A FIRM based in Chafford Hundred is hopeful it can repair its relationship with the US Navy after it was announced dealings between them had been suspended.

Inchcape Shipping Services, based on the Lakeside Business Village in Fleming Road provides the US Navy with shipping services - such as organising arrangements with ports - in a deal worth more than £148million.

But at the end of November, the Department of the Navy in the USA announced it was suspending the contracts.

A statement by Rear Admiral John F. Kirby, Navy Chief of Information said the suspension of the contracts had been recommended “based upon evidence of conduct indicating questionable business integrity affecting ISS's present responsibility to be a Government contractor”.

But a spokesman for the firm, which has 300 offices worldwide and employs 3,800 people, is confident the issue can be resolved swiftly.

She said: “The US Navy Notice relates to supply work involving a small number of navy ships between 2005 and 2008, which was the subject an enquiry by the Department of Justice back in 2010. Since then we have been discussing some aspects of our billing for this work with the DoJ with a view to bringing this matter to a conclusion.

“We are proud to work closely with the US Navy and continue to do so on a number of important mandates. We will continue to engage with the DoJ and US Navy and hope this matter can be resolved swiftly.”