Established Network News

Wallenius Wilhelmsen has signed a 20-year lease agreement with the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA), with options up to 30 years for Brunswick port expansion, increasing its strategic terminal and processing networkUpgraded and enlarged Brunswick facilities will further expand the scope and scale of U.S. Southeast operations of Wallenius Wilhelmsen, which is the world's largest RoRo vessel operator.The Brunswick expansion will further cement the company’s position as the favored partner for North American customers…

Maersk's towage operator arm Svitzer announced on Thursday it has appointed Arjen Van Dijk as its new Regional Managing Director (MD) for the Americas region, effective February 1, 2020.Van Dijk is taking over from Marc Niederer, who has decided to step down due to personal reasons and is currently considering various options for his future role, the company said.Van Dijk joined Svitzer in July 2019 as regional CCO and is now advancing to Regional MD. With more than 15 years in global shipping and transportation…

Orolia announced a partnership with Radio Holland that includes the development of a Voyage Data Recorder (VDR) specifically designed for inland shipping. This solution will be designed to enhance safe navigation and ship performance and provide tools for understanding the cause of incidents. Radio Holland will also be installing Orolia’s Netwave VDR NW6000 series as its preferred global VDR solution for retrofit and new build projects, while Orolia will use  Radio Holland’s established…

Yanmar Marine Internationalhas appointed Julio Arribas as its South West European Regional Manager, a position that encompasses the roles of General Manager of both Yanmar Equipment Iberica, S.L. and the newly-established Yanmar France SAS.Arribas will spearhead the launch of Yanmar’s strengthened distribution operation and selective dealer network in France after the leading engine and propulsion specialist opened a new sales and customer representative office in La Roche-sur-Yon in September to provide dedicated local support.Currently the General Manager of Yanmar Equipment Iberica with responsibility for Spain and Portugal, Arribas…

Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics has signed a concession agreement with the Port of Zeebrugge to develop 49 hectares of land known as the Bastenaken West property located in the inner port. With this concession, in place until 2043, the company will nearly double its terminal footprint. WWL will invest about USD 20 million during the next two to three years. “The agreement marks the next step in WWL’s long-term commitment to the Port of Zeebrugge, the largest RoRo port in the world, and positions the company for continued growth and expansion all across Northern Europe,” says Ray Fitzgerald,President & COO WWL Landbased. Since beginning its relationship with the Port of Zeebrugge in 1999…

MasterCraft announced that it has acquired NauticStar, a leading manufacturer and distributor of 18-28 foot, high-quality bay boats, deck boats and offshore center console boats for approximately $79.8 million. Founded in 2002, NauticStar, located in Amory, Mississippi, is privately owned and operated. With more than 15 years of boat manufacturing experience—including a 200,000 square-foot manufacturing facility—NauticStar has a reputation for reliability, quality and consistency, with a loyal network of dealers and customers including professional and sport fishermen, and recreational and pleasure boating enthusiasts. NauticStar currently sells its boats in the United States through an established network of approximately 70 dealers.

MacGregor, part of Cargotec, and China State Shipbuilding Corporation's (CSSC) Nanjing Luzhou Machine Co Ltd (LMC) signed a joint venture contract  to form CSSC Luzhou MacGregor Machine Co Ltd. Subject to all relevant authority approvals, expected within this year, LMC will own 51 percent and MacGregor 49 percent of the new joint venture company. As a first step, the joint venture will cover the transfer of Hatlapa marine air compressor technology over a two-year period. CSSC Luzhou MacGregor Machine Co Ltd will be located in Nanjing and will have exclusive sales rights for the air compressors in China. Outside China, service, spare parts and new sales will be undertaken by MacGregor's established network.

