Lloyd’s Register opens new office in Veracruz

Key location at the Port of Veracruz to form base for planned expansion throughout Mexico

Lloyd’s Register Central and South America Ltd recently celebrated the grand opening of its new Veracruz office with more than 100 clients, employees and local government officials in attendance. After 16 years in its original Veracruz location, Lloyd’s Register’s move to a new, larger facility underscores the significance of Mexico in its overall business strategy for the Americas and the importance of Veracruz for establishing a base for planned expansion into other industries throughout Mexico.

Situated on the east coast of Mexico, Veracruz is is the oldest port in the country and the main port entrance along the Gulf of Mexico coast, serving the world’s bulk carrier and container ship trade. As clients including Mexico’s state-oil company, Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex), TMM, MMM, Camsa, Oceanografia and many others steadily increase their own global markets, Lloyd’s Register’s services have kept pace in the maritime industry and now encompass the oil-and-gas, chemical-and-power and transportation industries. Management systems services for multiple business sectors are delivered through the Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance (LRQA) office in nearby Monterrey.

Lloyd’s Register began serving the Mexico maritime community in 1969 with one surveyor based in Mexico City. There are currently 16 employees in the new Veracruz office – a modern, flexible space that can easily expand with the needs of the business. An adjacent training facility will be used to offer Lloyd’s Register’s award-winning marine training courses to clients on a regular basis, with all materials to be delivered in Spanish.

Guests at the grand opening event included Jon Rementeria Sempe, Mayor of Veracruz; Dr. Carlos Garcia Mendez, Secretary of Developing Economy, and Vice Admiral C.G. D.E.M. Sergio Javier Lara Montellano, Commander-in-Chief of the 3rd Naval Zone of the Mexican Navy, which comprises the entire coast of the state of Veracruz. Lloyd’s Register was recognized by the officials as an example of global organizations that believe Mexico represents a great opportunity for their businesses, becoming a strategic ally for continued development in the country. In a subsequent meeting, Veracruz Governor Fidel Herrera said he was pleased that Lloyd’s Register, as one of the principal organizations of business safety around the world, decided to open an office in the Veracruz-Boca del Rio zone – indicating its recognition of the strong and dynamic growth of the Veracruz economy.

Addressing the audience during the grand opening ceremony, Tim Protheroe, Senior Vice President Marine Business, Lloyd’s Register Americas, Inc., said: “Lloyd’s Register decided to locate its main office for Mexico in the port of Veracruz years ago, because it is historically the most important port in the country, continuing to play a critical role in the development of the current and future Mexico. By modernizing and expanding our facilities here we will be better able to serve the global market needs of our clients who operate in Mexico and further our commitment to the progress and security of the communities Lloyd’s Register has served for more than 248 years.”