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GAC has signed a global hub contract with specialist transporter of liquefied natural gas, Angola LNG Supply Service (ALSS), to provide ship agency and bunker trading services to its vessels. The agreement was signed by ALSS's General Manager William E. Haune, Jr. and GAC's Group President, Captain Lars Säfverström.

Using a fleet of seven LNG carrier vessels, each with a capacity of 160,000 cubic metres, ALSS will transport LNG from the Angola LNG Project liquefaction plant in the north of the country to receiving terminals worldwide beginning in the 1st quarter of 2012. ALSS is owned by affiliated companies of Sonangol, Chevron, BP, Total and ENI.

Under the new contract, GAC Global Hub Services (GHS) will serve as the provider of a variety of worldwide ship agency services for ALSS's chartered vessels. GAC Bunker Fuels will also act as a bunker trader for their fleet providing price updates, market intelligence and supply quotations.

Kumar Ganesan, GHS General Manager, said: "This agreement strengthens and solidifies GAC's position as the market leader and as the preferred agent. It also reaffirms customer's confidence in our expertise in the global LNG sector."

He added: "The local expertise and global experience of GAC's agents will ensure the best front-line handling of all operational matters, complemented by the resources of GAC Global Hub Services and GAC Bunker Fuels, under a single umbrella to provide a reliable service to our Principal."