Equipment Management News

Damen Naval and project partner NVL Group held a steel cutting ceremony at the Peene shipyard in Wolgast, Germany for the first new multipurpose frigates for the German Navy.“We are proud to be able to start cutting steel entirely on schedule on December 5. We were able to complete the development phase in record time, something that is partly due to the excellent cooperation with BAAINBW, the Navy and the other German authorities,” said Damen Shipyards Group CEO Arnout Damen.

Maritime medical operations and public health provider VIKAND said it has entered into a multiyear agreement with Azamara to manage all medical operations aboard its four-ship fleet. Holistically designed for Azamara Quest, Azamara Journey, Azamara Pursuit, and the newest ship in the fleet, Azamara Onward, VIKAND’s comprehensive approach to cruise line healthcare includes medical facility operations, outbreak prevention and mitigation, emergency support, formulary and biomedical equipment management, medical staffing, and ongoing consultation.

Maritime medical operations and public health provider Vikand Medical Solutions, LLC said it has been appointed by American Seafoods, the world’s largest at-sea processor of wild Alaska pollock, to manage its medical operations.Holly Love, VIKAND’s vice president of medical operations, said the company has been working with American Seafoods since the end of 2020 and will now manage medical needs for all six vessels in its fleet. "This includes every aspect of onboard medical care to ensure a safe working environment, to maintain operational continuity and to reduce risk," Love said.VIKAND’s services for American Seafoods encompass total healthcare at sea: medical staff…

On April 28, 2020, the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) released the long-awaited interpretive rules in Docket No. 19-05 relating to how ocean common carriers may lawfully apply demurrage and detention charges to exporters, importers and ocean transportation intermediaries, including Customs brokers in certain circumstances and still be compliant with the “reasonableness” requirement of 46 U.S.C § 41102(c). The analyses and guidance in the interpretive rules have been in high…

Dutch maritime contracting company Van Oord is partnering with compatriot company Hendrik Veder Group for the management of heavy lifting equipment for offshore wind turbines.Rotterdam-based company active in steel wire and fibre rope products and services said that under the terms of the two-year agreement, Van Oord will outsource its hoisting and lifting equipment management to the Hendrik Veder Group, with a focus on sustainable lifting.According to Michiel Pieterman, Offshore Wind Operations Manager at Van Oord: "This partnership enables us to use lifting equipment in a sustainable way. The high-quality lifting equipment has a longer lifespan, because it is either reused or converted into new raw materials, while guaranteeing 100 percent compliance at all times.

CargoSmart, the provider of global shipment management software solutions, announced its brand-new CargoSmart Connected Reefer Solution, a one-stop reefer cargo management solution for ocean carriers and shippers.The AI and IoT-enabled solution features end-to-end information transparency, including enhanced reefer container Pre-Trip Inspection (PTI) support, real-time container status monitoring updates, and predictive cargo arrival status. It allows carriers to offer best-in-class performance to shippers with lowered operating costs. COSCO SHIPPING recorded substantial in reefer container PTI costs after adopting the solution, while…

Shell Marine has published a new White Paper that offers ship owners and operators the critical guidance they need on cylinder oils and engine care to transition successfully through the IMO global cap on fuel sulphur content from January 1, 2020.‘IMO 2020 Ready’ from Shell Marine sets out the commercial, operational and technical challenges faced by customers before, during and after the regulatory deadline. The publication gives in-depth guidance on the cylinder oils best suited…

Capturing complex bends on pipes is an art form members of the Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) Pipe Group have harnessed for many years. Now entering a more modern era with a new dual-head pipe bending machine, NNSY is able to create more precise bends in a fraction of the time, thanks to modern, automated controls. Originally, pipe benders would have to work on a semiautomatic machine where everything would have to be measured exactly and each bend would have to be checked with a protractor to guarantee the needed dimensions were captured. It was tedious work and there was a risk of wasted material should the measurements not equate to what was needed.

eMaritime group have written a new five-day Simulator Operators Training Course (SOTC) and will launch it with a free one-off session from June 19-23, 2017 at eMaritime Group HQ, Whiteley, Hampshire. The SOTC course has been written to give those who wish to teach on a maritime simulator the necessary skills, teaching techniques and aids within a standard bridge simulator environment. The course is generic to simulator training in general and so can be applied to any make or model of simulator.

ELA Container Offshore GmbH delivered an offshore office container to Heerema Marine Contractors (HMC), a marine contractor in the international offshore oil and gas industry. The container was placed on board semisubmersible crane vessel (SSCV) Thialf and was used as a control room to operate their anchor winches. The Thialf is HMC's largest SSCV, capable of a tandem lift of 15,600 tons. Its two cranes provide for a depth reach lowering capability as well as a heavy lift capacity to install topsides.

Cameron, a Schlumberger company, today announced the signing of two 10-year pressure control equipment management service contracts on behalf of Transocean valued at greater than $350 million. The first contract calls for Schlumberger to manage Transocean’s Cameron risers in the Gulf of Mexico. This comprehensive agreement includes storage, maintenance, inspection, repair, recertification and data-driven riser management on the rigs. Through the second contract, Schlumberger will provide a comprehensive suite of solutions to maintain and service blowout preventer (BOP) systems and other pressure control equipment for nine of Transocean’s ultra-deepwater and harsh environment drilling rigs.

