Global shipping, logistics and marine services provider GAC’s Global Husbandry Centre (GHC) said it is now operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week – in response to the growing demand from its shipping principals.

The GHC serves as a single point of contact for global clients, coordinating a range of services including crew handling, local authority communication, dry docking, repairs, lubricant and bunker fuel supplies and clearance and delivery of spares, said a statement from the company.

Starting this month, it has extended its regular Monday to Friday round-the-clock shift to also include Saturdays and Sundays, largely to meet the needs of the GAC Group’s US based clients, it said.

Ronald Lichtenecker, managing director of the GHC, said: “This means that all our clients now benefit from continuous cover, no matter where in the world they are or what time zone they are in.”

“We are now manning the phones and monitoring emails at all hours to deliver the most complete support package for all our customers,” he said.

The centre also serves as an integrated point of contact and centralised co-ordination for all ship husbandry needs. The service, which is free for all GAC clients, optimises processes through electronic invoicing and also offers streamlined rates, said a statement.

Requests are swiftly routed from the Dubai hub to the respective contact in GAC’s global network covering more than 40 countries, it added.

Lichtenecker said: “This is of particular value in cases of emergencies, where our global network puts supplies and assistance within easy reach of vessels anywhere in the world.”

Round-the-clock coverage will now offer ship owners and management companies greater flexibility in dealing with regular requests for crew changes, ship spares and fresh water provisions, it stated. – TradeArabia News Service