Firms offer lay-up services

Firms offer lay-up services    With large numbers of ships going into layup because of the slowdown in the world economy, Dubai-based GAC Group said it has joined together with the United Kingdom’s Bibby Ship Management and Swedish dehumidification specialist DehuTech to form GAC Ship Lay-Up Solutions (GLUS) to assist ship owners with layups.
   Under the partnership, Bibby Ship Management handles technical management and crew management, while Swedish DehuTech covers the dehumidification aspect of laying up vessels, including sale and rental of dehumidifiers.
   GAC said the participation of Bibby and DehuTech would enhance its GLUS portfolio of services, 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.
   Christer Sj'doff, group vice president of GAC Solutions, said the alliance promotes a total concept where everything required for secure, safe and cost-effective ship layup 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, he said.