Elcome initiates online shopping for ADMIRALTY charts

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – March 24, 2020 – Elcome today announced the launch of its new online shopping portal for ADMIRALTY standard nautical charts.

With this automated software tool, now available on Elcome’s website, customers can review, select and order charts from the most comprehensive inventory of ADMIRALTY charts. Orders are fulfilled by one of Elcome’s print-on-demand centers located in Dubai, UAE and Colombo, Sri Lanka, and the products are shipped within one or two days to the customer’s office or the shipping agent for shipboard delivery.

The portal is linked directly to ADMIRALTY Marine Data Portal of the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) and is updated automatically on a weekly basis as the ADMIRATY releases new Notices to Mariners on their server..

“We developed this new online purchasing service as part of our swift response to the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic,” explained Jimmy Grewal, executive director of Elcome International. “We initiated a work-from-home program with a goal of having at least two-thirds of our staff working remotely, but we realized this would affect the large number of local customers who normally come to our business in person to purchase charts. Within two weeks, we successfully developed, tested and launched the new charts service on our website.”

“This means our employees and customers can minimize personal contact while still getting the prompt and efficient service they’ve always received from Elcome, and ensures their ships sail safely on schedule with completely up-to-date nautical charts,” said Grewal.

Elcome upgraded its chart supply business to a print-on-demand model in Dubai starting in 2013, and added a second printing center it its Colombo office in 2018. The full-scale printed charts meet the highest cartographic quality standards and are fully up to date when printed.

“Elcome has been a UKHO ADMIRALTY agent since 1980, and we have been at the forefront of  adopting new technologies like on-demand chart printing,” said Kostaiantyn Matvieiev, senior manager, charts and publications, at Elcome”We are introducing this new online ordering service to ensure  mariners have no interruption in access to ADMIRALTY cartographic products during the COVID-19 crisis,”

Elcome also offers an advanced B2B software program (EUPDATE) that provides an end-to-end service to manage print and digital products for high-volume customers. Using EUPDATE, customers can manage their entire inventory of charts and publications including Notices to Mariners for each ship in the fleet from their own computers aboard ship or in their shore office. The system automatically monitors and sends notices of expiry dates, cancellations and new editions for all charts, publications and licences in inventory. It also guides customers based on what inventory is required for a specific ship type and sailing route.

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ABOUT ELCOME INTERNATIONAL LLC

Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, Elcome is based in Dubai, UAE, and is one of the world’s largest maritime companies with a diversified portfolio of technologies and solutions. Elcome operates out of 23 offices, across 11 countries with over 500 employees. Elcome is the authorized sales and service representative for world leading OEMs across defense, oil & gas, offshore, merchant shipping and yachting industry segments. Elcome’s factory-trained engineers visit more than 800 ships every month from Suez to Singapore with an impressive first-time fix-rate of 96 percent. Elcome is a leading system integrator credited with many vital land-based, offshore and national security projects in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Elcome is a specialist turnkey solutions provider of navigation, communication, automation and safety systems. Elcome’s Electronics Service Hub in Dubai is a full-service center with lifecycle support and life extension services for obsolete electronics. Elcome is the Middle East’s largest supplier of nautical charts and publications, both print and digital, with two print-on-demand centers in Dubai and Colombo for ADMIRALTY Standard Nautical Charts. Elcome operates an FTA-approved training center and bridge simulator in Dubai for dynamic positioning and ECDIS systems. The company is certified to ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015 and OHSAS 18001:2007 by DNV.