Customer Services News

Techcross reports positive responses from its customers in the service sector premised on it providing proactive services and troubleshooting through the Techcross Smart Platform. The Smart Platform, launched early last year, is a service platform that collects and analyzes all log data of BWMS in real-time.Customers can receive proactive solutions from Techcross through the Smart Platform before any issues related to equipment failures, malfunctions or maintenance arise. In the past year…

Auramarine, provider of fuel supply systems and other auxiliary equipment for the marine, power and process industries, announced its relocation in Shanghai, China.Auramarine’s CEO John Bergman said, “Our new factory enables us to increase our production capacity to meet the demands of the coming years, while also providing a first-class working environment for our dedicated staff. All of these improvements will result in shorter lead times, a wider variety of testing possibilities…

Offshore drilling operator Valaris has extended its service agreement with Survitec, a provider of survival technology solutions, for another three years.The master service and supply contract, originally signed in 2016, covers the annual and five-year inspection, servicing, and maintenance of LSA, including lifeboats, davits, and fast rescue crafts across Valaris’ global fleet of 11 drill ships, 5 semi-submersibles and 36 jack-up rigs.Survitec said:"An extensive network of more…

E-learning technology and service provider secures £10,000 grant to implement proof of concept for end-to-end crew training solution aboard working ferryInmarsat announced that e-learning technology and service provider Marine Learning Systems (MLS) as the winner of the its inaugural Ferry Open Innovation Challenge, a competition inviting start-ups and SMEs to propose digital solutions that promise to enhance the working lives of ferry crews. Launched in January 2022 in collaboration with the largest ferry operator in Greece…

Inmarsat, Attica Group and Thetius have teamed to jointly launched the ‘Inmarsat Ferry Open Innovation Challenge: Crew Training and Entertainment,' a competition which inspired start-ups and SMEs to deliver digital solutions to enhance the training or enrich the leisure hours of seafarers. Applications are invited for solutions in four work-related areas: ship familiarization, regulatory training, emergency response and customer services – all of which must support content delivered in Greek…

Finland-based CADMATIC said it is expanding its presence in Canada to support Seaspan Shipyards and to drive business development in the North American region. A local Canadian business entity, CADMATIC INC. has been set up in Vancouver and the recruitment of employees has started.The first employee for local customer services has already been hired. For the immediate future, CADMATIC plans to recruit more hull and outfitting application specialists, with other recruitments to support business development to follow.CADMATIC’s key customer in the region…

Danish roro ship operator DFDS secured a contract from Swedish paper producer Stora Enso to transport 700,000 tons of paper annually on a new route between Gothenburg, Sweden and Zeebrugge,BelgiumDFDS will acquire two freight ferries for the route, said the release. The new route will be operated by three freight ferries. Two freight ferries - Slingeborg and Schieborg - will be acquired from third party owners for DKK 270m.In addition, one freight ferry will be transferred from DFDS' existing route between Gothenburg and Ghent that currently deploys four freight ferries. The significant increase in departure frequency between Sweden and Belgium will enhance customer services and support the growth of our customers.The route is expected to begin operating mid June…

German-based global cargo container shipping line, Hapag-Lloyd AG Hapag-Lloyd set to implement XVELA’s collaboration services to increase transparency throughout the transportation supply chain and more efficiently employ assets and resources.A press release from XVELA, the world’s first maritime business network for ocean carriers and terminal operators, said that both companies plan to initiate the global rollout on one of Hapag Lloyd’s premier Latin American services and will continue to broaden throughout its terminal partners. XVELA is an affiliate of Navis.This ‘Phase One’ rollout will leverage XVELA’s services to further enhance communication and collaboration between Hapag-Lloyd planners and terminal partners.

As maritime operators deal with challenging operating conditions, many are embracing digitalization as the most reliable way to lower operational costs and improve vessel efficiency.According to research conducted by Lloyds List Intelligence and Ovum, two-thirds of vessels use digitalization systems onboard. According to the executives surveyed, this is being driven by a desire to improve operating efficiency, with 88 percent already working toward that goal. As part of the process…

“To be a top performer, you must embrace technology,” said Søren Meyer, Chief Strategy Officer, Maersk Tankers, speaking at the Marine Money Week conference in New York on Tuesday.Meyer was referring to the industry-wide digitalization evolution currently underway in the tanker shipping sector, as part of a panel discussion with Frank Coles, President, Transas Group, Wartsila Voyage Solutions; and Scott G. Borgerson, Ph.D., CEO, CargoMetrics Technologies LLC.Digitalization has…

The oil-to-water lubricated tailshaft conversion Thordon Bearings carried out last year to the 26,260dwt Great Lakes Fleet-managed bulk carrier SS John G. Munson has successfully completed its first season as a diesel-powered ship.The shaft conversion of the 1952-built self-unloader formed a key part of the mammoth 12-month power conversion project completed last year by Fincantieri’s Bay Shipbuilding yard, in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, U.S.The vessel’s steam propulsion plant was replaced with an energy efficient medium-speed diesel arrangement.

Intellian, a provider of satellite communication antenna systems, announced that it has established a Chinese corporation subsidiary in Shanghai and officially started operations there to better meet local customer demand. Intellian provides products and technical support to partner companies on every continent of the world through its 10 subsidiaries based in the U.S., U.K., Netherlands, Singapore and other regions. And now it has launched an additional full-scale operating subsidiary in Shanghai…

Leading global ship management company OSM Maritime Group has been awarded full crew management of Lauritzen Kosan’s entire fleet of advanced liquefied gas tankers. The agreement, covering 26 refrigerated ethylene, semi-refrigerated and pressurised gas carriers, will help Lauritzen Kosan deliver on its promise of providing optimal efficiency, safety, quality and value for its global base of energy and petrochemical customers. OSM’s focus on the provision of personal service and expert seafarers, combined with delivering significant business efficiencies and economies of scale, has seen the company grow considerably in 2017. This latest contract ranks as its largest individual win of the year, bringing the number of vessels OSM provides services to far beyond the 500 mark.

