I was contacted by a crewing agency with an offer for a position on a GFS Ship Management container vessel. I completed an English-language interview with the master, which lasted about an hour, and passed it. I ultimately declined the job after receiving a more attractive offer elsewhere.
I worked on a GFS Ship Management vessel through a crewing agency. The owners and management were based in Dubai, and the vessels were in poor condition, although some repairs were carried out; the deck and stern winches worked without problems during my six-month contract. When the air-conditioning failed, a repair team was sent fairly quickly. However, hygiene was very poor, with a serious cockroach problem, and the company tried to save money by having the crew perform services themselves. The main engine also failed to start twice while a pilot was on board.
I worked for GFS Ship Management as a fourth engineer on the Jebel Ali–Sokhna route. The salary was $2,400, and contrary to reports I had heard, it was paid without delays; I also received an additional $250 per month for working in a piracy area. Spare parts were supplied regularly, there was plenty of food, the crewing company fulfilled its commitments, and all payments due before joining were made after I boarded. The mixed crew worked effectively, and my replacement arrived exactly six months after embarkation. I would definitely recommend GFS to someone looking for a first contract, although the pay is not high.
I worked on vessels managed by GFS Ship Management and found the onboard conditions very poor. There was unsanitary accommodation, high crew turnover, understaffing on deck, and only one deck rating was able to handle the steering properly. The vessels were generally in poor condition, salary payments arrived on unclear dates, and the office seemed unable to manage the contract properly. The voyages I experienced also involved hazardous routes through the Strait of Hormuz.