Peter Kim | Korea Global Service is dedicated to the shipownwer

Interview Peter Kim

Korea Global Service is dedicated to the shipownwer

It has been recently informed among some Greek ship managers that there is a ship maintenance service company in Korea who is capable of handling various jobs and can rectify very complicated troubles through competent engineers. The performances of this Korean service company become to be known to many Greek ship owners and managers.

The company is Korea Global Service (KGS), which is located in Ulsan Korea where are two big shipyards, Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and Hyundai Mipo Drydocks (HMD). Due to COVID-19 Pandemic, this interview with CEO of KGS was conducted by email but it was a good opportunity to introduce a qualified Korean ship’s maintenance service company to Greek ship owners and managers.

KGS has been working with PSB & Co. SA (PSB) from early 2020 to develop Greek market, and there are increase of inquiries & orders from Greek ship managers for various maintenance services as both KGS and PSB are effectively doing co-marketing in Greece up to now. The CEO of PSB, Mr. Gregory Papadakis, has confidence that ship managers will quite satisfy with ‘One Stop Total Service’ whichever they are being serviced by KGS maintenance system.

NAFS: Would you introduce KGS company?

P.K.: KGS was inaugurated to aim for supporting ship managers by providing well qualified and fully diversified maintenance. Utilizing shipbuilding infrastructure in Korea, KGS could furnish the better quality service of ME type engine, MC type engine, 4 stroke engine, 6600V high voltage switchboard, engine control system and many Korean equipment. Management of KGS have work experience of warranty service more than 20 years and can deal with any kind of troubles in prompt and suitable manner. KGS presently works with 5 local partners in Greece, Germany, Singapore, UAE and India, and expects steady growths of local business through collaboration of each local partner.

NAFS: What is the reason for establishing KGS?

P.K.: When Mr. Peter Kim, who is CEO of KGS now, was working in HHI warranty service, there had been lots of demands for one official channel which controls all kinds of ship’s warranty service while a ship is in guarantee period. Upon leaving HHI in 2016, Mr. Peter Kim called some of ex-Hyundai members who have ample knowledge and experience of warranty, engine, design & electric commissioning. Based on KGS database of 40,000 ships world-wide, service proposals for supporting ship managers in preparing regular dry-docking maintenance are submitted to the relevant ship managers at least 6 months earlier. KGS drydock service proposal contains many kinds of services, but KGS continuously develops newly required services to build ‘ONE STOP TOTAL SERVICE’ for KGS customers.

NAFS: Which advantage can be expected from KGS service?

P.K.: Most of KGS engineers have work experience in the original makers more than 15 years, and all works are to be done as per KGS quality standard. Whenever KGS service team put into work, safety comes first and then quality follows all the time. All inquiries of service are managed by

KGS sales team immediately and prompt & professional responses are executed. Another merit of KGS service is real-time technical support and relevant KGS expert replies to any technical matter with KGS customers at 24/7 free of charge. KGS has a sister company which is registered in Hyundai, KTS, and now can arrange localized maintenance service using proven qualified service teams in outside Korea, by which qualified service can be served to KGS customers in COVID-19 Pandemic situation. At the moment, KGS can provide localized service in China, Singapore and Dubai area.

NAFS: Which differentiated electrical services can be offered?

P.K.: KGS electrical service team consists of all ex-Hyundai commissioning engineers. When they worked in Hyundai shipyard, they experienced electrical commissioning of many type of ships, such as bulk carrier, tankers, container ships, LNG carriers, LPG carriers, passenger ships, drill ships & semi-rigs, etc. With extensive experiences of various ships & systems, KGS service team can deal with any electric functional troubles suitably and thus can furnish proper measures to KGS customers promptly. KGS service team is also strong with maintenance of high voltage switchboard, which is installed on LNG carriers, big container ships and offshore rigs. Another reason that KGS electrical service maintains high quality is good infrastructure of electrical equipment in Korea. Original manufacturers give immediate & suitable support to KGS service by supplying spares, man-powers and technical assistances for their equipment.

