New Company to Support Gulf Navies

Gulf Logistics and Naval Support LLC (GLNS), a new Abu Dhabi-based company, was launched on July 27, offering a complete range of support services to maritime defense forces and other vessel operators in the GCC region.

GLNS has been set up in a joint venture by Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB) with a 70% shareholding and the UK’s BVT Surface Fleet which will hold 30%.  Together the companies provide a powerful combination of regional presence, established naval shipbuilding and support capability, and unparalleled experience in providing through-life naval support services.

Representatives from both companies today signed the Shareholders’ Agreement and Contract of Establishment of GLNS at a ceremony at ADSB’s Mussafah shipyard. The joint venture was first announced in 2008; since then the two companies have been working together to develop the necessary legal documents, prepare financial and operational business plans and form the organisational structure to allow the new company to begin operations immediately with the support of the two shareholders.

GLNS will offer a range of support services across the full spectrum of integrated logistics support and training, as well as outsourcing solutions for base facilities.

Potential customers will be navies, coast guards, marine police, homeland security organizations, special forces and other key commercial customers, initially in the GCC countries, Jordan and Egypt, and later in other countries and regions as agreed by the shareholders.

ADSB is already established as the leading naval shipbuilder and provider of naval support services in the GCC region. BVT Surface Fleet is a world leader in providing innovative through-life support service solutions to customers worldwide and as the primary support provider for the UK Royal Navy.

Abu Dhabi Ship Building Board Chairman Homaid Abdulla Al Shemmari said “ADSB has built up a reputation as a world class naval shipbuilding company. Our joint venture with BVT Surface Fleet, a company which has unrivalled expertise throughout the world, enables us to focus on supporting our customers over the long term life of their vessels by providing services which range from maintaining their vessels to managing their bases and training their staff.

“GCC governments have increasingly been moving towards outsourcing services to make savings and increase efficiency and GLNS is ideally placed to help them achieve their objectives.”

ADSB Chief Executive officer William Saltzer said “Military vessels and the equipment carried on board are complex and sophisticated, requiring a high degree of support. GLNS, supported by its shareholders, will provide this support, ensuring the maximum availability of vessels and the efficient operations of their non-core base activities and facilities allowing them to focus their efforts on the important duty of protecting their countries.
“Combining our in-depth local knowledge and capability with the innovative processes and techniques developed over many years by BVT, our aim will be to inspire confidence and build relationships so that our customers view us as a long-term strategic asset.”

A key factor in building this relationship will be the formation of partnerships and alliance in customer countries and transferring technologies, processes, systems and skills including the recruitment and training of the respective national workforces