Milestones
1940s
1949
Mr Frank Tsao bought his first ship and co-founded Great Southern Steamship Co. Ltd
1960s
1966
Great Southern Steamship Co. Ltd was dissolved and Mr Frank Tsao founded International Maritime Carriers Ltd (IMC), to own and operate general cargo vessels.
1960s
1968
Mr Frank Tsao participated in the establishment of Malaysia International Shipping Corporation (MISC), Malaysia’s national shipping line.
1970s
Early 1970s
IMC formed an early Asian commercial shipping pool with MISC and Brostroms called Transglobal Bulkers.
1970s
1972
IMC Holdings Ltd was public listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong.
1970s
1973
Malaysia’s first shipyard, Malaysia Shipyard & Engineering was established.
1970s
1974
IMC purchased the Maritime Building in Japan.
1970s
1978
Mr Frank Tsao invested in United Thai Shipping Corp Ltd (UTSC), Thailand’s national shipping line.
1980s
Mid 1980s
IMC converted a bulk carrier into a cement storage/unloading facility which was moored in Port Kelang and became the first logistics solution provider in Kedah, Malaysia.
1980s
1981
Commencement of operation of Far East Cement Terminal providing full facilities for the import and distribution of bulk cement in Hong Kong.
1980s
1985
Lifelines Produce Co. Ltd. was set up in Thailand for experimental and commercial farming of high value fruits and vegetables for local and export markets.
1980s
1986
The Group participated in the development of Suntec City, a major convention & exhibition centre, office and shopping mall complex in Singapore.
1980s
1987
The Group took over, re-structured and turned around United Thai Shipping Corp. Ltd., Thailand’s national shipping line.
1980s
1989
IMC Holdings Ltd. succeeds International Maritime Carriers (Holdings) Ltd. as holding company for the Group. IMC Holdings Ltd. establishes a secondary listing on the Stock Exchange of Singapore.
1990s
1990s
Unithai Shipyard & Engineering was established as Thailand’s largest shipyard.
1990s
1991
The Group moved its corporate headquarters and dry bulk shipping operations from Hong Kong to Singapore.
The Group, a pioneer in Asia of the concept of commercial shipping pools, established three such pools in the dry bulk sector operating from Singapore: IMC Transworld (for panamaxes), Transocean Grabbulk Pool (for handymaxes) and IMC Transasia (for handysizes).
1990s
1993
TSAO Foundation is established as a non-profit organisation dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for older people.
Construction of Menara IMC, the Group’s office building in Kuala Lumpur, was completed.
1990s
1994
Aurora Tankers was established as commercial shipping pool in the liquid bulk sector.
Unithai Line Public Co. Ltd. was publicly listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand.
1990s
1995
Mr Chavalit Frederick Tsao, son of the founder, became Group Chairman. Strategic business units are re-grouped under the banner IMC Pan Asia Alliance Group.
East West Cultural Development Centre was established to address social and cultural imbalances in a rapidly changing and increasingly integrated world.
1990s
1996
Joint-venture between Great Asia, the Group’s investment company in China, and COSCO Logistics Qingdao establishes Qingdao Ocean & Great Asia Transportation Co., Ltd., a freight forwarding company.
1990s
1997
Unithai Container Terminal commenced operations.
IMC purchased the MK Building in Japan.
2000s
2000
IMC set up non-profit platform, Corporate Community Games, to bring working people together through sports, arts and various social gatherings.
2000s
2002
IMC Holdings Ltd. is privatised by the Tsao Family.
Construction of IMC Building Shinbanshi in Japan was completed.
2000s
2003
Joint-venture with Unocal Thailand (now Chevron) established to form CUEL, an engineering and fabrication services provider to the Asian oil & gas industry.
2000s
2004
Joint-venture established with Modec, a leading producer Floating Production Storage Offloading (FPSO) facility, to build the Group’s first FPSO.
Joint-venture with China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO) to form NORIMC. Approval granted to NORIMC by the Chinese Government to participate in domestic chemical shipping business in China.
First in-house designed floating loading facility (FLF) becomes operational in the coal trade out of Kalimantan, Indonesia marking company’s drive to service the entire bulk commodity supply chain.
Nanjing Golden Asia Aluminum Foil Packaging Co. Ltd. and Apong (Nanjing) Packing & Printing Co. Ltd. set up to serve the food industry
2000s
2005
Zhoushan IMC –Yongyue Shipyard & Engineering was established as one of the largest ship-repair yards in China.
2000s
2006
Oriental Bulk Shipping was established as pure operator in the dry bulk shipping sector based in Singapore.
First sets of tugs-and-barges come on-stream extending the Group’s range in providing bulk commodity supply chain solutions.
