Group Headquarters News

As part of the validation of Maritime Partners, LLC’s M/V Hydrogen One inland pushboat, hydrogen fuel cell supplier PowerCell Group and methanol-to-hydrogen technology pioneer e1 Marine in partnership with RIX Industries have conducted a successful string test of their respective technologies for a 200kW propulsion chain. This chain can be multiplied and scaled to a megawatt level.The result of the test proves the viability of a unique concept that takes methanol fuel and converts it to hydrogen onboard ships before using the hydrogen in a fuel cell to generate power cleanly and efficiently.

Earlier this summer Maritime Reporter & Engineering News ventured to Ålesund/Sunnmøre area of western Norway visiting local manufacturers and suppliers serving the global maritime industry and featuring a series of business and technology presentations by leading sector companies including Inmarsat, VARD Group, Ulstein Group, Brunvoll, Ulmatec, Jets, ABB Marine & Ports, Fostech AS and Rolls-Royce Marine. Tom Mulligan reports on new business developments and technology innovations…

40 years ago, on September 13th, 1978, Jacques R. Saadé launched the first maritime line between Marseilles and Beirut, with only one ship and 4 employees. The day marked the beginning of an extraordinary humane and entrepreneurial adventure, said a press release.According to the statement, 40 years later, CMA CGM has become a recognized world leader, with 34,000 employees and a presence in more than 160 countries. History: It is amid the Lebanese war that Jacques R. Saadé decided to settle in Marseilles to protect his family. As a visionary man, he anticipated the evolutions of international trade and was convinced of the crucial role containerization was about to play.

Damen has held the first viewing of its UV 4312 Fish Farm Support Vessel. The new class is the result of extensive discussions with the global fish farming industry and the result is a versatile vessel specifically designed to undertake the maintenance and support tasks particular to saltwater fish farms. The open day took place at the group’s headquarters at Damen Shipyards Gorinchem and was held for the benefit of operators from across the global sector. The 43-meter, 499 metric ton GT Utility Vessel (UV) 4312 builds on the development work that went into its smaller predecessor…

The world’s first Class approved 3D printed ship’s propeller, the WAAMpeller, has been unveiled following rigorous testing verified by Bureau Veritas at Damen Shipyard Group’s headquarters in the Netherlands. The groundbreaking propeller is the result of collaboration between RAMLAB, Promarin, Autodesk, Bureau Veritas and Damen, who started pooling collective resources and knowledge to develop the world’s first 3D printed ship’s propeller seven months ago. Promarin provided the design of the triple-blade propeller.

Australia’s amphibious capability was put to the test recently as the Amphibious Task Group Headquarters took charge of the largest amphibious assault conducted by an Australian force for 70 years as part of Exercise TALISMAN SABER. The assault, led from amphibious sssault ship HMAS Canberra, was a significant milestone in the Australian Defence Force’s development of a high end amphibious warfare capability. The Australian and New Zealand Amphibious Ready Group, consisting of HMA Ships Canberra and Choules and the Royal New Zealand Navy’s HMNZS Canterbury, landed 600 embarked personnel, predominantly consisting of the Australian Army's 2nd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, as part of a flanking force for the US Marine Corps’ 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Commanding a submarine is arguably one of the toughest jobs in the world so training for the role it is justifiably challenging, preparing those who spend their days in the deep with the skills to lead their teams. Seven prospective undersea commanding officers from the United States Navy have joined their Australian colleages on the Submarine Command Course, conducted in Australia biennially. This year it coincided with a visit by the USS Oklahoma City, a Los Angeles class attack submarine, to Fleet Base West. Shortly after arriving in Australia, the officers toured their Australian host boat for the conduct of the exercise, HMAS Farncomb, which was also berthed alongside.

French container shipper CMA CGM received Manuel Valls, Prime Minister of France, the CMA CGM Tower, Group headquarters in Marseille, Friday September 9. The Prime Minister was accompanied by Emmanuelle Cosse, Minister for Housing and Sustainable Habitat, the Regional Prefect and elected officials. Manuel Valls was greeted by Jacques Saade, Founder and CEO of CMA CGM Group, and members of senior management. The two men exchanged views on the maritime industry, global trade, and the major role of the French CMA CGM in Marseille and economy. The Group transported in 2015 over 6.5 million tonnes of French goods to the world and employs over 4,500 people in France, 2400 in Marseille, where it is the largest private employer in the city.

