William Schaw Lindsay, a Master Mariner, established his shipbroking business in London.
James Galbraiths joined the business, which expanded into owning ships and managing famous lines including the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company, Albion Line and The British & Burmese Steam Navigation Company.
Galbraiths Pembroke & Co became part of the Matthews Wrightson Group having sold its last vessel in 1952.
The industry-leading Galbraiths’ Shipping Course was founded, establishing a mainstay of shipping education with a global alumni network.
A management buy-out saw the newly named Galbraiths refocus on chartering and S&P activities. Over the subsequent decades, it evolved into a market-leading tanker brokerage with a highly respected Sale & Purchase business, expanding globally across three continents and growing to over 100 employees.
The company was founded in Lausanne, Switzerland, by Ricardo Ravano, building on the family’s Genoese ship owning business legacy from the late 1940s.
Various partners joined Riccardo Ravano, remaining with him for decades, building IFCHOR into one of the market’s most competitive dry bulk shipbrokers.
Company adds Capesize services
Research & Advisory services launched and expanded globally, opening offices on four continents.
Further worldwide office expansion, introduction of Sustainability and Offshore Renewables services, and enhancement of Research & Advisory capabilities.
Shipbroker IFCHOR GALBRAITHS (IG) has launched Bauxite 360, a new research and advisory service providing detailed analysis of the global bauxite market, as rapidly growing trade volumes and increasing concentration around Guinea and China reshape a critical dry bulk trade.
IG has today (28 April) unveiled a new set of market intelligence services at Geneva Dry 2026, aimed at simplifying increasingly complex dry bulk and commodity markets.
Now in its sixth decade, the IG Shipping Course brings together participants from across shipping and adjacent sectors for two weeks of structured commercial training in the UK.
