Company background
Mutual Marine Services Al Mushtaraka Ltd., Iraq (Al Mushtaraka) was established in 2007 by Capt Nouri
Alwan, an exMaster Mariner and Mr. Mark Galloway, an Oxford lawyer and an expert in maritime
affairs and maritime law in Middle Eastern Countries. We are emerging as one of the leading shipping
agents and also have the advantage and trust as the P&I Club Correspondents of many
leading P&I Clubs
at all the Iraqi ports. Although Mushtaraka is part of a larger group of companies, our aim is to provide an independent, high
quality service based on local expertise and local knowledge. Iraq’s social and business culture has been
so strongly affected by the years of totalitarian state control, sanctions, and tribal, ethnic, and religious
animosities that most international companies find it frustrating to start business in Iraq. Corruption and
serious security problems have made business development doubly difficult. Few foreigners are brave
enough to come into Iraq to manage new business as is normally possible elsewhere. Other solutions have to be found through local means. The aim of Al Mushtaraka is to find those locally
based solutions and build the capabilities of local staff as quickly as is possible. Directors
Captain Nouri Alwan is Managing Director of al Mushtaraka Iraq and a native of Basrah. He gained his Master’s certificate with Iraqi Oil Tanker Co sailing on VLCCs and
product carriers. His previous career includes marine survey, cargo survey in Jordan with Kawar
shipping, and inspection & survey in Australia, UAE, and Iraq for Intertek Testing Services. He is a
member of the Australasian Institute of Marine Surveyors. He is fluent in English and Arabic. Capt Nouri
has very good contacts and enjoying cordial working relation with the Ministries, local bodies, and in
particular the maritime authority’s at all Iraqi ports. With his good rapport with the Port Management,
we can manage to resolve many serious and complicated issues without much ado and at a lesser cost. Previous shipping management experience with the Iraqi Oil tanker Company has also given Nouri
strong experience and excellent connections within Iraq’s oil sector. Mark Galloway is a partner and director of al Mushtaraka Iraq and has overall responsibility for policy
making and management of the organisation. Mark has worked in the field of P&I since leaving Oxford
University in 1978 and has considerable experience of Iraq, starting from the years prior to the IranIraq
war. Throughout the 1980s, Mark was a frequent visitor to Iraq and led the settlement negotiations with
the state insurer and state importing organisations for the thousands of claims left unresolved from
before September 1980. From 19942003, Mark was heavily involved in the monitoring of “Oil for Food”
shipments and dealt with many of the problems caused by cargo rejection and arguments in respect of
specification. Group companies and affiliates and related business:
Al Mushtaraka is part of an independent family group of companies which include:
OCSCL Saudi Arabia, long standing agents for COSCO and joint venture partner with COSCO in
COSBICO Saudi Arabia, operating at all Saudi Arabian Ports.
Somarain Oriental, Sudan agents of both COSCO and NYK, operating in Port Sudan and
Khartoum.
Orient Shipping, ship agents in Egypt
Sohar Shipping, ship agents in Oman
AlMushtaraka as P&I Club Correspondents are operating at all the ports of Saudi Arabia, Port
Sudan, and Massawa, as well as Iraq.
In addition to shipping agency business, the Group is active in marine survey and inspection. The
AMS/ABT group of companies operates in Iraq, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Sudan.
Marine Services Co. Ltd., another member of the Group, is active in tug and small craft
operation, supply and maintenance of navigation equipment, ship repair and maintenance etc. Management and key staff in Iraq
The shipping agency operations of al Mushtaraka in Iraq are managed by Engineer Wael Majeed as
Shipping and Operations Manager, whilst Capt. Taalib Alwan, the Basrah manager, is responsible for
taking care of P&I related business. Both have good experience in their related fields, excellent
connections throughout the Iraqi ports, with a strong background in shipping and cargo handling
services. Both began their shore careers in ship agency, and have worked variously in the Iraqi state
Maritime and Transport Services Corporations. Engineer Wael Majeed has a degree in marine
engineering from Basrah. Capt Taalib (exIraqi oil tanker) is a Master Mariner from Basrah Maritime
Academy. Prior to joining Al Mushtaraka, Engineer Wael had served in the Iraqi Navy. Thus he also has
excellent connections inside the ports with key personnel, including the Navy and coast guard
authorities, and at the oil terminal.
