Ambrey Newsletter

Q3 2019

Everyone safe | Everywhere | Every time Client Focused | People Centred | Compliance Led
General
The last 6 months has seen lots of change, both in the structure and organisation of the
company and the ebb and flow of people joining and leaving. The strategy in 2018 was primarily
focussed on growth. 2019 strategy is efficiency and sustainable growth. We are now starting to
see the positive results of our efficiency drive and Ambrey’s success story continues. Our
success is delivered by the Ambrey team – our guards and office staff; thank you for continuing
to be part of the Ambrey story.
This does not come without its challenges, in terms of cost, logistics and manpower. Cost and
manpower go hand in hand and with a huge effort by the HO team we have managed to utilise
the teams better which in turn has reduced our overhead.
There have been some changes this year within the Ops team with Red leaving and Rich Hames
due to leave this summer as Associate Director of Operations along with Steve Champken the
Logistics Manager. Angela Sanders and Anna Trumper will both step up to become Senior
Operational Managers with Angela heading up the support and logistics component and Anna
the Operations and Commercial. Gemma Eden will be seconded from Ops Support to manage
the Logistics team.
A selection of senior staff at HO recently successfully completed an IOSH course in our
continuous drive for greater HSE awareness. HSE reporting is good, but we could do better and
we are just as keen to receive ‘near miss’ reports. That way we can start to identify any trends
that become a risk in itself.
Last but not least is feedback, please feel comfortable providing clear honest feedback to us or
to me directly outside of the normal post transit report. We need to know what we need to do
more of/less of to support you in your role.
Operations
The tempo of operations has seen a steady growth in the number of transits over the year, with
a recent flurry of requests for unarmed Bridge Advisers for vessels going into the Arabian Gulf.
The recruitment and training team have been busy ensuring that we have the right amount and
type of personnel to man these tasks. Another challenge is for the logistics team to have the
right kit in the right place at the right time and to have a seamless approach to the procurement
and delivery of new kit in advance of the increase in transit volume.

Commercial
The commercial team have been managing to successfully juggle all of the balls in the air and
continue to deliver the transits as well as seeking out and capturing new business in an ever-
challenging commercial environment in multiple regions.

VBA’s
Both Menkar and Markab continue to operate and support our operations. Recently Menkar
was moved south of her former position due to the escalation in tensions in that immediate
area. There were also some commercial considerations that supported that move. The offshore
team are working hard to address the issue of the discoloured water, it is not an easy task due
to the complexities of the environment. Your patience is much appreciated. The issue of food

Client Focused | People Centred | Compliance Led

at Markab is taken onboard. The reality is that resupplying her is not an easy task and each
resupply is a matter of days not hours as it is for Menkar. Again, the offshore team are working
hard to resolve the issues.

West Africa
All three Ambrey owned security escort vessels are now fully licenced and operating on behalf
of our clients. In addition to this the team have been successfully chartering vessels to augment
our ‘fleet’. This remains a dynamic and challenging environment and market to operate in.

Miscellaneous
Although our brand is as a Maritime Security Company, we have recently been requested to
provide a Close Protection Detail in support of an NGO in Kenya. This task is ongoing. A more
interesting task saw the teams planning for an evacuation of up to 20 personnel from an African
country that was in a spate of civil unrest. This option was not exercised, but the team delivered
in the planning, preparation and readiness to deploy on the task.
The offshore BD team have been extremely busy in both West and East Africa with some
exciting opportunities in the pipeline, which, if they materialise, will produce some long-term
contracts with tier 1 clients.

Without a doubt this is a challenging environment both operationally and commercially. In

addition to having to meet the client’s requirements with best in class operators and equipment
we have to be ruthlessly efficient in how this is delivered in order to survive in this space. Too
many PMSC’s have not had efficiency on their radar and have subsequently disappeared from
the arena.
One of the main reasons that makes Ambrey stand out from the pack is you, the operators in
the field. Your dedication and professionalism makes you the best in class and keeps Ambrey as
the No1 PMSC in the world. On behalf of all the team at the Head Office I would like to thank
you.

Best,
Gav

Gavin Lock
Operations Director

Client Focused | People Centred | Compliance Led