ZF Marine penetrates domestic inland waterway markets – enjoying good success with two U.S. majors. The prospects for an even brighter future hinge on the performance of its early entries. So far, so good. It’s no secret that the domestic, inland marine business can be conservative in its approach to adopt new technologies, but then, this can probably be said of the global waterfront, as well. But the market is changing, driven by larger corporate entities moving into these tightly held markets, as well as a myriad of legislative and operational conditions – namely the rapidly rising cost of fuel. ZF Marine – or more specifically ZF Marine Krimpen b.v.…

American Crane & Equipment Corporation, an Eastern Pennsylvania based manufacturer of overhead electric cranes and hoist says it has appointed Karen Norheim, formerly Vice President of Marketing and Information Technology, as Executive Vice President. Karen Norheim joined the company in 2002 and has served as Vice President of Marketing and Information Technology for the past six years. As VP of Marketing and IT, Norheim coordinated marketing activities and established network and computer systems for this large manufacturing corporation. Norheim studied at Pennsylvania State University, earning two undergraduate degrees in Marketing/International Business and International Studies. She also earned a Master’s Degree in Information Science and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration.

When German industrial manufacturing giant ZF bought Holland Rudder Propeller nearly five years ago, it was a strategic addition to its ZF Marine portfolio that is now reaping big rewards as it is enjoying strong penetration of its azimuth thruster systems in the U.S. towboat market. Maritime Reporter & Engineering News visited with Frank van der Vegt, Sales Manager, Commercial Craft Thruster Systems, at the ZF Marine Krimpen B.V. factory in The Netherlands for an update. The marine business…

Hamburg based Rickmers-Linie has appointed Interliner Agencies as its new agent in South Central Europe. The agency contract covers Slovenia, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Croatia, Serbia, Albania, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Macedonia and Montenegro. On September 1, 2014, Interliner Agencies took over all sales and agency activities in the above mentioned countries for and on behalf of Rickmers-Linie. Gerhard Janssen, Director Marketing and Sales Europe at Rickmers-Linie commented on the appointment of Interliner Agencies…

The third meeting of the Navigation Safety Advisory Group (NSAG) recently met to consider safety of navigation concerns in Australian waters. (NSAG is the peak consultative body for matters relating to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority's (AMSA) responsibilities for the safety of navigation in Australian waters). The meeting attracted 24 navigation practitioners and representatives from the Australian Hydrographic Service, port and state marine authorities, industry peak bodies, shipping companies and marine pilots.

BOURBON opens a new affiliate in Saint Petersburg, Bourbon Baltic, which will provide clients with first-class ship management resources. It complements BOURBON’s current operations in Sakhalin. Global leader in offshore oil and gas marine services, BOURBON opens Bourbon Baltic, an affiliate based in Saint Petersburg, Russia, to optimize vessel crew recruitment and continue offering oil and gas clients around the world top quality ship management services for their offshore needs. BOURBON affiliates are strategically located around the world to work closely with local stakeholders and get access to highly skilled seafarers. North-western Russia with its center in St Petersburg has a long-standing tradition of maritime activity and was chosen by BOURBON for the Group’s Russian affiliate.

Michael Else & Company, manager of the Charterers P&I Club and Transmarine, has launched a new product to provide innovative insurance solutions worldwide for small and medium-sized multimodal transport operators and shipping intermediaries such as freight forwarders, NVOCCs and ship agents. The new product, Portside Insurance Management Services operates as a brand within Michael Else & Company’s existing structure and the security is provided 100 per cent by Torus Insurance (UK) Ltd, rated A M Best A- (Excellent). Christopher Else, Managing Director of Michael Else & Company, says, “We are excited to be launching a new product that fits so well with our existing brands and which will immediately benefit from our established network of clients, brokers and suppliers.

The Republic of Vanuatu, with an established network of offices, deputy commissioners, special agents and inspectors in Asia – Tokyo, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand -- has expanded its presence in the People’s Republic of China with the recent establishment of an office in Shanghai. On May 1, 2007, Mr. C.C.Tan, Deputy Commissioner of Maritime Affairs, Singapore and China and managing director of Richfield Marine Agencies (S) Pte Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Richfield International Ltd, officially opened the Shanghai office of the Vanuatu Maritime Registry. This move is part…

management solutions to the marine industry. Under this agreement, MOBEX will distribute StarTrak's products and services in the marine market throughout North America. StarTrak recently introduced the wireless communications product BargeTrak, a solar powered wireless solution contained in a single package about the size of a notebook. "BargeTrak is an important product that has been in development and trials for the past two years," said Tim Slifkin, StarTrak's founder and President. "In addition to offering increased security, we believe our solution will bring revolutionary changes to the inland and coastal marine industry with significant improvements in barge utilization…