Tag: GAC

O.S.K Lines (MOL) has awarded an exclusive three-year contract to serve its vessels and port calls across Australia to GAC Australia

GAC Bunker Fuels Ltd awarded ISO 9001:2008 management quality certification

GAC unveils eco packaging solution

GAC Maritime Security to provide PirateFence vessel protection technology

Reliance on private maritime security companies is not a long-term solution The current focus on armed support for vessels transiting high risk areas should not become the norm, GAC Solutions' Christer Sjodoff told delegates from the shipping and offshore industries who gathered in London to debate long-term, effective ways to tackle the threat of sea crime.Speaking at the 'Lunch and Learn' event hosted by GAC Protective Solutions, Sjodoff said that sole reliance on private maritime security companies is not a long-term solution to maritime security threats around the world.GAC Protective Solutions - a strategic partnership between global shipping, logistics and marine services provider GAC and maritime intelligence agency AKE - detailed recent developments in sea crime across East and West Africa. Law firm Stronachs LLP, which provides legal diligence services to banks and equity providers in the oil and gas industry, also delivered an insight into the legal responsibilities and threats of operating in high-risk areas."While there is value in providing armed support on some vessels transiting high risk areas, we feel strongly that this approach should not become a widespread industry norm," Sjodoff, GAC's group vice president of solutions, said. "Rather, we should ensure that owners and operators have ...

GAC Protective Solutions working with Unifire and Intelligent Engineering to offer latest non-lethal GAC Protective Solutions, Powered by AKE, has entered into two new strategic partnerships with the innovators of anti-piracy technologies to help protect vessels, cargoes and seafarers: Unifire's SEASERPENT Anti-Pirate Water Cannon System and Intelligent Engineering's (IE) SPS Citadel Access Protection.Unifire's SEASERPENT Water Cannon System is a unique, non-lethal protective measure using high-volume, remote control water cannons to rapidly flood pirate skiffs. By delivering a jet of up to 80 litres of water per second from a range of 80 metres, the flooding of the pirate vessel both prevents boarding and inhibits the use of firearms. The system can be controlled from the bridge or citadel.With crew safety paramount for vessel owners and operators, Intelligent Engineering's SPS Citadel Access Protection uses Sandwich Plate System (SPS) to reinforce ship citadels to ensure that even the most determined hijacker cannot gain access. SPS is a composite material that delivers high strength, superb impact resistance and enhanced rigidity as a robust alternative to conventional stiffened steel structures. SPS Citadel Access Protection panels significantly enhance crew security, are simple to install on new build or existing vessels and can be deployed within ...

Measures introduced by GAC Nigeria Measures introduced by GAC Nigeria to cut its generator use, fuel bills and carbon footprint have met their target two months ahead of schedule.As part of the GAC Group's commitment to reducing the impact of operations on the environment, GAC Nigeria had installed a transformer to connect its head office in Lagos to the national grid. Although only available for part of each day, Nigeria's grid electricity is cheaper than running diesel-powered generators and using it reduces carbon emissions.It was estimated that it would take 13 months to recoup the cost of installing the transformer. However, the resulting savings paid for the capital investment in just 11 months.Over that period, the GAC Lagos office took its power from the national grid for an average of just over 9 hours per day, producing significant monthly savings in diesel consumption.The project was led by Martin Wills, GAC Nigeria's Maintenance Manager, who says: "Despite three months when the grid electricity supply was poor, bringing down the daily average, our initiative has brought very real, measurable results - both for the environment and our budget. We are now looking forward to further savings in 2012."GAC's Managing Director, Neale Proctor, ...

Ten years on September 11, 2001 is burned into the memory of millions of people - but none more so than natives of New York where two hijacked planes crashed into the city's Twin Towers on a busy Tuesday morning. On the 10th anniversary of that fateful day, GAC New York's Port Manager Lisa Doherty reflects on its impact and the changes it brought to the maritime industry."Even before 11 September 2001, operations in the Port of New York and New Jersey always involved challenges. But after the attacks on the World Trade Centre, the demands faced by the shipping industry increased drastically throughout the United States.]As a direct result of 9/11, the Department of Homeland Security - along with other local, state and federal agencies - implemented a raft of stringent regulations that have had a dramatic impact on the maritime industry.SecurityHeightened port security means that Captains must file an Electronic Notice of Arrival (ENOA) in advance. Failure to provide this information to the U.S. Coast Guard 96 hours before arrival will - without a doubt - increase the likelihood of the ship being held out of port for up to four days, at great cost.Not only do the ...

Statement by the shipping and marine services company GAC Piracy declined in July because of the monsoon season in the Indian Ocean but there was a rise in incidents in the Red Sea, shipping and marine services company GAC said.The monsoon is driving piracy from the Indian Ocean to other areas especially in the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea, GAC said in its monthly piracy report. A total of 13 attacks were recorded in this region, continuing the upward trend of previous months.There were a total of 28 pirate attacks worldwide in July compared with 39 in June, the report said.The situation in West Africa is also worrying with pirate activity spreading outwards from the Niger Delta especially towards the Gulf of Guinea coast."The Gulf of Guinea has also seen a rise in pirate activity, most notably off the coast of Benin. The region has experienced almost 10% of all pirate activity so far this year," GAC said.GAC also warned that piracy in East Africa would rise by the end of September as the monsoon season comes to a close."Piracy of East Africa is projected to increase significantly after the end of monsoon season at the end of September, ...