GAC Ship Lay-Up Solutions portfolio enhanced in partnership with Bibby Ship Management and DehuTech
The GAC Group has formed a strategic alliance with Bibby Ship Management and DehuTech AB to provide owners/operators and ship management companies with even more options under its GAC Ship Lay-Up Solutions (GLUS) service package.
Under the partnership, UK-based Bibby Ship Management handles technical management and crew management, while Swedish DehuTech covers the dehumidification aspect of laying-up of vessels, including sale and rental of dehumidifiers. These key service features greatly enhance the existing GLUS portfolio of fully-customisable solutions which also includes ship agency, supply services, FRS (Fire, Rescue and Safety), logistics and a range of lay-up specific services from lay-up preparation and documentation to maintenance and inspection.
Flexible and Comprehensive
Christer Sjödoff, Group Vice President, GAC Solutions says the alliance promotes a total concept where everything required for secure, safe and cost-effective ship lay-up at locations around the world can be found under the GLUS umbrella, offering customers time and cost efficiency.
“Since we launched GLUS in March, we have received very good response from the maritime industry. There is also a strong demand for additional high-quality services. Working with the two best-in-class providers with extensive expertise in their respective fields enables us to expand our servicing offerings through one channel,” says Sjödoff.
“From the comprehensive range of solutions, clients can pick and choose the scope and extent of services for fully tailored packages that meet the needs unique to their vessel type and area of trade.”
For example, Ulf Rahle, Managing Director of DehuTech AB explains that dehumidifiers save big money by protecting the vessel against corrosion and other moisture damages. Confident of the benefits from working with the new partners, Rahle adds: “Together with GAC and Bibby Ship Management we are able to provide turn-key dehumidification solutions at several locations around the world.”
Noting that ship owners are increasingly looking at laying-up vessels to avoid non-profitable journeys and reduce costs in the current economic climate, Stephen Blaikie, Business Development Director at Bibby Ship Management, says that the situation presents a different set of needs and operational challenges.
“GAC’s experience complements our ship management, technical and crewing expertise very well, and allows us to collectively meet the requirements of owners/operators. This alliance enables us to offer specialist skills such as dehumidification, ship agency and logistics in addition to our more mainstream offer, and moves Bibby Ship Management towards being a one-stop ship management offering,” he adds.
