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American Roll News

21 Feb 2024

ARC Keeps the Cargo Rolling

Flags on M/V ARC Defender.
Image courtesy ARC

With a fleet of nine U.S.-flag RoRo ships, American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier Group (ARC), is the U.S.’ premier commercial RoRo carrier of U.S. government and military cargo. As the world becomes an increasingly contentious place, Eric P. Ebeling, President & CEO, ARC, discusses the vast capabilities of the ARC fleet and logistics network, as well as the challenges and opportunities ahead for U.S.-flag ships in the international trade.By the numbers’ is a simplistic means to gauge the size and shape of any shipping company…

05 Feb 2024

ARC Adds Ninth US-flag RoRo Vessel to Its Fleet

(Photo: ARC)

American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier Group Inc. (ARC) added ARC Honor as the ninth American flag roll-on roll-off (Ro-Ro) vessel to its fleet.“This tremendously capable and flexible U.S.-flag ship is crewed by American merchant mariners and now operates in ARC’s global network supporting America’s national defense and economic security through trade,” said Eric Ebeling, ARC President & CEO. The vessel is ARC’s fourth large car/truck carrier (LCTC) vessel.The former Tulane was re-flagged to American registry and re-named the ARC Honor on February 2, 2024.

17 Oct 2023

US Bolsters Its Sealift and Tanker Support Fleets

The United States has bolstered its fleet of U.S.-flagged sustainment sealift vessels and product tankers to support the Department of Defense (DoD) during times of armed conflict or national emergency.The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) in recent months has been building up fleets of commercial vessels under its Maritime Security Program (MSP) and Tanker Security Program (TSP), and on Tuesday it announced full enrollment in each.The newly selected MSP vessels Liberty Power and Tulane operate under Liberty Global Logistics, LLC of Lake Success, N.Y. and American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier Group Inc.'s (ARC) shipowning component Fidelio Limited Partnership of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., respectively.

25 Sep 2023

White House Appoints ARC CEO Eric Ebeling to King’s Point Board of Visitors

Eric P. Ebeling (Photo: ARC)

American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier Group Inc. (ARC) President and CEO Eric P. Ebeling was appointed by President Joe Biden to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy’s Board of Visitors.The Board of Visitors provides independent advice and recommendations concurrently to the President of the United States, the Secretary of Transportation, Congress, and Superintendent of the Academy on matters related to the state of morale and discipline, curriculum, instruction, physical equipment, fiscal affairs…

09 Mar 2023

Orca AI Lands Deals with ARC and Liberty

Maritime technology company Orca AI announced it has secured deals with U.S. Ro-Ro operators Liberty Maritime Corporation and American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier (ARC) to deploy its automated situational awareness platform across their respective fleets. Liberty was one of the early collaborators with Orca AI, deploying the first Orca AI unit on a US flag Ro-Ro vessel (Liberty Pride) in 2019.The platform, which is installed on Liberty’s ro-ro vessels and on ARC’s entire fleet, acts as a fully automatic watch-keeper, powered by computer vision and deep learning algorithms that detect, track and classify navigation-applicable targets that may pose a risk to the vessel.It is operational 24/7, prioritizes risk and presents it in a user-friendly interface.

22 Mar 2022

Crowley Completes First Vessel Acquisition for MARAD's Ready Reserve Force

(Photo: Stena RoRo)

Crowley Maritime Corporation announced it has managed the first vessel acquisition under its contract to help recapitalize a sealift fleet with the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD).In 2021, Crowley was awarded a multi-year vessel acquisition and management (VAM) contract to help recapitalize MARAD's Ready Reserve Force (RRF). It is now spearheading the acquisition and conversion of two vehicle carriers from American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier Group in collaboration with Stena RoRo, Serco and LCE (Life Cycle Engineering).The first vessel to be acquired, Honor, will be followed by Freedom.

27 Jan 2022

ARC Reflags Two RoRo Ships to US Fleet

(Photo: ARC)

American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier Group Inc. (ARC) said it recently reflagged two ships to the U.S.-flag fleet. The two vessels, ARC Commitment and ARC Defender, were reflagged with the U.S. Coast Guard to American-flag registry in Jacksonville, Fla. in December 2021 and January 2022 respectively.Both ships are enrolled in the Maritime Security Program (MSP), the Congressional maritime readiness program that maintains a modern, active fleet of U.S.-flag, privately-owned ships…

24 Aug 2020

Hilburn Rejoins Crowley Solutions as VP, Business Development

Bleu Hilburn (Photo: Crowley)

Logistics executive Bleu Hilburn is returning to Crowley Solutions as vice president of business development for all government services. In this role, Hilburn will develop strategies to build a customer pipeline, qualify opportunities and manage all aspects of marketing, bid and capture management to drive growth and build deep relationships with government customers for Solutions.Hilburn, a 2015 Thomas Crowley Award winner, the company’s highest honor for employees, will start Aug.

