Equilinx, a business-to-business e-commerce hub for the marine industry, will launch the world's
first international online marketplace for ship repair and replacement parts, equipment and services in the second quarter of 2000.
This
new global maritime procurement gateway will combine comprehensive databases of catalogs with a sophisticated search engine that allows buyers to locate parts for ship repairs and maintenance. Sapient, a leading e-services consultancy, is providing the digital business strategy, creative design, and implementation to power this new gateway.
Commerce One, a leader in global e-commerce solutions for business and Vitria Technology, a leading provider of eBusiness infrastructure software, will provide the technological foundation of the initiative.
Equilinx previewed the gateway to the public at the Seatrade Cruise Shipping Convention held earlier this month in Miami Beach, Fla.
"Equilinx is essentially Web-enabling and streamlining the maritime procurement process for buyers and suppliers,'' said Jim Ungerleider, CEO and president of Equilinx. "With millions of dollars being lost due to inefficiencies and delays, Equilinx intends to help fleet managers reduce inventory costs, support special vendor agreements and reduce the time their ships are out of commission.''
Created by a diverse team of life-long marine engineers and Internet savvy professionals, Equilinx's search engine not only locates specific parts, but also lists a variety of excellent alternatives based on form, fit and function specifications. Parts can then be purchased from anywhere in the world at any time of day through a secure, password-protected server that ensures confidential transactions.
Equilinx has signed on several premier buyers and industry suppliers as charter members, including Maersk Line, the world's largest provider of containerized transport solutions, and Osprey Ship Management, Inc., which was established by American Automar, Inc. as its ship management subsidiary to manage vessels owned by the Automar Group and its joint ventures.