil investment after another. This interest clearly reflects that our support to economic reforms is coupled with a commitment to remain this great country’s number one partner as it builds a resilient economy that serves Egyptian men and women.”
LOC was established in 1979, and consists of more than 400 highly skilled professionals, based in 34 offices worldwide. LOC works with insurers, certification and classification societies, adopting a pragmatic approach and working to manage risk with the best resources available.
ENDS
Notes to editors
About LOC
LOC is a leading international marine and engineering consultancy and survey company that was founded in London in 1979. Headquartered in London, the company operates over 30 offices in 15 countries across Europe, Africa, Americas, Middle East, Asia and Australia; and employs around 400 staff.
Its core business is split into shipping and energy divisions. Shipping includes marine casualty work, accident investigation, claims, disputes & litigation and surveys. Energy work includes marine warranty surveys, loss prevention, inspections, audits as well as marine and transportation consultancy.
LOC has delivered specialised, multidisciplinary marine and engineering consultancy and survey services to many of the world’s shipping and offshore energy companies and has handled numerous high-profile marine casualties in all parts of the world.