NAFS: What engine services are attractive to KGS customers?

P.K.: KGS handles drydock maintenance work for 2 stroke engine, 4 stroke engine and DF engine by arranging Korean service team or localized service team. Ex-Doosan engine commissioning engineers do ME type engine drydock maintenance with competitive price and KGS has carried out more than 200 ME type engines so far. One KGS service engineer handles 3 kinds of jobs, mechanical, electrical & control work and this capability lowers service price and is proud of ME engine service team. Wartsila DF engine service team has recently successfully carried out 2 8L50DF engines for Dynagas LNG carrier in Dubai, and the service price is quite attractive than Wartsila team. DF engine team worked for Wartsila for many years and has lots of work experiences before. KGS drives these ME engine and DF engine service marketing in Greece together with PSB and expects significant achievements in Greek market in the next few years.

NAFS: How can KGS operate ‘One Stop Total Service’?

P.K.: Utilizing ample resources of ship maintenance man-powers and material in Korea, KGS staffs have made various kinds of service package from electric equipment up to hull structure, which are identical to Hyundai warranty service system. KGS has developed qualified services for client’s demands and do marketing with local partners about the integrated maintenance services to the clients. Once an inquiry from a client received, KGS sales team asks relevant engineer for checking measures and estimating expenses. It is KGS pride that acknowledgement, reply or quotation of the inquired service is reverted to the client within few hours at same day. Even though KGS does not own full range of service teams, there are lots of cooperative service teams under KGS control. All inquiries are managed by KGS sales team through one channel and all services are fully covered by KGS team and cooperative teams effectively.

NAFS: What is the main purpose of ‘KGS Korean Home Port Service’?

P.K.: If a ship has some troubles while she stays in a Korean port, the ship manages shall try to contact each service company in Korea for prompt actions and in some cases it may be difficult to get necessary service in time. However, if KGS gets any trouble report, the best possible measures are proposed by KGS service team and then suitable services are provided to the ship during stay in a Korean port. It is the main purpose of KGS Korean home port service that KGS covers all kinds of troubles whichever inquired by the clients and provides prompt and proper services to the ship in every Korean port.

NAFS: Which marketing strategy is being applied in Greek market?

P.K.: Greek market is the biggest one in the shipping business, and everyone comes here to initiate its business with a Greek ship manager. It was very good fortune for KGS to start partnership with Papadakis Group of Companies (PSB), which is well known for ship’s spares, Yards and dock brokering & services in Greece for 31 years, early this year. There were many successful projects done by KGS, which PSB obtained from Greek clients, and also KGS have tried to make service price more competitive. KGS sets up a good collaborative marketing strategy in Greece that KGS provides customized drydocking maintenance proposals for forthcoming ships, which are prepared as per KGS database, and PSB submits the proposal to respective client and does follow-up discussions. Once an inquiry is received from a PSB client, KGS prepares a suitable service proposal which covers all required work scopes immediately for PSB can keep discussions/negotiations with its client. With well organized KGS services, Greek ship managers can easily plan drydock maintenance and rectify any technical matters promptly.

NAFS: What is KGS business plan in Pandemic situation?

P.K.: This unforeseen COVID-19 Pandemic still interrupts all business activities, and ship managers are facing many difficulties for suitable ship’s maintenance, especially Korean made. KGS also cannot dispatch its Korean service teams to outside Korea since the Pandemic due to quarantine restrictions. As alternative ways, KGS has built localized service network in China, Singapore and Dubai using its partners and cooperative service companies. The service quality of each local company was strictly checked by KGS service team. Now KGS can handle all ME & MC type engine maintenance, 4 stroke engine, HPS pump & FIVA re-conditioning locally. Korean Home Port Service supports all ships staying at Korean ports with all technical services. KGS will continue in developing localized services to provide better services to KGS clients and will reinforce email marketing with local partners during this prolonged Pandemic situation.