20 Feb 2020

Fitzgerald to Rejoin Crowley as COO

Ray Fitzgerald (Photo: Crowley)

Crowley Maritime Corp. announced today that Ray Fitzgerald, who began his career with Crowley and most recently served as president and chief operating officer of Wallenius Wilhelmsen Solutions, and chairman of American Roll-on Roll-off Carrier (ARC), will rejoin the company March 1 as chief operating officer reporting to Tom Crowley, company chairman and CEO. He will be based at the company’s headquarters in Jacksonville, Fla.Fitzgerald will lead the team of Crowley’s four senior vice presidents and general managers: Rocky Smith…

07 Nov 2019

ARC Adds New Ship

American Roll-on Roll-off Carrier (ARC) announced that its M/V ARC Integrity loaded equipment from the Army’s 1st Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) at the port of Rotterdam.The ARC Integrity is ARC’s latest addition to the U.S.-flag fleet, having re-flagged to U.S. registry in Bremerhaven, Germany in October 2019. ARC Integrity moved a mix of helicopters, vehicles, containers, and other ground support equipment for 1st CAB, the “Demon” Brigade, which now returns home to Fort Riley, Kansas after a ninth month rotation in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve.The 3rd CAB “Marne Air” out of Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia replaces the 1st CAB in Europe.

17 Sep 2019

ARC to Christen 3 Vessels on Friday

American Roll-on Roll-off Carrier (ARC) will christen the ARC Resolve, ARC Integrity and the ARC Independence, welcoming three of the most versatile and militarily-useful ships to the U.S.-flag commercial fleet, on Friday in the Port of Baltimore.ARC’s three, new vessels will be enrolled in the Maritime Security Program (MSP), the bedrock Congressional maritime readiness program, and the Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA).Maritime Administrator Mark H. Buzby will deliver the keynote address at the ship naming ceremony. He will be joined by several other distinguished speakers: Major General Michael C. Wehr, director of Strategic Plans, Policy, and Logistics (J5/J4) at U.S.

08 Jul 2019

ARC Wins Time Charter from MSC

ARC, the largest U.S.-flag roll-on roll-off (Ro-Ro) carrier, said that it was awarded a 38-day time charter contract  by the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command (MSC), for the charter of the M/V Resolve.The American Roll-on Roll-off Carrier (ARC) said in a press release that approximately 65,000 square feet of military cargo was loaded on to the M/V Resolve today by the 841st Transportation Battalion in Charleston, South Carolina for onward delivery to Ash Shuaiba, Kuwait.Resolve is 623-foot long, American-flag, roll-on, roll-off vessel enrolled in the Military Security Program (MSP).MSP is a Defense Department program that maintains a fleet of U.S.-flag…

18 Mar 2019

ARC Loads Cargo in Thessaloniki

The largest U.S.-flagged roll-on roll-off (Ro-Ro) carrier American Roll-on Roll-off Carrier (ARC) said that its M/V Patriot loaded equipment for the Army’s 4th Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) at the port of Thessaloniki.M/V Patriot moved a mix of helicopters, vehicles, containers and support equipment used to take part in Operation Atlantic Resolve for 4th CAB, which is returning to Fort Carson, Colorado. 4th CAB is being replaced by 1st CAB from Ft. Riley, Kansas, said a press release.Operation Atlantic Resolve has been ongoing in Europe since 2014, it said.“I am very impressed to see what a complicated logistical undertaking it is to bring an army unit like this one here to Greece” said Geoffrey R. Pyatt, U.S.

25 Feb 2017

Crew 'Safe & Well' After Ship Fire

A Fire and Rescue Marine Response team was airlifted on board of the US car carrier, MV Honor, which caught fire in the English Channel after leaving Southampton headed for the USA at about 3.45am on Friday. The American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier Shipping (ARC) vehicle carrier was en route to Baltimore, in the state of Maryland, USA from Southampton. 21 crew are on board. The vessel caught fire on cargo deck shortly after leaving Southampton in UK on 50 nautical miles northwest of Cherbourg. The UK Coastguard was contacted at 0345, and is now coordinating the incident. In a statement, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said the Honor’s fixed firefighting systems were used to attack the fire and the cargo space has been sealed.

25 Jan 2017

FMC Commissioner Doyle Rejects Blanket Authorities for Foreign Ro/Ro Carriers

Commissioner William P. Doyle Votes to reject joint contracting authority for Ro/Ro foreign carriers to negotiate collectively for U.S.-Flag tug services. Doyle's Statement, shown below, says new rules go beyond the scope of the Shipping Act and shipping practices harmful to U.S. Today, I voted to disapprove the roll-on roll-off (Ro/Ro) WLL/Eukor/ARC/Glovis Cooperative Working Agreement amendment involving Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics AS (WWL), Eukor Car Carriers Inc. (Eukor), American Roll-on Roll-off Carrier LLC (ARC), and Hyundai Glovis Co. Ltd. (Glovis) (collectively Parties). This amendment filed with the Federal Maritime Commission seeks to broaden the authority of the Parties to jointly solicit bids for contracts covering the provision of tug services…

