Diverse Product News

Damen Shipyards Group has entered into a share purchase agreement with Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) for the acquisition of its majority share in Daewoo Mangalia Heavy Industries (DMHI). The Daewoo shipyard in Mangalia, Romania was established in 1997 as a joint venture between Daewoo and 2 Mai Mangalia Shipyard with Daewoo as majority shareholder. With the acquisition of the majority share in the shipyard in Mangalia, Damen takes the next step in strengthening its international shipbuilding and ship repair activities. The Mangalia shipyard is located on the Black Sea coast.

Despite many adversities for the maritime sector over the last year, seaborne perishable reefer trade increased in 2015 – and is forecast to grow further still in 2016. By 2020, seaborne reefer cargo will reach a staggering 120 million tonnes – increasing by an average of 2.5% per annum, according to the latest edition of the Reefer Shipping Market Review and Forecast 2016/17, published by global shipping consultancy Drewry. While future seaborne cargo growth levels are lower than those of the last decade (3.1%), such increases will have a direct effect on both container lines with reefer capacity and specialised reefer operators. With over 400 containerships with reefer capacity yet to be delivered…

Vessel manufacturer Metal Shark has reached an agreement with Damen Shipyards to market Damen designs, which the company will construct at its Franklin, Louisiana shipyard. “We are proud to offer globally proven Damen designs as we expand our footprint in new markets,” said Metal Shark president Chris Allard. The Damen announcement caps off a busy year for Metal Shark, which announced the acquisition of its new Franklin shipyard in January. In April, Metal Shark hired marine industry veteran Carl Wegener, previously of Austal USA and Kvichak Marine, as its director of commercial sales.

There’s a new designer in the driving seat at Alu Design. Per Ivar Selvaag, the former Lead Designer at BMW Group and Chief Designer of Peugeot’s concept car division, has signed an agreement with the Kristiansand, Norway-based company to design its marine pilot and operator chairs. In what Alu Design CEO Einar Ulrichsen describes as “a huge coup for the business”, Selvaag and his team at San Francisco-based Montaag have agreed to work on the firm’s molded aluminum chairs on an ongoing project-by-project basis. As part of the deal, Montaag will not design marine chairs for any other manufacturer. “This is an incredible development,” said Ulrichsen.

Crowley Maritime Corporation’s petroleum distribution group in Alaska says it has been recognized by Shell Oil Products US as the 2013 Health, Safety, Security & Environment (HSSE) wholesaler of the year. As Shell’s sole wholesale distributor in Alaska, Crowley faces unique challenges including remote locations, harsh environments, a diverse product and customer base, limited supply options and large fluctuations in seasonal demand. The company currently services 17 Shell-branded retail stations, three of which are owned and operated by Crowley.

North of England P&I Association (North) and Sunderland Marine Mutual Insurance Company Limited (SMMI) merged to form the North Group on Friday 28 February 2014 following approval by the Bank of England’s Prudential Regulatory Authority and other U.K. and overseas regulators. The merger between two of the longest-established and most successful international marine insurance businesses - both of which are based in north-east England - has created one of the largest global marine insurance operations, with a premium income of over $500 million, free reserves of $350 million and total assets of $1,500 million. North Group has been over two years in the making, starting with a strategic alliance between North and SMMI in January 2012.

The members of North of England P&I Association (North) and Sunderland Marine Mutual Insurance Company Limited (SMMI) have voted in favor of the clubs' recent proposals to merge. A target date of February 21, 2014 has been set for the merger, which will create one of the largest marine insurance operations. At their general meeting on 16 January 2014, North's members approved the terms of the merger framework agreement signed by the two north-east England based mutuals last month.

