Wilhelmsen Ships Service announced that a full range of services is now available from their establishment within the Port of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

The facility is extensively stocked with Unitor products, including gases, chemicals, welding equipment and spares, and fire and safety equipment. In addition there is a fully equipped workshop on site for the hydraulic testing of cylinders, servicing and filling of fire extinguishers, and the maintenance and certification of escape sets and breathing apparatus. The workshop is manned by fully qualified and experienced safety engineers.

The Canary Islands Archipelago is situated on the crossroads of several major trading routes and is a popular stopover for maritime services and as a tourist destination. Las Palmas port attends an estimated 10,000 visiting or passing vessels and approximately 200 cruise vessels each year. "Wilhelmsen Ships Service has been continuously improving our service offer in the region, it is an important area for our customers and it was therefore essential for us to make sure that we have the necessary personnel and facilities in place to meet their requirements,' said Salvatore Previti, Area Director Southern Europe and North Africa, Wilhelmsen Ships Service.

Wilhelmsen Ships Service is also able to provide ships agency services from Las Palmas. Full husbandry attendance is offered drawing on the extensive experience that Wilhelmsen Ships Service has in handling all types of vessels, including those from the cruise and offshore segments. Services available include off port limit operations, discharge, dry-docking, bunkers and/or service calls.

A life raft servicing facility is also incorporated offering Unitor life rafts for sale and as part of Wilhelmsen Ships Service's innovative life raft rental exchange program. The site is fitted out with high quality machinery and equipment, and benefits from a purpose built segregated storage area for dangerous products. It is located in modern offices situated inside the Puerto de la Luz, adjacent to the ship repair yard.

Product delivery, safety services technicians and agency attendance are also available at the Port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Patrick M. Salmon, Port Operations Manager for Wilhelmsen Ships Service in the Canary Islands, is optimistic for the future. 'Thanks to the hard work of the entire team Wilhelmsen Ships Service now has a significant presence in the Canary Islands. We are pleased to be able to offer an increased range of services in this important region.'