27 Dec 2016

Wilhelmsen, Wallenius One Step Closer to Merger

Wilhelmsen and Wallenius have signed an agreement leading to a new ownership structure for their jointly owned investments in Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics, EUKOR Car Carriers and American Roll on Roll off Carrier. Signing the transaction agreement is an important milestone in the merger as announced in September,” says Jan Eyvin Wang, president and CEO of Wilh. Wilhelmsen ASA. “The final go ahead is pending approval from competition authorities and the respective entities’ shareholders.” Wilh. Wilhelmsen ASA will issue shares to Wallenius Lines in exchange for their shares of the currently joint investments. At the completion of the merger, Wilhelmsen and Wallenius will hold 37.8% and 48% of the new entity to be named Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics ASA.

15 Sep 2016

Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics: No Change in Long Term Ownership Structure

* The Norwegian Wilhelmsen family sees no change in the planned ownership structure in Wilh. * The current plan is that Wilh. * "I don't think their plan is to sell shares (from the planned 40 percent). There has been no indication on that. We both have good long term systems and we want to the see the effects of this in the merger and to improve the constellation", chief executive officer Thomas Wilhelmsen in Wilh.

07 Jul 2014

Trident Alliance Formed, First Members Announced

The Trident Alliance, a shipping industry initiative for enforcement of maritime sulphur regulations, has today been formally launched. The Trident Alliance is a coalition of shipowners and operators who share a common interest in robust enforcement of maritime sulphur regulation and are willing to collaborate to help bring it about. The Alliance will partner with other groups who share its interest in robust enforcement, to support this objective. The Trident Alliance welcomes all shipping companies that subscribe to the above. The current membership list includes: American Roll-on Roll-off Carrier (ARC), EUKOR Car Carriers Inc., Höegh Autoliners, J. Lauritzen, Maersk, Rickmers-Linie, Stena, Torvald Klaveness, UECC, Unifeeder and Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics.

28 Aug 2014

Nine Share in US$6-B DoD Contract Modifications

The US Department of Defense informs that nine companies have each been awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity fixed-price option-year two modifications for international ocean and intermodal distribution services (Universal Services Contract-7). Matson Navigation Company Inc., Oakland, California, estimated $9,645,286 (P00034 to HTC711-12-D-W014). The modifications bring the total cumulative face value of the program to $5,932,834,105. Work will be performed worldwide as specified on each individual order, with an expected completion date of Aug. 31, 2015. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 and 2015 transportation working capital funds to be obligated on individual task orders. U.S.

11 Sep 2014

Shippers Must Reduce Costs, Boost Efficiency

Michael Wilson

So what’s keeping ship operators awake at night these days? Plenty, it seems. Sluggish recovery from a lingering worldwide recession, unsustainable debt loads, endemic overcapacity in most shipping trades, punishing freight rates, rising costs of fuel and regulatory compliance and a lingering sense that ships are not running as efficiently as they could. The last two topics – reducing fuel costs while complying with emission regulations and improving ship operating efficiency – will take center stage at SHIPPINGInsight 2014, scheduled for Sept. 30 – Oct. 2 in Stamford, Conn.

06 Oct 2014

TOTE Services Announces New Business

TOTE Services, Inc. won a five-year ship management contract by American Roll-on Roll-off Carrier (ARC).  The seven-ship ARC fleet consists of Pure Car Truck Carriers that carry cargo in U.S. – International trades for the U.S. Government and its various agencies.  TOTE Services will provide crewing, purchasing and other back office support functions for ARC from its headquarters in Jacksonville, FL.  Work will begin on January 1, 2015. Philip H. Greene, Jr., TOTE Services’ president, commented that this addition to the company portfolio will be a close partnership between ARC and TOTE Services and added, “we are excited to be working with ARC again and are pleased to be a partner in supporting their commercial success.”

11 Nov 2014

Condition Based Monitoring & Saving Cash

Profitability in shipping goes up and down in waves. 2012 wasn’t too bad, with annual operating costs shrinking by 1.8% on average versus 2011, when average costs rose 2.1%, but 2013 weighed anchor in the losses column for many. And 2014? So far the waters are choppy, with the overall mood up in May but dipping down in the quarter that ended in August, according to Moore Stephen’s quarterly Shipping Confidence Survey. Much of what worries the industry concerns issues over which it has little to no control – oversupply…

06 Sep 2016

Wilhelmsen and Wallenius to Merge

Wilhelmsen and Wallenius have signed a letter of intent to establish a new ownership structure for their jointly owned investments. The new entity, Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics ASA, will form a more efficient management structure and enable further synergies between the joint ventures. “The markets in which the jointly owned entities operate are going through rapid change and require a more agile and efficient business model. In addition to establishing a common owner and governance structure, the proposed merger is expected to enable synergies between USD 50-100 million by combining the assets and harvesting economies of scale, including more optimal tonnage planning…