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About SSY - Our History

In 1880 two shipbrokers, Ernest Louis Simpson, an Englishman, and Lewis H. Spence, an American, founded the firm of Simpson and Spence and set up an office in New York. In 1882 Captain William Young was invited to join the Partnership and open an office in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England. From then on the firm was known as Simpson Spence & Young.

In the years following, offices were opened in London and other UK cities in order to service local principals. New York and London became the focal points of worldwide shipping for several decades, and in these two centres Simpson Spence & Young built up specialist teams of brokers and back-up staff, which were later to form the successful springboard for future development and expansion.

In the middle 1960's, the Partnership made the decision to expand internationally, and in 1966 an office was opened in Australia. Over the following 25 years Simpson Spence & Young, encouraged by the success of this venture, opened further offices in Vancouver (1973), Hong Kong (1975), Bogota (1986), Singapore (1991), Shanghai (1997), Jakarta (2001), Naples (2001), Oslo (2003), Zug (2003), a joint venture in Hamburg (2004), Beijing (2005), Mumbai (2007), Monaco (2008) and Athens (2010).

Today, with all the offices linked by an excellent communication network, the flow of information and market intelligence circulating throughout the organisation enables all offices to give their clients a comprehensive worldwide service, unique amongst shipbroking companies. This service covers Dry Cargo Chartering, Power Projects, Freight Futures, Tanker Chartering, Gas Chartering, Chemical Chartering, New-Building Contracting, Sale and Purchase of second-hand tonnage, Demolition and Container Projects.

All offices and associates are backed by SSY Consultancy & Research Limited in London who offer information, statistics, market studies and consultancy on all shipping matters. The Agency Department in London has a wealth of information on the ports of North America, in which subject it specialises.

Simpson Spence & Young has remained an independent private Partnership since 1880, and today we are one of the largest international shipbroking organisations.