SEOUL — Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS) is strengthening its commitment to South Korea as it expands its role in supporting NATO naval operations worldwide, with Vice President of Global Government Services Nicolas Wauters describing Korea as a strategically important maritime nation and a key part of the company’s long-term growth strategy.
The interview follows Inchcape’s recent award of the Global Husbandry Agency Contract by the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), covering six Areas of Operation stretching from Greenland and the Atlantic coast of Africa through the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean to South Korea and Australia.
Speaking with Korea Business News ahead of his visit to Seoul on 14–15 July, Wauters said the primary purpose of the trip is to engage closely with Inchcape’s teams and key stakeholders in Korea while reaffirming the company’s long-term commitment to the market.
Below is Korea Business News’ interview with Mr. Wauters.
1. What is the main purpose of your visit to Seoul, and what are your expectations for the visit?
The main purpose of my visit is to engage closely with our teams and key stakeholders in Korea and to reaffirm Inchcape’s long-term commitment to this important market. Korea is a sophisticated and strategically important maritime nation, and after nearly 20 years of operating here, with established offices in Seoul, Busan and Geoje, this visit provides an opportunity to deepen our understanding of local priorities and strengthen the relationships that support our business.
A key focus is also strengthening collaboration with leading Korean shipyards and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) providers, further reinforcing our position as a trusted partner across the maritime and defence sectors. These discussions help ensure that our global strategy remains aligned with the opportunities and requirements of the Korean market.
2. What message would you like to share with the Korean maritime and defence community during your visit?
My message is one of commitment and partnership.
Korea is one of the world’s leading maritime nations and a strategically important hub for shipbuilding, offshore operations and international trade. Inchcape has been present in Korea for two decades, and we remain committed to investing in our people, capabilities and relationships here.
As a global maritime services provider trusted by governments, allied forces and international organisations around the world, including NATO, we understand that successful government and naval operations depend on trusted partners who can deliver safely, consistently and discreetly wherever vessels operate.
3. The contract covers six Areas of Operation across a vast global footprint. What are the main challenges of supporting naval vessels across such diverse regions?
The primary challenge is delivering a consistently high standard of service regardless of where a vessel operates or the complexity of the environment.
Naval deployments often require rapid response, flexibility and close coordination among multiple stakeholders. Every region presents its own regulatory requirements, security procedures and logistical considerations. In remote locations, additional challenges can arise around supply chains, specialist services, technical support and infrastructure.
Successfully overcoming these challenges requires two things: strong local knowledge and a globally connected network that can mobilise resources quickly and effectively.
This is where Inchcape’s experience and scale make a difference. With nearly 180 years of maritime expertise and coverage across more than 85% of the world’s ports, we combine local execution with consistent global standards, governance and operational oversight. Our clients benefit from the confidence that wherever their vessels operate, they can expect the same level of reliability, professionalism and support.
4. Inchcape provides services to both surface ships and submarines. What are the key differences or special requirements when supporting these different classes of naval vessels?
Different classes of vessels naturally require different approaches, and understanding those requirements is an important part of being a trusted maritime partner.
Surface vessels typically involve broader and more conventional port call services, while more sensitive operations demand a more discreet, tightly controlled approach and enhanced coordination. However, the key point is that our focus remains the same regardless of vessel type.
We adapt our processes, people and planning to ensure that every vessel receives the appropriate levels of safety, confidentiality and operational efficiency. Professionalism, reliability and discretion are fundamental principles in all government and defence-related operations.
We are also deliberately careful about discussing operational details publicly. That discretion is an important part of the trust placed in us by our clients. Ultimately, modern navies expect tailored support that reflects their unique requirements, and our role is to deliver that support consistently, securely and reliably.
5. What distinguishes Inchcape from other marine service providers when operating in remote or strategically sensitive regions?
What distinguishes Inchcape is our ability to combine global scale with deep local expertise.
We operate through a worldwide network of over 250 offices in more than 60 countries, but service delivery remains highly local and relationship-driven. That local knowledge is especially important in remote, challenging or strategically sensitive environments where conditions can be complex and requirements can change quickly.
We also bring extensive experience supporting government, naval and other complex maritime operations across the globe. That experience is underpinned by strong governance, compliance and security standards that government clients expect from a trusted partner.
Equally important is accountability. We provide clients with a single, trusted partner capable of supporting operations across multiple services and locations, backed by local teams and supported by the resources of a global organisation.
In many ways, we are at our strongest when operations are complex, time-critical or taking place in difficult environments. That is where the combination of global reach, local delivery and professional discretion creates real value for our clients.
6. Looking ahead, what are Inchcape’s priorities for expanding its government and defence-related maritime services?
Our priorities are centred on strengthening long-term relationships, investing in capability and delivering consistent value to government and defence clients worldwide.
First, we will continue to build trusted partnerships with government and defence stakeholders. This is a relationship-driven sector where trust is earned over time through consistent delivery and long-term commitment.
Second, we will continue investing in our people, operational capabilities and local expertise in key maritime regions so that we can support increasingly complex maritime, logistics and offshore requirements.
We will also continue leveraging our global network to provide greater consistency and service quality for government clients operating internationally. By building on our recognised credentials and proven delivery experience, we aim to further support allied government and naval operations around the world.
Asia Pacific is central to that ambition, and Korea, where we are proud to mark 20 years of operations this year, remains a key part of our long-term strategy. Above all, we intend to grow in a measured and responsible way, focusing on trust, operational excellence and lasting value for our clients and partners.
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