Dean Kurutz News

Radio Holland Canada has won two major contracts to support the Canadian Coast Guard. Public Works and Government Services Canada, which is responsible for government procurement, has awarded Radio Holland Canada a multimillion dollar contract to supply Furuno ECDIS and radars for the Canadian Coast Guard fleet over the next five years. In a separate agreement Hike Metal Products of Wheatley, Ontario has contracted Radio Holland to supply the Navigation & Communication equipment for six new Canadian Coast Guard Search and Rescue Lifeboats.

After 30 years of service to Furuno USA, Inc., Jim Atteridge is retiring as President and assuming a new role, as Director and Corporate Advisor. Effective December 1, 2014, Brad Reents will assume the role of President and CFO of Furuno USA, Inc. Reents has been with Furuno USA for 15 years in the role of Treasurer and Board Member. Reents is a licensed CPA and brings with him years of experience as a financial officer. Prior to Furuno USA, Reents worked at accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers. In addition to the presidential change, Furuno USA, Inc.

Tidewater Inc., a provider of Offshore Service Vessels to the global energy industry, has selected Furuno USA, Inc. as a primary supplier for their BNWAS (Bridge Navigation Watch Alarm System) needs. With hundreds of vessels that vary from Platform Supply and Fast Crew Supply Vessels, to Offshore Tugs and a variety of other specialty vessels, the installation project will take the majority of 2013 to complete. Furuno’s BR500 BNWAS is a casualty avoidance system that monitors the watch officer's presence on the bridge.

Furuno USA, the largest U.S. supplier of GMDSS equipment, was awarded a contract to supply over 250 of its FA100 Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) to Houston-based Kirby Inland Marine, LP, a subsidiary of publicly traded (NYSE) Kirby Corporation. Kirby Inland Marine operates the nation’s largest fleet of inland tank barges and towing vessels. They transport a variety of petrochemicals, refined products, black oils and agricultural chemicals efficiently and safely throughout the inland waterways of the United States. Kirby operates 882 active inland tank barges and 226 active towing vessels. In order to bring their applicable vessels into compliance with new Maritime Security requirements, Kirby Inland Marine and Furuno joined forces to retrofit their vessels with Furuno’s FA100.

As a direct response to growing demands and the introduction of new products such as the GSA contracts with the U.S. government, Furuno U.S.A. has recently promoted four executives. The promotions Dean Kurutz has been promoted to marketing manager. For the past nine years, he held the position of National Sales Manager for Furuno USA. Matt Wood has been promoted to the position of Sales Manager. For the past year, Wood had managerial responsibilities for both the Southwest and Northwest Territories, as well as working on special projects involving the Commercial Fishing, Deep Sea and Government markets. In his new position, he will expand his managerial responsibilities to include the entire U.S. Eric Kunz has been promoted to Senior Product Manager.