History

Steering Through Change: The Bahhar Story

The Beginning

Late Mr. Albert Morcos started as a shipping agent in Beirut in 1945, representing a couple of lines at a time when no deep sea port existed in Syria.
In 1955, Latakia started to operate as a deep sea port, and he started the first shipping agency in Syria. It represented major international lines, such as: CGM, Svenska Orient Lines (SOL), Finland Steamship Co, Finncarrier, Polish Ocean Lines, and Niver Lines. Mr. Albert's son, Habib A. Morcos took over in 1975 and continued the legacy of this father. This continued until 1981, when the state-owned organization Shipco took over private shipping agencies.

Working Procedure With Shipco

Since the takeover by Shipco, Bahhar's main role was to act as a backup agent to the same lines previously represented. This was of prime importance from the very start mainly because the takeover came abruptly and as a total surprise to all concerned, including owners, operators, shippers, and receivers. Besides, the takeover was assigned in a most disorganized manner to a newly formed organization with no experience in shipping, staffed in a hurry with employees not well-versed in shipping matters. Services to owners and clientele had since deteriorated, especially after the takeover of the P and I clubs services by the same organization. As a result of this unpleasant state of affairs and the frequency of shortcomings, misjudgments, and mishandling of routine agency matters, Bahhar became more involved in backup services and kept its offices fully operational and well-staffed.

Current Management

During the last years of the company under the managenet of Mr. Habib Morcos, Bahhar changed to become an LLC with partners from the 3rd generation which is represented by Mr. Habib’s nephew Mr. Fadi Morcos, currently the Managing Director, and two other nephews and two sons in law.
Mr. Hazem Danial (Mr. Habib’s son-in-law) is the general manager of the Tartous branch; he is also the Honorary Consul of Greece.