IMC Shipping Services established to provide ship management, crewing, shipyard services and newbuilding & ship conversion supervisory.
Major mining and natural resource investment positions taken in Australia including Ashton Coal Project (coal mine), View Resources (nickel and gold mines), Horizon Oil (oil & gas production) and LinQ Resources Fund.
Joint-venture with the Chengdu Municipal Government to form Chengdu IMC Tourism Development Co., Ltd. to undertake urban planning, tourism resources integration and cultural development related to lifestyle real estate development in Chengdu, China.
Commencement of construction for Qingdao IMC Centre which was expected to be the tallest office building in Qingdao, China.
2000s
2007
IMC Marine Capital was established as the Group’s marine & offshore sector trading and investment arm.
Joint-venture with Administration of Dalian Free Trade Zone to form Dalian Apong Zheng Tong Real Estate Development Co., Ltd. to undertake comprehensive development of the Central Business District of the Dalian Free Trade Zone.
Commencement of construction for the high-end condominium project next to KLCC which comprises twin 48-storey towers. When completed, it will be one of the most exclusive condominiums in KLCC Precinct.
IMC Corp Limited is established as an Asia-focused company providing integrated industrial solution.
Dalian Changxing Island Port, a joint project between IMC and Dalian Port Authority Corporation and Dalian Changxing Island Development Construction & Investment Co. Ltd, officially opened, marking a major milestone for Dalian Changxing Island’s development plans.
2000s
2008
IMC acquired Marine Engineering Services Pte Ltd (MESPL), an offshore marine engineering company based in Singapore, to add engineering design capabilities to its offshore engineering portfolio.
IMC Shipping Limited forms JV with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) to acquire, own and operate Very Large Ore Carriers (VLOCs).
IMC formed JV, Lianyungang Xinsugang Dry Bulk Port Co. Ltd, to develop port transportation and logistics services in the Lianyungang area, Jiangsu Province.
2010s
2010
IMC formed 2 JVs with Chinese partners to develop XSG-IMC Port and industrial logistics services at Lianyungang in Jiangsu, China.
2010s
2011
IMC formed JV with Zhuhai Port Group and Guandong partners to develop port and industrial logistics services at Zhuhai in Guangdong, China.
2010s
2012
IMC-MSI Shipping Services Alliance secured contract to manage Vale MV Ore Fabrica, world’s largest iron ore trans-shipper.
2010s
2013
IMC signed JVA with Qingdao Port Group, China Merchants Group, COSCO Pacific to develop Qingdao Dongjiakou port in Shandong, China.
Formed Qingdao Port Dongjiakou IMC Logistics, a JV with Qingdao Port Group in Qingdao Dongjiakou, Shandong, China.
Formed Heritas Capital Investment Pte Ltd, an investment firm based in Singapore which manages assets through investment mandates covering public securities and private equity, across a global geographical span.
2010s
2014
IMC Group in strategic partnership with Q&M Dental Group Ltd, a leading private dental healthcare group in Asia, by way of signing a call option with Heritas Helios Investments Pte Ltd.
IMC-MSI extended its footprint in Shanghai with the newly established ship management company, focusing on managing China-flagged and foreign tanker vessels.
Unithai Shipyard signed a contract with Wartsila Power Plant to undertake pipe fabrication, mechanical and electrical installation and pre-commissioning for an extension to the Glow SPP 11 Power Plant in Rayong province.
Signed 64K Multi-Purpose (MPP) vessels contract with Oshima Shipbuilding and Sumitomo Corporation.
IMC fortifies its global presence with the establishment of Unithai Chin Corp (Myanmar) Ltd., a joint-venture company between Unithai and Chin Corp of Myanmar.
Family Institute (AFI) officially opened Friday, September 26, 2014 in Octave Living Room in Shanghai.
2010s
2015
CUEL successfully delivered 150th wellhead platform to Chevron Thailand in July 2014 with the best practice in safety, quality and delivery.
Unithai Shipyard, the largest shipyard in Thailand was recently awarded its 2,000th contract for repairing vessels in dry dock.
Grand opening of The Living Room by Octave on 30 October 2015. Chairman Chavalit Frederick Tsao hosted the VIP event and welcomed distinguished guests to celebrate this milestone by Octave.
2010s
2016
Unithai secured project with Ophir Thailand.
PT Pelita Samudera Shipping Tbk (PT PSS) signed 3 million metric ton per annum for total 3 years with PT Jembayan Muarabara.
2010s
2017
Sangha by Octave was officially launched on the 30th of March 2017. Sangha is a life learning and wellness community set on the shores of beautiful Yangcheng Lake, Suzhou.
Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) of PT PSS on Indonesia Stock Exchange.
