the ups and the downs of the market in the years since
GGSC’s formation.
“There has been a cutback in demand for timber in
the building market,” he said. “There is also a lot of sawn
timber coming into the east coast from Europe and the
mills are using up the stockpiles. We have been here
before and I am sure things will pick up. We need to keep
being flexible in the way we operate, able to deliver the
timber as and when it is needed.”
Asked what he does to take his mind off the stresses
and strains of running a shipping company, Liam revealed
he is a rower, on one occasion crossing the Atlantic.
“Back in 2015, myself and three friends from my
university days rowed the Atlantic in 45 days, heading
from San Sebastian in La Gomera to Nelson’s Dockyard,
English Harbour, Antigua,” he said. “It was certainly an
experience that now, like many things in business, I look
back and remember only the good things about and none
of the bad things. Which is strange, because after three
days of that trip, we were all literally sick of it.”
Over the last decade, GGSC has proved there is a
market to move large quantities of timber by sea rather
than road. In doing so, it has helped to bring large
quantities of timber to market from areas and sites that
would have proved difficult and challenging using road
transportation. All of which fits nicely into the ethos of the
company, which is: “To provide a vital logistics link to
the Highlands and Islands with a core focus on removing
lorry traffic from the Highlands’ road network.”Liam, second from
the left, and his
university Atlantic
rowing buddies.