After almost two years of operating General Marine Services (GMS), Jeremy Cox is handing over the reigns and big changes are on the way.

Taking over control of the business are Abdul Amjath, his wife Carolann Amjath, and Henry Ascento. Together, they have set the lofty goal of becoming Bermuda's one-stop shop for everything maritime.

With Mr. Cox leaving, Mr. Ascento will be taking over the role of supervisory mechanic, with intentions to hire three or four additional mechanics to provide better, faster, and broader service.

"When we have a full crew, customers will come here because then they won't need to call a fibreglass guy and a wood guy and an electrician," said Mr. Amjath, who will be in charge of administration in the new partnership.

"It's very good for the yard. The yard needs that," said Mr. Cox. "It's very busy most of the time.

"GMS is also offering a new service to its customers seeking repairs in it's tracking system, which will allow customers to check on the status of their repairs and orders from the companies website (gms.bm).

In addition to continuing both mobile repair service and working at the St. George's Boat Yard, GMS intends to start importing and selling boats, jet-skis, and everything else that you might need to go out on the water. Two of the centrepieces of their new import business are engines and generators built by Parsun and Beta Marine, which Amjath says are versatile, affordable and durable.

"People want to have boats, but they're too expensive," said Mr. Amjath. "At our shop, we want to make boating affordable to everyone.

"A Honda is very, very expensive. This (Parsun) is half the price, with the same standard as Honda.

While GMS is aiming to be the place to go for everything nautical, it is also importing products that could be very useful on land and in the home.

"Up to 25 percent of your electricity bill is the water heater," said Mr. Amjath. His solution is to import solar powered water heaters, which can be installed in your home and utilise existing tanks, one part of their plan to encourage environmentally safe, 'green' technology. Continuing the theme, all the engines that GMS import meet Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) guidelines.

Despite the changes, GMS seeks to maintain what it believes made the business successful in the first place.

"It's the cheapest yard, it's the friendliest yard. What we say it costs, it does cost. There are no hidden charges," said Mr. Cox. "It's about helping people, not just taking their money.*t(0,0," ")"I've met people from all around the world. It's a demanding job, but it's very rewarding."

The owner of St. George's Boat Yard, Craig Faries, agrees

"The day you put them over and everything is running nice, they're happy," said Mr. Faries. "That's what it's all about."

The expansion of GMS's business matches the expansions planned for the St. George's Boat Yard. First, a 50ft high dry storage facility capable of storing up to 120 boats is scheduled to break ground shortly, and secondly, a 150-boat marina is currently in it's planning stages. Both, when complete, will help to ensure steady business for GMS and promise greater convenience for the boating public.

"We're hoping to turn this into a boaters' destination," said Mr. Faries. "There is a huge need for good quality marine mechanics. You need someone who knows what goes where."

To help establish himself in the market, Mr. Amjath has announced that the first 100 customers who purchase Parsun outboards or generators will be given a 20-percent discount, while the first 100 customers who purchase jet-skis, rigid inflatables or regular inflatables will receive a 10-percent discount.

Now that he is leaving the Island, Mr. Cox said that he plans to move to Greece and farm olives.