Steve Roth has been promoted to President of Seaspan Ferries Corporation (SFC). In this position, Steve will continue to have the primary accountability for the overall performance of the SFC business unit, including management of day-to-day operations of SFC, as well as the short and long-term strategic planning processes, including setting and fulfilling revenue and profitability targets and maintaining relationships with all stakeholders. He is also responsible for ensuring that customer service expectations are met or exceeded while ensuring the safe operation of SFC’s vessels…

Despite continued distressed market conditions ZIM announced today improved results for Q3 2016 on most parameters compared to Q2 2016. Despite continued distressed market conditions ZIM published today improved results for Q3 2016, posting a loss of USD 37.6M, compared to a loss of USD 74.2M in Q2 2016. The company’s EBIT margins are in the industry’s top 5. •    ZIM recorded an improvement in most of the parameters compared to Q2 2016 results. •    ZIM continues to outperform the industry average in Adjusted EBIT margins for Q3 2016, positioning ZIM among the industry’s top5. During Q3 2016, ZIM carried 622,000 TEUs, compared to 581,000 TEUs in the same period of 2015, a 7.1% increase.

Viega LLC has hired Sean Debnath as its new vice president of sales and marketing, responsible for overseeing and managing Viega’s sales, marketing, inside sales, customer services and customer relations departments. Debnath has more than 20 years of industry experience. He started his career as a hands-on scientist and gradually transitioned himself to the commercial side of the business. Prior to joining Viega, he has held vice president and director level positions in sales and marketing at Kaydon Corporation, Rexnord and Thermo Fisher Scientific.

PDMS Maritime is delighted to announce a significant new contract with the UK's Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) to provide a new integrated system to incorporate seafarer management and approved doctor records, delivering process efficiency improvements and enhanced customer services, in line with the MCA's Digital Strategy. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is an executive agency of the UK Department for Transport. Its responsibilities include UK ship registration and seafarer certification and it is widely recognised for its operational and technical ability. This investment in cutting edge digital technology is strategically aligned with the IMO's recent recommendations to reduce registry administrative burden through electronic record keeping.

The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) has observed an increase in the number of counterfeit versions of ADMIRALTY charts and publications in circulation and is re-issuing a warning over the dangers they pose to the safety of vessels, crew and cargo. These counterfeit items have not been assessed by UKHO experts, who cross check and quality assure ADMIRALTY Maritime Products & Services to ensure mariners receive up-to-date and accurate information. Information contained within counterfeit products has also not been issued officially by or on the authority of a Government…

CargoSmart Limited, a shipment management software solutions provider that leverages big data for greater visibility and benchmarking, announced that COSCO Container Lines Co. Ltd. (COSCON) has started to implement CargoSmart’s online customer service and ocean carrier analytics solutions. The customer service solutions provide COSCON with process-oriented documentation and visibility tools for its customers to manage their shipments online. The carrier operations solutions help COSCON to optimize their vessel operations. Using predictive analytics, COSCON leverages CargoSmart’s global vessel and route data to improve planning, marine operations, and cost savings. Increased visibility to vessel operation exceptions and potential disruptions enables COSCON to respond faster and save costs.

Foss Maritime Company recently announced it will open a consolidated customer service center in Oregon in April 2016. The company's existing Portland office will be renovated and modernized to incorporate the best available customer service technologies, including a state-of-the-art telephony system, heightened cyber security, and enhanced dispatching and vessel tracking capabilities. "Consolidating customer service in our Columbia Snake River location will allow us to enhance both our service and our responsiveness," said Chris Wolf, Director of Customer Service at Foss. Today, Foss serves regional, national and international customers in ports along the Pacific seaboard, Hawaii and Alaska, as well as across the globe, with a service center in Washington and Oregon, and two in California.

Thordon Bearings has signed a contract to supply COMPAC seawater-lubricated propeller shaft bearing solutions to two Jones Act containerships under construction at the Aker Philadelphia Shipyard Inc. (APSI) for Matson Navigation Company, Inc. The order represents the first large containership reference for the manufacturer and the largest commercial ship propeller shafts to be fitted with COMPAC bearings, Thordon noted. The 3600TEU Aloha Class vessels, the largest Jones Act containerships ever built…

At the Khalifa Port Container Terminal, which is operated by Abu Dhabi Terminals, container volumes increased by 41 per cent in the first seven months in 2015 over the same period in 2014. With this phenomenal growth, Abu Dhabi Port Company, the master developer, operator and manager of ports and industrial zones in the Emirate, is handling more cargo than ever before. Bolstered by rapid growth in polymer exports and transhipment activity across the Gulf, over 772,000 TEUs (twenty foot equivalent units/containers) were handled in the first seven months of 2015, up from 549,000 TEU in the same period in 2014. Abu Dhabi Terminals also…

The design evolution of Blyth Workcats will be on display at Seawork on Stand B27 where the company will be showing examples from its versatile range. Well known for their robust seaworthiness and economical performance, workboats from this well-established Essex yard are able to perform tasks that range from fisheries patrol, wind farm support, surveying, dive support, passenger ferry, fishing charter and general harbour maintenance activities. With a range consisting of 10, 11, 12, 14, 18 and 20-metre catamarans all Blyth Workcats are constructed from GRP to offer important advantages over metal-hulled boats including lower running costs and a much lower purchase price.