Gerhard E Kurz News

Mr. Robert D. Somerville, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ABS has been named as the Massachusetts Maritime Academy 2009 Maritime Person of the Year. Each year Massachusetts Maritime Academy selects a civilian or military leader who has distinguished him or herself through a career of excellence, innovation, and service to the maritime industries. The honoree is presented with the Captain Emery Rice Medal, named for an 1895 Academy graduate and hero of the First World War. The award will be presented to Mr. Somerville on November 6, 2009 at the 15th Annual Admiral’s Ball, being held at the InterContinental Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts. The Admiral’s Ball is the Academy’s largest annual fundraiser.

Seabulk International has launched its new web site at www.seabulkinternational.com. The site is designed to complement the company's recent name change from Hvide to Seabulk International and the rebranding of its three primary business segments under the Seabulk umbrella - Seabulk Offshore, Seabulk Tankers and Seabulk Towing. On the occasion of the launch, Seabulk President and CEO Gerhard E. Kurz said, "This enhanced site incorporates interactive options and real-time data to reinforce and strengthen our global one-on-one communications with customers, investors, career-seekers and other interested parties." The site offers users a searchable fleet list for the company's entire 206-vessel fleet.

SeaSupplier Ltd. (SeaSupplier), the marine e-procurement subsidiary of Stolt-Nielsen S.A. announced it has been chosen by Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., based Seabulk International to provide its total SeaManager e-procurement solution to Seabulk International's three global divisions: Seabulk Offshore, Seabulk Tankers, and Seabulk Towing . cost and time. Gerhard E. Kurz, President and Chief Executive Officer of Seabulk, commented, "This is a significant step forward in our ongoing efforts to lower costs and improve service and response time to our customers. We have evaluated several e-procurement solutions to streamline our purchasing process and reduce our costs.

Seabulk International, Inc. announced that it has agreed to purchase two 48,000-dwt product tankers from principals of World-Wide Shipping of Singapore. The tankers, the World Trumpet and World Trust, are modern double-hull vessels built in 2000 at the Daewoo Shipyard in Korea and suitable for worldwide trading. Delivery of the vessels is expected in March. They will be the first foreign-flag product tankers to join the Seabulk fleet. Seabulk currently has 10 product tankers operating in the domestic Jones Act market. "The international product market represents a new strategic direction for us," commented Gerhard E. Kurz, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, "although it is really a natural extension of our domestic tanker business where we have been active for more than 25 years.

Seabulk International, Inc. announced that its U.S.-based offshore energy support subsidiary, Seabulk Offshore, Ltd. (SOL), has been certified by the American Bureau of Shipping to be in compliance with the International Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and for Pollution Prevention (International Safety Management (ISM) Code). The Document of Compliance certification is valid for five years with an annual audit. SOL, with primary offices in Houston, Texas; Lafayette and Amelia, La., services oil and gas exploration facilities primarily in the Gulf of Mexico, operating a fleet of 60 vessels including anchor-handling tug supply vessels, supply vessels and crew boats.

Crowley Marine Services' Energy and Marine Services business unit has successfully moved the 312-ft. square concrete island drilling structure Orlan from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, to Sovietskaya Gavan in the Russian Far East for Sakhalin I Project operator, Exxon Neftegas Limited (ENL), a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corporation. The Orlan (ex Glomar Beaufort Sea I) Concrete Island Drilling System (CIDS) was purchased from Global Marine Drilling Company and will be used for oil production as part of the Sakhalin 1 project, offshore Russia. It was moved from its stack site near Northstar Island, off Prudhoe Bay using two Crowley Sea Victory Class 7,200 bhp twin screw oceangoing tugs with more than 110 tons bollard pull each.

Tidewater Inc. (NYSE:TDW) announced on March 28 that William C. O'Malley, the company's Chairman, President and CEO for most of the past eight years, has officially stepped down as Tidewater's CEO, handing over the reins of leadership to Dean E. Taylor. Taylor, 53, has served as President of Tidewater since October 2001 when O'Malley, 65, announced his impending retirement at the end of March 2002. Taylor's career with Tidewater started in 1978 where he served as an assistant manager in the company's Morgan City, La. office. With his Navy background and business savvy, Taylor gradually worked his way up through Tidewater's ranks to become an executive vice president in December of 2000.

In the latest of various corporate changes that have occurred at Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Hvide Marine, the company has elected Gerhard E. Kurz as CEO and a member of its Board of Directors. He replaces James J. Gaffney, who had been serving as interim chairman and will now hold the position of non-executive chairman of the board. Jean Fitzgerald, who managed to bring Hvide to new levels by taking the fledgling company out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy, took on Hvide's reins as chairman and CEO following the resignation of longtime CEO, Erik Hvide last year. Fitzgerald, who recently underwent successful heart surgery, will continue to serve Hvide as a consultant and member of its Board.