With an eye towards environmental compliance, operational efficiencies and the bottom line, the Marine News top propulsion providers touch all bases. Sitting down to select the best engine and propulsion manufacturers in the workboat marine space isn’t necessarily the easiest task in the world. Nor is it a linear exercise. On the other hand, these Marine News featured firms – Caterpillar Marine, Volvo Penta and Yanmar – all have more in common than you might think. With a laser focus on their collective customer’s bottom lines and addressing that concern through technology, environmental compliance and economical but powerful performance, each satisfies the niche in its own particular fashion. See if you don’t agree.

Calling it “the next logical step in marine technology,” Crowley Maritime Corporation is installing Cat Asset Intelligence software on one of its vessels. The tugboat Guide, a ship-assist vessel operating out of Seattle, is being fitted with a custom vessel monitoring and diagnostics solution, which will keep watch over its main engines, generators, thrusters and critical systems 24/7. While completely automated from data capture through analysis and advisory recommendations for each piece of equipment…

MOL (America) Inc. welcomed Ronnie Armstrong to the position of vice president, area operations. He leads MOL (America) Inc.’s vessel and equipment management, intermodal services, contract management, and cost control and planning groups for the United States and Canada and has functional accountability for operations in Mexico and the Caribbean. He reports to Richard Craig, President & CEO, MOL (America) Inc. Armstrong joins MOL (America) Inc. after 20 years in the container shipping industry, including experience serving as a head of intermodal operations along with responsibility for West Coast terminals. Armstrong earned his bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of North Texas and has served on the board of directors for the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA)…

Harris CapRock Communications launched the industry’s first unified, fully managed satellite, wireless and terrestrial connectivity service designed to reduce customers’ voice, data and equipment management costs. Customers in the energy and cruise industry need to obtain reliable, always-on communications when their vessels, drilling sites and ships change their global positions and communications needs. With Harris CapRock One, they can replace current single or dual-band communications…

Caterpillar Marine has completed the acquisition of ESRG Technologies Group, LLC, a vessel monitoring and data analytics company in the marine industry. The acquisition includes ESRG’s software suite for the remote monitoring and diagnostics of more than 65 on-board systems as well as the expertise to provide meaningful recommendations to ship owners to help increase efficiency, reduce downtime on their vessels and assist shipyards in reducing warranty expenses. Headquartered in Virginia Beach…

The Pacific Ports Operational Improvements Agreement (FMC Agreement No. 201227) is set to become effective on April 17, 2015 after the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) voted unanimously for its approval. The commission said its review included evaluation of information received from the agreement parties in response to questions raised by staff and commissioners during the review period; removal of agreement authority to address commission concerns, including proposed authority to impose fees and charges on third parties; as well as consideration of public comments submitted on the agreement.

Caterpillar Marine has announced  it has completed the acquisition of ESRG Technologies Group, LLC, a vessel monitoring and data analytics leader in the marine industry. The acquisition includes ESRG’s comprehensive software suite for the remote monitoring and diagnostics of more than 65 on-board systems as well as the expertise to provide meaningful recommendations to ship owners to help increase efficiency, reduce downtime on their vessels and assist shipyards in reducing warranty expenses.

Harris CapRock Communications has launched Harris CapRock One, a unified, fully managed satellite, wireless and terrestrial connectivity service designed to reduce customers’ voice, data and equipment management costs. Harris CapRock One is an integrated end-to-end service that transparently switches between transport mediums to optimize communications for global customers. According to Harris CapRock, customers in the energy and cruise industry, for example, often struggle to obtain reliable, always-on communications when their vessels, drilling sites and ships change their global positions and communications needs. With Harris CapRock One, they can replace current single or dual-band communications support options with a multiple-medium solution.

Container leasing company, Textainer Group Holdings Limited, say that their their fleet surpassed 3 million TEU representing a major milestone for the company as well as the industry. “We are very proud to be the first leasing company to reach 3 million TEU,” commented Philip K. Brewer, President and Chief Executive Officer of Textainer. “Reaching a fleet size of 3 million TEU confirms the confidence that our customers have placed in us since our founding almost 35 years ago.

MOL has announced the following organizational changes which will take effect in August 2013. These changes will further build the MOL organization as one that customers and employees can continue to count on. Calvin Duffaut, assistant vice president, yield management and corporate communications for MOL (America) Inc. has been promoted to vice president, yield management of MOL Liner and will relocate to Hong Kong. Duffaut joined MOL in 2007 after many years of management experience in trade management, pricing and logistics with Pacer Stacktrain Ltd., American President Lines, and Lykes Bros. Steamship Inc. Duffaut holds an undergraduate degree from Yale University. He will report to Jotaro Tamura, senior vice president, liner yield management, equipment management and network operation.

Horizon Lines, Inc. has announced that William A. Hamlin has been named Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. In his new role, Mr. Hamlin will continue to report to Sam Woodward, President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Hamlin joined Horizon Lines in March 2011 as Senior Vice President of Operations. His responsibilities include ocean transportation services, inland transportation, terminals, equipment management, maintenance, network management, labor relations, security, safety and environmental.

Navis, a part of Cargotec Corporation and the global technology standard for managing the movement of cargo through terminals, announced that New Zealand-based Ports of Auckland (POAL) has selected the Navis SPARCS N4 terminal operating system (TOS) as part of a strategic technology investment. With SPARCS N4, POAL will optimize vessel and yard planning, as well as leverage the TOS as a driver for other key process improvement technologies at the terminal. After a previous engagement with another packaged TOS…