Global Services News

Rusty Murdaugh has resigned as president of Austal USA effective August 30, 2023, the Mobile, Ala. based shipbuilder announced.Murdaugh was named president in September 2021 after serving as acting president since February 2021. During his tenure Austal USA completed the addition of steel shipbuilding capability to its Mobile shipyard, and opened a waterfront ship repair facility in San Diego.Michelle Kruger, Austal USA vice president of global services and support, has been named acting president until a successor is named.

Mobile, Ala. shipbuilder Austal USA welcomes Michelle Kruger as vice president of global services and support. Operating from Austal’s San Diego waterfront services facility, Kruger is responsible for Austal USA’s global post-delivery repair and warranty efforts, including the development of business strategy and strategic alliances. As the primary customer interface for ship repair and maintenance services, Kruger will lead the pursuit of future government and commercial business…

Crowley has appointed Bob Karl as senior vice president and general manager of the company’s new business unit, Crowley Wind Services. As Crowley elevates the scope of its offerings in wind energy, Karl will lead the company’s wind services team in the strategic development and expansion of services to support the emerging sector. The development of a wind service business unit will see the company continue to leverage its expertise and assets to provide landside and marine logistic solutions throughout the wind lifecycle.

New hydrogen fuel capability reduces CO2 emissions of Cat G20CM34Caterpillar Motoren introduced a new alternative fuel option enabling usage of up to 25% of hydrogen content mixed with natural gas in Cat G20CM34 engines. Prior to this upgrade, G20CM34 gas engines operated with a hydrogen content of up to 10%."With the expected admixture of up to 20 percent in existing natural gas grids, this upgrade is focused on offering our customers a maximum of operational flexibility for their future needs…

MacGregor, part of Cargotec, said it has signed a five-year service agreement with Color Line. This agreement is an extension to previous contracts between MacGregor and Color Line and now includes all vessels in their fleet together with their Norwegian and Danish terminals.The order was booked into Cargotec’s 2022 second quarter orders received. The contract is effective from now until 2027.In the scope of supply there are two annual inspections (the pre-dock and “preseason”) of the RoRo equipment and steering gears on seven vessels and five linkspans for a period of five years.

SAAM Towage and Caterpillar Marine signed a global services agreement aiming to help boost the efficiency of the fleet of tugs operated by the Americas towage services provider. This will be accomplished using digital solutions for planned and preventative maintenance.According to SAAM’s Technical Manager, Pablo Cáceres, “This partnership will let us continue to focus on providing safe, efficient and more environmentally friendly services. It will also strengthen our digital transformation strategy.”The agreement calls for ongoing review of more than 200 Cat engines…

Korean Register (KR), Hyundai Motors and Hyundai Global Services have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to work together to develop and commercialize hydrogen fuel cell systems to propel marine vessels.Hydrogen is among alternative eco-friendly fuels attracting attention for next-generation ships to meet the IMO’s ambition to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from international shipping by 50% or more by 2050 compared to 2008 emissions figures.Through the MOU collaboration to commercialize a reliable hydrogen fuel cell system package for ships…

Mackay Marine said it finalized the agreement with Raytheon Anschütz GmbH, establishing Mackay Marine South Africa (Pty) Ltd. as a Raytheon Anschütz Sales and Service Distribution Partner.Although Mackay Marine South Africa is Mackay’s newest global branch (opened in September 2020), their technical and sales teams have long established relationships with marine customers in South Africa, formerly known as Dynamic Marine Systems.

A new agreement will see Hyundai Global Services (HGS) recommend the Tekomar XPERT software for engine performance optimization as an enhancement option for all vessels built by Hyundai Heavy Industries from 2018.ABB Ability Tekomar XPERT uses advanced modeling based on operational data to optimize engine performance. The combination of Tekomar XPERT’s analytic capabilities and input from Hyundai’s own onboard data systems—Integrated Smartship Solution (ISS) and DATS—will enable ship operators to reduce fuel consumption and emissions…

Engines manufacturer Caterpillar announced Tuesday it has signed a global services agreement with the the world’s largest tug operator, Svitzer, covering more than 100 vessels powered by Cat Marine engines in 30-plus countries. A focused Caterpillar team working with the global Caterpillar dealer network will execute the terms of the contract, which is designed to increase vessel uptime, drive service efficiency and extend Svitzer’s overall service experience.With towage operations serving 34 terminals and 120 ports in the Americas…

Hyundai Global Services (HGS) has signed a contract to deliver its Smart Ship and Satellite Communications package for up to 15 vessels for South Korean shipping company KSS Line.The Smart Ship and Satellite Communications package is a combination of the Integrated Smart Ship (ISS) solution – an IoT platform for ships, developed by HHI Group to support vessel operation and device optimization – supported by Inmarsat’s Fleet Xpress and digital solution Fleet Connect. This achievement is a direct result of a collaboration between HGS…

Shipbuilder Austal's U.S. subsidiary Austal USA announced Friday it has completed the purchase of waterfront land, buildings and an existing dry dock along the Mobile River to enhance its new construction and service business lines.“As we’ve consistently done over the course of our history, we’re adding capability to meet the growing demand from our customers,” Austal USA President Craig Perciavalle said. “Our business remains focused on continuing to manufacture highly capable…

