The offshore chartering sector has a new shipbroking company in the shape of Alexander Upcraft’s Aurum Shipbroking.

The Paris-based shop has been founded by the former Socomet Sales executive to focus on West African business, with a bit of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean action thrown in as well.

London-born Upcraft, who describes himself as from shipbroking stock, is the sole employee for the moment, after learning his craft over nearly 12 years at the Parisian offshore brokerage, where he became an offshore chartering partner.