Dubai, UAE 26th March 2009 - 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.

-Ends-

About GAC Group
GAC managers and staff emphasise human dignity as a core value in their operating philosophy. They value long-term relationships with business partners, customers and suppliers and seek win-win solutions to the challenges of modern business. GAC's 8,500 people are found in more than 300 offices worldwide and speak more than 100 languages. Headquartered in Dubai, the Group is local in action and global in attitude.     

Since its establishment by Swedish transport interests in 1956, GAC has grown to become a leading global provider of shipping, logistics, marine and related services. For more information, visit www.gacworld.com.

About GAC Solutions
GAC Solutions is a special business unit set up to provide value-added products to the shipping and marine industries. It combines GAC's knowledge and long standing relationships with its shipping and marine customers with the products of the world's leading suppliers. Services range from class-approved fire, rescue & safety systems provision and servicing to weather routing solutions and the list is growing. 

About Bibby Ship Management

  • Bibby Ship Management offers its customers a true one-stop-shop service of full commercial and technical management.

  • Bibby Ship Management's dedication to quality brings economic advantages to its clients. In particular, the company's adherence to stringent quality management systems, industry foresight and professional integrity means that the long term interests of clients are prioritised. Bibby Ship Management has a global presence and is part of The Bibby Line Group, with over 200 years of marine heritage.

  • Bibby Ship Management Group Ltd is the umbrella company for subsidiary trading companies in the UK, the Isle of Man, the Ukraine, India, the Philippines and Singapore.  The company is headquartered in Liverpool.

  • For more information on Bibby Ship Management please visit www.bibbyshipmanagement.com

About DehuTech AB
DehuTech AB is a Swedish company that exports desiccant dehumidifiers to countries outside Sweden. The dehumidifiers are developed, designed and manufactured for the demanding Swedish dehumidifier market. The desiccant rotor, which is patented, is manufactured in Sweden. DehuTech AB has representatives in several countries around the world. DehuTech AB also manufactures and markets components for desiccant cooling applications. These components are marketed directly by DehuTech AB to producers of air treatment units.

DehuTech AB is a subsidiary of Fuktkontroll AB, Sweden, who has been active in the domestic Swedish market since 1980; marketing, selling and manufacturing desiccant dehumidifiers and turnkey dehumidification systems.

© Press Release 2009