To provide preventive and predictive maintenance services, combined with workshop services for clients operating worldwide in the offshore oil, gas, marine and renewables industry, the Dutch Van Aalst Group recently set up Nortek Services AS in Kristiansand, Norway.According to Wijnand van Aalst, CEO of the Van Aalst Group and Safeway, the initiative to launch Nortek stems mainly from the rapid growth currently taking place at a number of Van Aalst companies. Safeway from the Netherlands has achieved success with its motion-compensated gangways and Techano in Norway…

It is not something that pops to mind often: the massive, market-changing advantages of a high-powered, fuel-efficient, cleaner V8 diesel outboard engine. Then, you aren’t a salmon farmer with aquaculture farms in the Norwegian fjords or an islander in the Maldives who drives a Zodiac to work. But, if you are Joel Reid, these are just some of the many things on your mind.Joel Reid is the Global Sales Director of Cox Powertrain a British start-up based in Shoreham-by-Sea, close to Brighton, UK.

Ecochlor announced the addition of Michael "Mick" Madely to fill a newly created position of Vice President of Global Service. Madely has had a full career in the global maritime industry with over 25 years of experience in senior management positions in both Commercial and Technical roles. He has extensive experience in Asia and the Middle East with a hands-on approach in leading sales and operations of world class capital equipment and engineering providers. For the past 10 years…

Better connectivity, easier data sharing and a thriving IoT start-up scene demonstrate that maritime digitalization is flourishing according to satellite service provider Inmarsat.For many, the lasting consequence of COVID-19 may be the upheaval it brought to the familiar rhythms of daily life. Thankfully the internet enabled a semblance of routine activity to continue, as they worked from home while their children attended digital classrooms.The outbreak forced us to work together yet apart through video conferencing and collaborative online platforms…

Inmarsat will introduce two new satellite payloads dedicated to the Arctic region in a partnership with Space Norway, and its subsidiary Space Norway HEOSAT.The new Global Xpress (GX) payloads support the rapidly growing demand among both commercial and government users for seamless, reliable, high-speed mobile broadband services in the Arctic and throughout the world. They specifically address rising demand for high-speed mobile broadband Fleet Xpress service capability from the merchant shipping…

Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. (Boskalis) has acquired a sizable logistical management transport contract and has received a letter of award for the transport and float-over installation of an offshore platform with a combined contract value of approximately USD 65 million. The global services provider operating in the dredging, maritime infrastructure and maritime services sectors said that the logistical management contract scope is for the transportation of a large number of modules from a fabrication yard in Asia to a plant being developed in North America. The contract ties up two high-end open-stern heavy transport vessels for approximately 475 vessel days each commencing late 2019.

Dutch dredging and heavylift company Royal Boskalis Westminster  has been awarded two contracts worth 85 million euro ($93.7 million) combined for strengthening and protecting a stretch of seafront coastline from erosion in Romania and the United Kingdom.The global services provider operating in the dredging, maritime infrastructure and maritime services sectors said that has been awarded a contract by Portsmouth City Council to construct new sea defenses in Southsea near Portsmouth in the south of the United Kingdom.The project will be executed in joint venture with VolkerStevin and will provide flood protection to thousands of households…

A series of presentations organized and presented jointly by Resolve Marine Group and the SNAME - Greek Supper Section was held Wednesday, June 6 at the Posidonia 2018 exhibition in Athens.The two-hour event included a total of four presentations – two from SNAME and two from Resolve  – focused on the issues of direct and prompt response to merchant vessels’ accidents and damages that have shaken the global shipping community over the past three years.The event was attended by…

Liberia is the second largest ship registry in the world, according to leading shipping analyst Clarksons in its Clarksons World Fleet Monitor January 2019. This report confirms that, in gross tonnage terms, Liberia has overtaken and outgrown the Marshall Islands, which now languishes in third place.Alfonso Castillero, CCO of the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR), the US-based manager of the Liberian Registry, says, “This is about quality of service, not…

The Liberian International Ship and Corporate Registry (LISCR) confirmed via a press statement that Scott Bergeron, longtime CEO, has departed from the organization.The Cohen family, in particular Adam Cohen and Elan Cohen, continue to lead the organization as Executive Chairmen and Alfonso Castillero has been elevated to the role of Chief Operating Officer reporting directly to the Cohen family. Christine Doherty continues in her role as Chief Financial and Administrative Officer, and Benson Peretti continues in his role as Senior VP of Global Services.

Huntington Ingalls Industries announced today that Jon Arena has been named vice president and chief counsel of HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division. He will succeed Jim Gildea, who retired on April 1. Arena will be a key member of the law department’s leadership team, reporting directly to Kellye Walker, executive vice president and chief legal officer, and indirectly to Newport News Shipbuilding President Jennifer Boykin. In this role, he will be responsible for providing legal advice and counsel to senior management and overseeing and coordinating the provision of legal advice to Newport News. Arena comes to HII from Boeing, where he served as senior counsel, Boeing Global Services, since 2015. Prior to Boeing, he served as a senior attorney at NASA from 2002 to 2015.