ConAgra Inc., the second largest U.S. food manufacturer, has agreed to sell American Commercial Lines LLC (ACL) its large U.S. inland barge fleet and operations. Financial terms of the deal, which ConAgra said was part of ongoing series of strategic divestments, were not announced. ACL will acquire 930 owned and chartered barges, nine chartered towboats and one dry dock, the companies said in a joint statement. The deal includes Peavey Barge Lines, Brown Water Towing Inc. and Superior Barge Lines, Inc. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval but is expected to be completed in the next 30 days, the companies said. Greg Heckman, president and CEO, ConAgra Trade Group, said, "Our decision to sell the barge company is a strategic one.

Hvide Marine Incorporated has made an agreement to purchase two modern 152-ft. crewboats from Crewboats, Inc. The purchase price for the two vessels, which will join HMI's Seabulk Offshore fleet in the Gulf of Mexico, is $5 million. The company expects to take delivery of one vessel in December 2000 and the second in May 2001. "These are the 'hotshot boats' of the offshore industry," commented company president and CEO Gerhard E. Kurz, "and they command day rates of $3,500 and up in today's market, where focus is shifting to the deepwater and a premium exists for fast, reliable delivery of vital parts and supplies. Built by Breaux's Bay Craft…

Hvide Marine Incorporated (HMI) announced that its application for listing on the Nasdaq National Market has been approved. The Company's stock is scheduled to begin Nasdaq trading on January 2, 2001, under its current ticker symbol, HVDM. The company's warrants are unaffected and will continue to trade on the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board. "This is good news for our investors and an important step forward for the company," said President and Chief Executive Officer Gerhard E. Kurz. "Listing on Nasdaq means a higher profile for HMI and enhanced visibility and liquidity for the stock, as well as immediate access to the best bid and ask prices. We anticipate a broader and more active following among investors as a result."

Hvide Marine Inc. reported a net loss of $9.6 million for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2000, on revenues of 80 million. In the year-earlier period, the company had a net loss of 197 million, including charges related to its reorganization, on revenues of $76.8 million. Operating income in the fourth quarter of 2000 was 8.1 million versus an operating loss of $11.8 million in the fourth quarter of 1999. For all of 2000, the company reported a net loss of $29 million or 2.89 per diluted share on revenues of $320.5 million. In 1999, the Company had a net loss of $249.9 million on revenues of $342.2 million. Operating income in 2000 totaled $25.4 million versus an operating loss of 9.5 million in 1999.

Port Everglades Towing in January celebrated its 43rd year of service to Port Everglades and Broward County. The company is a division of Hvide Marine, Inc., which was recently renamed Seabulk International, Inc. Founded on Jan. 23, 1958 by the late Hans Hvide and three partners, Port Everglades Towing began its franchised operation with two tugs. At the time, there were fewer than a thousand ship calls a year (fewer than three a day) at Port Everglades, and the port's annual revenues had just topped $1 million. Today, by comparison, Port Everglades receives nearly 6,000 ship calls a year (about 16 a day); has annual revenues of more than $75 million, and services nearly three million cruise passengers annually.

Seabulk International, Inc. announced the signing of a definitive agreement with DLJ Merchant Banking Partners III, L.P., a CSFB Private Equity fund, and affiliated entities, and Carlyle/Riverstone Global Energy and Power Fund I, L.P. for the private placement of 12.5 million shares of newly issued Seabulk common stock at a cash price of $8.00 per share. The $100 million investment would give the new investors approximately 51% of the pro forma, fully diluted common shares of the Company and majority representation on its Board of Directors. The investment is subject to shareholder approval, the refinancing of the Company's senior credit facility, certain regulatory approvals and satisfaction of other customary conditions.

Seabulk International, Inc. announced the election of Vincent J. deSostoa as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately. deSostoa, who most recently served as President and Chief Financial Officer of Zeosoft Corporation, will report directly to Seabulk's President and Chief Executive Officer, Gerhard E. Kurz. He will be responsible for all of the Company's financing activities, including its relations with investment bankers and lending institutions, as well as for the financial reporting function, risk management and information systems. "We are pleased to welcome Vince to the Seabulk management team," commented Kurz.

