Global Container Lines, Dubai

Global Container Lines is based over in Vashi, specifically at B2 Manek Complex. We’re in Sector 29, which is a busy part of New Bombay. There’s a lot of construction usually happening nearby, so it’s rarely quiet. The office is on a plot with a few other buildings, numbers 16, 17, and 18. We spend a lot of time looking at maps and ship positions. Dubai is in our name, but our day-to-day reality is right here in India. The air smells a bit like the sea and diesel fumes from the trucks. We don’t have a lot of fancy furniture; it’s mostly just functional desks and old chairs that squeak a little. We spend our mornings catching up on emails that came in overnight. It’s a lot of coordination, making sure the people at the docks know what’s coming their way. We eat lunch together mostly, just bringing stuff from home. It’s a practical way to run a business. We don’t put on airs or try to act like we’re bigger than we are. If a customer calls, they talk to one of us directly, not some automated machine. It’s honest work and it keeps us busy from Monday to Saturday. Sometimes we stay late when a ship is behind schedule, but that's part of the trade. We just keep our heads down and handle the containers.