As political developments continue to unfold in Egypt, GAC is playing its part in keeping shipping moving in the country, Group Vice President for Africa, Russia & Central Asia, Erland Ebbersten is assuring clients.

Despite the unrest, transits through the all-important Suez Canal have continued as normal, and port operations are being conducted as much as possible under the circumstances, he says from his Cairo office.

Keeping up communications

The biggest challenge that GAC and its clients faced was the shut-down of access to internet and mobile phone networks during the first week of the crisis.

“Alternative means of keeping in touch with clients had to be immediately established,” says Ebbersten. “Emails to GAC Egypt were re-routed to colleagues working abroad at the time, who coordinated with their colleagues locally, to maintain a flow of accurate, up-dated information to clients. Faxes and some land-lines were still working, so those colleagues were able to print off and fax the emails to the relevant office in Egypt.

“The lack of internet interrupted our usual banking procedures, so we liaised closely with the banks and quickly set up emergency telephone banking with high security measures to ensure that Suez Canal transits and other operations dependent on the swift movement of funds continued as normal.”

Tags: GAC Group