DG Maritime become full UKHO Distributor

Da Gama Maritime (DGM) has been granted full distribution status of all paper and electronic products provided by the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO).

As part of their ongoing mission to bring a more professional navigation management service to the maritime industry and in the wake of their award of ISO9001:2008 certification by Lloyds registry earlier this year, DGM are delighted to announce they have been approved by the UKHO as a full distributor of all Admiralty paper and electronic products.

Growing the company predominately through reputation alone, their managing director Steve Monk, paid tribute to the team of employees who have worked incredibly hard to adapt to changes and demands inflicted upon the company recently to ensure standards were in no way compromised and clients saw no dip in service.

“I’m incredibly proud of the work our small but dedicated team have put into ensuring the UKHO were entirely satisfied by the standards we set in both our work place and to our clients.  Our focus has always been helping the mariner to maintain their safety at sea through professional navigation management and on board crew training.  The team may be small in number but with nearly 100 years maritime service between them, their level of knowledge and experience far exceeds many other companies offering similar services.

Their dedication and ability to respond to changes surrounding the company have been highly commendable, particularly over the past few months and as such, having been accepted by the UKHO to market and sell their products directly, we are now in an even stronger position to be able to support not only our clients but those who would like to switch to a more caring and professional service.”

The maritime background of the DGM staff means they have each been working alongside or with the UKHO for many years but now with the award of the distribution status, they are able to supply the paper and electronic products direct to customers, old and new.  Their familiarity with the entire UKHO range of products means they are well aware of the SOLAS requirements and have a greater understanding of which high quality Admiralty products are best suited to each client.

DGM have provided navigation management to the Superyacht industry since 2009 and are already seeing the benefits of their new status with more clients enquiring about and moving across to their personal service.  With business continuing to grow and more specialised employees being brought in, they have their sights set on a wider customer base. Whether it’s with shore based management companies or individual vessels, DGM will be looking to work more closely with the commercial sector and although until now requiring customers to sign to their full management, they will shortly be launching a new ‘public’ catalogue website to enable anyone to purchase UKHO related products and licences.

Steve Monk added:

“More ships and yachts are migrating to electronic navigation.  With the IMO regulations requiring the fitting of ECDIS on the larger ships, our years of knowledge in operating and accrediting ECDIS vessels in addition to running our annual ECDIS conference, means we are able to guide, advise and supply clients with more detailed, accurate and reliable information on the products necessary to help maintain their safety of navigation.  Clients will also testify we do this through a close understanding of their needs which more often than not means we can also reduce their running costs.”

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About Da Gama Maritime

DGM are a business who provide navigation management to the Superyacht industry but are breaking into commercial shipping due to their understanding of what mariners do and don’t require to navigate safely.  Through their years of experience with ECDIS they are also able to offer advice to vessels wishing to migrate to ‘paperless’ navigation and can assist with developing procedures, checklists and incorporation into the SMS.

As a supplier of all stores and licences required to maintain a navigation outfit, they can support and supply vessels and management companies with the necessary tools to meet regulatory standards. Their staff background also places them in the unique position of being able to further train bridge teams in the most effective and efficient means of maintaining the outfit to satisfy even the most rigorous inspection.

DGM also provide on board firefighting training with bespoke packages for vessels of any size and their professionally trained maritime fire instructors regularly work with Superyachts and commercial ships.  Conducting this on board the vessel allows procedures to be examined, discussed and if necessary amended while also giving crew the ability to be trained with their equipment in their environment.

For further information, please contact info@dgmaritime.com or +44 (0)1243 511084

About the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office

UKHO, an Executive Agency of the Ministry of Defence, has been charting the world’s oceans for more than 200 years with the primary aim of providing navigational products and services for the Royal Navy and merchant mariners to save and protect lives at sea. In addition it serves small craft and leisure mariners and provides a range of consultancy services. UKHO also plays a central role, in support of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, in discharging the navigation element of the UK’s Safety of Life at Sea Treaty obligations for waters of UK national responsibility.

UKHO produces a worldwide series of some 3,500 paper nautical charts, 200 publications under the Admiralty brand and Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs). The ADMIRALTY portfolio is sold globally and used by nearly 70% of international shipping.