LITTLE SHIP CLUB eNews JUNE 2016

Business profile : GCCM

Gold Coast City Marina & Shipyard lays claim to be something of a global superstar, rivalled only by Jimmy Buffett (strong words for boaties!), and provided a warm welcome to the flotilla members of the LSChampagne Cruise. GCCM opened nearly 16 years ago after five years of planning and construction, as a purpose-built facility designed specifically to remove the pressure points of boating so boaties could enjoy a lot more boating and a lot less hassle. The gates opened to what was and still is the most comprehensive facility of its kind in Australia – indeed, in the Southern Hemisphere – featuring a world-class marina, dry storage and shipyard facilities, plus over 60 tenants employing over 500 marine-related contractors on the one site. Since 2000, GCCM has maintained, lifted, refitted, repaired and built more than 50,000 vessels, from jet-skis to super yachts. Marina Chief Trent Gay says GCCM’s ethos of continuing innovation is born of a desire to bring joy to boaties by working together to get boats back on the water faster. “It’s the bond that glues this team together” said Gay. “It’s part of the DNA of GCCM!” ‘We’re all boaties so we understand that every boatie’s boat is their happy place. We understand how hard people work to get a boat – and how hard they work to maintain a boat – so we want to see them get as much enjoyment out of their boat as possible. That definitely doesn’t mean more time than necessary on the hardstand or in a refit shed. That’s why GCCM was created and everyone here loves getting boats back out on the water where they belong and keeping them out there for as long as possible.

Trent said that “a lot of our customers rave about the facilities and equipment at GCCM, but what we also hear time and time again is that it takes far less time to complete work here than other marinas. That’s not simply because we have the most comprehensive offering in the indus- try, it’s also because our tradies are the best of the best and we all like working together to achieve the best result for our customers’. In 2014, the Gay Group Of Companies took sole ownership of the facility. Last year the newly consolidated team was pleased to achieve another raft of industry accolades including Best Marina & Boat- yard Facility and Superyacht Australia Business of the Year. “Pleased but never satisfied,” said Steve Sammes, Chief Operational Officer. “We have spent the last 24 months working hard behind the scenes on plans to take the level of convenience and customer service on offer to the boating industry to a whole new level.” ‘Yes it’s about upgrading and creating new facilities, but it’s also about creating the right team, the right culture and the most efficient processes to get boats back on the water faster and for longer than any other facility. That’s always been our number one goal but we have to keep focusing on our customers and raising the bar year in, year out,” added Sammes. Customer focus, collaboration and inno- vation are central to GCCM’s future plans. Whilst they are not quite ready to give it all away, here’s a hint to some of the newly improved services that will be offered: • Enhanced project management services “Our customers are telling us that they want the complete service from our team. We are able to offer Project Management

Services better than any other boatyard in Australia due to the combined experience of more than nine highly qualified Project Managers operating on site. We have a specialist for everything so we can provide tailor-made solutions no matter how large or small the project. And this is all done in a controlled environment so you know the work is of the highest possible standard, on time and on budget.” said Trent Gay. Other measures in hand include: • a new Pilot service for large vessels; • rallying at all levels of government to secure Port of Clearance facilities on the Gold Coast before the Commonwealth Games (and the bid for the 2019America’s Cup) to facilitate easier access for international vessels. • Working with BIA to make the Gold Coast Marine Precinct the hub for training and innovation in Australia • Proposals for future improvements and expansion of the current GCCM facilities, including the development of Stage 2 on its 20 hectare Beattie Road site are also underway. “The Gold Coast City Marina and Shipyard that you see today was realised by people who wanted – and who could envisage – better for all boaties, regardless of whether they were local or travelling from the other side of the ocean to get here, and regardless of whether they had a 10 foot tinnie or a 200 foot superyacht,” said Gay. “For the past two years we’ve been dreaming it all up again, and in 2016 we’re beginning the process of putting it all into action.” In 2013-14 GCCM won the Marine Industry Association Marina of the Year award, repeating the accolade in 2015- 2016. Thanks for hosting LSC cruisers!

Little Ship Club (Queensland Squadron)

June 2016 eNews

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