The Marcura Group, a Dubai-based group of companies focused on providing business solutions to the maritime industry, has acquired UK-based companies G-Ports, which specialises in port, congestion and commodity tracking data, and Falmor, a SaaS-based cloud platform for laytime/demurrage management and collaboration. Simon Francis, the founder and CEO of the acquired companies, has assumed the role of group director for business development of Marcura’s digital chartering services.
Marcura said in a release it now plans to accelerate the expansion of its port cost indices to cover costs at terminal and berth-level. The acquisitions will also support Marcura’s strategic drive to provide its chartering customers with relevant software and data-driven solutions.
Christian Haunso, co-founder and group chair of Marcura, commented on the acquisition: “A key determinant for any acquisition is a convincing business and cultural fit. This is certainly the case with Simon Francis and his team. We have acquired two businesses that are all about solving real industry problems, always with the customer at the centre of the solutions. Simon has shown a deep understanding of chartering and operational shipping processes and has a proven track record of delivering sustainable solutions to the industry.”
G-Ports will continue delivering its services under its current management team, which is based out of the UK.
Francis, an occasional Splash contributor, has worked as a chartering manager at a number of shipping outfits in his 24-year shipping career as well as a brief stint at LevelSeas, the largest shipping dotcom at the turn of the century.