Seabulk International, Inc. announced the appointment of Kenneth M. Rogers as President of its Seabulk Towing subsidiary. He was also elected a corporate Senior Vice President, reporting directly to President and Chief Executive Officer Gerhard E. Kurz. Rogers, 46, joined Seabulk Towing in 2001 as Senior Vice President for Marketing. He will be based in Fort Lauderdale and succeeds William R. Ludt, who is retiring after 23 years with the Company. "Kenny Rogers is a proven leader who is well-known within the maritime industry," commented Kurz. "We are extremely pleased that he is taking the helm of our Towing operation, which is one of the largest in the Southeast.

The Panama Canal is nearing full capacity and should seriously consider expansion to continue to be a major player in world trade, according to maritime experts and Canal customers at the Panama Maritime VII Conference, held February 20-23. Participating in the event were Panamanian President Martin Torrijos, Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Efthimios Mitropoulos, and several representatives of the Panama Canal Authority (ACP), including Administrator/CEO Alberto Alemán Zubieta. For the past two years, the ACP has commissioned research and studies related to the Canal’s modernization and the future of the maritime industry, including whether to expand the waterway. At this time, a final decision on whether to expand the Canal has not been made.

Christopher J. Wiernicki was elected to the ABS Board of Directors by the ABS Council following the Annual Meeting of the members of the international classification society. Wiernicki was appointed President and Chief Operating Officer of ABS on January 1. He is also an elected Corporate Officer of the society. Prior to his current appointment, Wiernicki served as President and COO of ABS Europe Ltd, the Division of the society responsible for activities throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Wiernicki has also served as Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for ABS and as President and Chief Operating Officer of ABSG Consulting Inc., an affiliate of ABS and the principal operating subsidiary of ABS Group of Companies, Inc.

Over four decades ago, Hans J. Hvide and three partners formed Port Everglades Towing Company, the predecessor company of Hvide Marine, started with two harbor tugs. Under Hvide’s leadership, Port Everglades Towing expanded rapidly, eventually forming the three major business segments—Offshore Energy Support, Offshore & Harbor Towing, and Marine Transportation—of Hvide Marine Incorporated (HMI). Today, the company has grown into a worldwide enterprise, publicly traded on the Nasdaq stock exchange, with a fleet of nearly 240 vessels, more than 2,000 employees worldwide, and annual revenue exceeding $320 million. However, the past three years have been anything but smooth sailing for Hvide Marine.

Seabulk International, Inc. announced approval by its shareholders of the issuance of 12.5 million shares of common stock at $8.00 per share to a group of investors led by affiliates of DLJ Merchant Banking Partners III, L.P. and Carlyle/Riverstone Global Energy and Power Fund I, L.P. Proceeds from the transaction, totaling $100 million less applicable fees, will be used to pay down debt, provide working capital and for general corporate purposes. week. * add a number of minority shareholder provisions. recapitalization of the company and paves the way for the completion of the transactions contemplated in our announcement of June 13," commented president and CEO Gerhard E. Kurz.

Seabulk International, Inc. announced the completion of the issuance of 12.5 million shares of common stock at $8.00 per share to a group of investors led by entities associated with DLJ Merchant Banking Partners III, L.P., an affiliate of CSFB Private Equity, and Carlyle/Riverstone Global Energy and Power Fund I, L.P, an affiliate of The Carlyle Group of Washington, D.C. The stock issuance was previously approved by the company's shareholders at a Special Meeting held on September 5. The new investors also purchased approximately 5.1 million shares of outstanding Company common stock (including shares issuable upon the exercise of warrants) beneficially owned by accounts managed by Loomis, Sayles & Co., L.P.

Seabulk International, Inc. announced the election of Hubert E. Thyssen as Corporate Vice President, effective immediately. Thyssen, who joined the company in 1997 when it acquired the 36-vessel Care Offshore fleet of Nyon, Switzerland, will continue to serve in his capacities as Senior Vice President of International Marketing for the 133-vessel Seabulk Offshore fleet and as Managing Director of Seabulk Offshore's operations in West Africa, Europe and South America. "Hubert Thyssen is a well-known figure in the international oil services industry and a premier marketer," commented Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Gerhard E. Kurz.

Seabulk International, Inc. has purchased and delivered o the Seabulk Africa, a newbuild UT-755L platform supply vessel (PSV) built at the Simek Shipyard in Norway. The 5,500-horsepower, 236-ft. vessel will join the Company's West African fleet, which presently comprises 42 vessels ranging from crewboats to sophisticated anchor handlers. PSVs are large, multipurpose vessels used to ferry equipment, supplies and personnel to offshore platforms and rigs engaged in the production of crude oil and natural gas. "This is a state-of-the-art vessel and the Cadillac of the industry," commented Hubert E. Thyssen, corporate vice president and senior vice president of marketing for Seabulk Offshore, the Company's offshore vessels subsidiary.