GAC UK relocates Solent base to Southampton's historic Harbour House

The grade II listed former Harbour Master's office, Harbour House, is now home to GAC UK's Solent based teams working across the shipping, logistics and marine sectors © Nicolas James Group

Plans for growth in 2024 have prompted GAC UK's Southampton branch to relocate to the historic Harbour House.

The Grade II listed building will serve as GAC UK's south-coast hub for shipping, logistics and marine services which includes GAC Pindar. Since 2011, GAC Pindar has provided marine leisure, sport and event logistics from its base on Town Quay for iconic sailing events including The Ocean Race, the inaugural season of SailGP and the America's Cup World Series.

Built in 1925 as the Harbour Master's office during a surge in the Port of Southampton's development, the iconic building remains one of the city's best-known landmarks. The original building was sympathetically extended in 2003 and has been recently refurbished by the new owners, Nicolas James Group.

Investment and growth

Having grown up on the south coast of England, GAC UK Managing Director Nick Browne is no stranger to the historical and current importance of the maritime industry for the region.

"The move to Harbour House marks our commitment to the city of Southampton and the wider Solent area," he says. "Solent Free Port's ambitions and focus on innovation align with our own plans for further growth as we extend our team in the region."

According to solentfreeport.com, the area will "accelerate the creation of high-quality employment space, with investment specifically targeted at state-of-the-art growth sectors and ground-breaking approaches to decarbonisation and green innovation".

GAC UK's Solent office will continue to serve as GAC Pindar's control tower for all global event freight requirements.