History

The company was founded in 1977 in Lausanne (Switzerland) by Riccardo Ravano, following the legacy of a family Ship Owning business started in the late 1940's in Genoa (Italy).

In the 1980's various partners have joined Mr. Ravano and have remained with him for decades, helping him to build IFCHOR as one of the most competitive Dry bulk Shipbrokers in the market.

The 1990's and the turn of the millennium saw the company expanding to around 40 brokers and diversifying into FFA's and Capesize brokerage.

Towards the end of the 2000's a group of talented and dynamic executives have helped Mr. Ravano and his historical partners to transition the solid and reputable family business into a global shipbroking firm competing in various segments of the dry bulk market.

The 2010's saw a fast and global growth enabling the company to greatly enhance its geographical coverage, with the opening of offices in Singapore, Athens, New York and Melbourne amongst other locations, as well as the emergence of Research & Advisory services.

The 2020's saw the opening of some additional offices complementing the global footprint, the emergence and flourishing of important services such as Sustainability and Offshore Renewables, as well as a strong enhancement of Research & Advisory, adding value to IFCHOR offering.

The company counted pre-merger around 200 people in its workforce and concluded more than 3500 yearly transactions in the last few years, across a variety of market segments such as dry bulk, tankers and S&P.

The history of Galbraiths can be traced back to 1845 when the Scot William Schaw Lindsay, a master mariner, established his shipbroking business in London.

He was joined by James Galbraiths in 1869 and during the late nineteenth century the company expanded into owning ships, overseeing famous lines and companies including the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company, Albion Line and the British & Burmese Steam Navigation Company.

The company’s last vessel was sold in 1952. In 1968 Galbraith Pembroke & Co, as it was then known, became part of Matthews Wrightson Group.

In 1970 the industry-leading Galbraiths’ Shipping Course was founded. Its over 50-year history and large global alumni network has seen the course established as a mainstay of shipping education.

1987 saw a management buy-out and the newly named Galbraiths would focus solely on chartering, and S&P activities.

Subsequent decades saw the company evolve to become the market leading tanker brokerage with a highly respected Sale & Purchase business. Global offices were added in India, Singapore, Korea, China, Norway, Greece and the USA, with the 100+ employees being part of the expansion of this private and familial team.