Hoover Container Solutions, a subsidiary of Hoover Group, Inc., has acquired Dolphin Energy Equipment LLC, a leading provider of cargo and waste management rental equipment and related consumables in the Gulf of Mexico region. Headquartered in New Iberia, La., with a distribution and service center in Port Fourchon, La., Dolphin’s assets include a diversified fleet of cargo carrying units (“CCUs”) certified to the highest standards including DNV and API regulations. Dolphin is best known for its offshore baskets, trash compactors, food disposal units, pipe slings and related consumables and services. Hoover’s Chief Executive Officer…

J.F. Lehman & Company acquired ACR Electronics, Inc. from Chelton Avionics, Inc., a subsidiary of Cobham plc. ACR Electronics, Inc. is a leading provider of safety products and solutions to the aviation, marine, military and commercial markets worldwide. The Company’s core products include life-saving devices such as rescue beacons, safety lights, and other safety equipment which have been sold for decades under the ACR and Artex brands. “We are very pleased to have the opportunity to invest in ACR Electronics,” said Stephen Brooks, Partner at J.F. Lehman. “ACR Electronics is a market leader in many of J.F. Lehman’s core end-markets and has a strong reputation for quality and engineering expertise across a diverse product suite with both military and civilian customers.

Roxtec International AB, manufacturer of modular pipe and cable penetration sealing systems, has acquired Sleev-It Fire Systems Ltd of the United Kingdom. The acquisition of Sleev-It will enhance the Roxtec line of sealing products by providing shipyards with a lightweight firestop for plastic pipes. Sleev-It marine penetration seals expand the already diverse product offerings of Roxtec for fire-sealing in A & B fire-rated sections. Sleev-It Fire Systems Ltd will continue to operate under its current name.

Following the success of a previous vessel sharing agreement, Danish carrier Maersk Line announced the establishment of a new Vessel Sharing Agreement (VSA) with French-based CMA-CGM utilizing both the Panama and Suez Canals, which will commence in May 2009. Additionally, further adjustments to the Maersk Line network will provide customers with significant benefits. This new VSA follows almost a year of successful cooperation between the two companies in a trans-Pacific agreement, and represents further rightsizing of capacity in the trans-Pacific trade. Demonstrating a new perspective on service to North America, Maersk Line and CMA-CGM provide two strings with new services for customers.

VT Halter Marine Inc., a subsidiary of Vision Technologies Systems Inc., launched a 95-foot sea-going ferry from its Mississippi-based Pascagoula Operations. Christened the Caribeña, the all-aluminum vessel was designed and built by VT Halter Marine for the Puerto Rico Port Authority. Capable of carrying 272 passengers, the Caribeña will provide inter- island transportation for the Fajardo-Vieques-Culebra Ferry Line. It will be U.S. Coast Guard classed sub-chapter “K” and U.S. flagged. VT Halter Marine plans to complete and deliver the Caribeña during the second quarter of 2004. It could take 10 or more days to make the 1600- mile trip to the Caribeña’s home at the Port of Fajardo, a city located on the east side of the Island of Puerto Rico.

VT Halter Marine Inc., a subsidiary of Vision Technologies Systems Inc., has launched a 95-ft sea-going ferry from its Mississippi-based Pascagoula Operations. Christened the Caribeña, the all-aluminum vessel was designed and built by VT Halter Marine for the Puerto Rico Port Authority. Capable of carrying 272 passengers, the Caribeña will provide inter- island transportation for the Fajardo-Vieques-Culebra Ferry Line. It will be U.S. Coast Guard classed sub-chapter "K" and U.S. flagged. VT Halter Marine plans to complete and deliver the Caribeña during the second quarter of 2004. It could take 10 or more days to make the 1600- mile trip to the Caribeña's home at the Port of Fajardo, a city located on the east side of the Island of Puerto Rico.

Crowley Maritime Corporation christened the first of six new 185,000-barrel Articulated Tug-Barge (ATB) tank vessels that the company will take delivery of over the next two and half years. The vessels christened were the 9,280 HP-tug Pacific Reliance and barge 650-1. At ceremonies held at the Mobile Convention Center on South Water Street, Constance Crowley Peabody, aunt of Tom Crowley Jr., company chairman, president and CEO, christened the Pacific Reliance, while Janet Bishop from ConocoPhillips, christened barge 650-1. Crowley's Petroleum Services group will charter the VT Halter Marine-built ATB from Crowley's vessel construction and naval architecture subsidiary, Vessel Management Services, and operate it for ConocoPhillips under a three-year agreement.