SCHOTTEL, a German manufacturer of marine propulsion systems, has invested a total of €45 million to open a new state-of-the-art Rudderpropeller factory, increasing the company’s production capacity by roughly 30 percent. The factory, near its headquarters in Spay, Germany, was officially opened in the summer of 2015 following a construction period of about two years. It features four production shops (up to 270 meters long and 18 meters high) and a three-storey building for administration, social and technical purposes.

Technip and EDGE Certified Foundation announce today that Technip in Brazil, in France and in Italy, including flexible pipe manufacturing plants in Brazil and France and Group’s headquarters, have been certified to the EDGE (Economic Dividends for Gender Equality) global standard for gender equality in the workplace. EDGE is the leading global assessment methodology and business certification standard for gender equality applicable across all industries and countries. This independent certification, awarded by a third party auditor, underlines Technip’s commitment to Gender Diversity as one of the strategic priorities and showcases Technip’s dedication to encouraging and valuing diversity as a key business success driver.

The Ferguson Group, a supplier of DNV 2.7-1/EN12079 certified offshore containers, accommodation and workspace modules is expanding its product range, to include cryogenic and ISO tanks. The cryogenic tanks, 10 ft with a 7,890 ltr capacity, are designed for the transportation and storage of liquefied industrial gases. New to the Ferguson Group. Judith Verner, Fluid Solutions - Development Manager is based at the group’s headquarters in Aberdeenshire. She has been managing the introduction of the cryogenic tanks to the Ferguson Group’s fleet.

After spending a day exploring the sprawling Açu Superport and Industrial Complex construction site far up the northeast coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro courtesy of LLX and OSX, Claudio Paschoa, Maritime Reporter’s Contributing Editor in Brazil, flew back to Rio for a conversation with Marcus Berto, LLX’s new CEO at the EBX Group headquarters in downtown Rio de Janeiro. “This is a not simply a port belonging to LLX. This is a port for Brazil,” he said. LLX is the logistics branch of the EBX Group, the company founded in March 2007 by Brazilian entrepreneur Eike Batista, born eying the strong demand for modern, efficient ports in Brazil.

Jaret Garber has been promoted to the position of Financial Manager of Testing and Services. Based in Lafayette, La., Garber will manage financial reporting and analysis of testing and services. This includes management of invoices, financial planning, analysis and division financial performance and monthly closing. Additionally, Garber will be responsible for cost control management; bonus plans and earn-outs; mergers and acquisitions; and balance sheets. Prior to promotion, Garber was the Financial Analyst and Fleet Administrator.

DNV appoints Stefan Nerpin as its new Group Vice President of Communications and External Relations for the DNV Group. As Group Vice President of DNV’s Communications and External Relations, Mr Nerpin will head up the corporate management, development and alignment of corporate communications, branding, media relations, public affairs and digital communications to DNV’s business strategy as a leading provider of risk management services. Mr Nerpin will report to Henrik O. Madsen, CEO of the DNV Group and affiliate as secretary of the DNV Group Executive Committee. Mr.

VIKING Life-Saving Equipment, a manufacturer of safety equipment, is providing aid to residents in Thailand. The country is in the middle of the worst flooding in more than 50 years that has killed over 300 persons, displaced another 100,000 and caused widespread damage to homes and infrastructure. “We are of course deeply touched by the situation and we naturally feel an obligation to provide assistance to a community that has given VIKING so much”, says Henrik Uhd Christensen, CEO of VIKING and continues:“We know water and what it takes to survive in water.

In 2010, VIKING Life-Saving Equipment, global manufacturer of safety equipment for the maritime, offshore and fire industries, once again generated growth in both its top and bottom lines. Despite difficult market conditions, VIKING Life-Saving Equipment secured a slice of the emerging  upturn of the world market in 2010: the Group succeeded in achieving a record turnover of well over DKK 1,250 million, representing a growth of approximately 11% on 2009. Last year's strategic focus areas – to increase the product range and expand the service solutions – thus had the intended effect…

Radio Holland (Rotterdam) announced that the MBO of the SRH Marine Group has been completed. Zenitel (Brussels) and the RheinMetall Group (Dusseldorf), both 50 percent shareholders in EMG EuroMarine Electronics GmbH (Hamburg), agreed to divest SRH Marine and the final agreement to this effect was signed. The operation took place through an MBO by the management of SRH, financed by ABN AMRO Capital (The Netherlands). Consequently, SRH Marine has now become an independent and leading international company in the maritime market. It was decided that the new name of the holding will be 'Radio Holland Group', headquarters will be in Rotterdam. The closing of the deal is subject to final approval of antitrust committees in The Netherlands, Belgium and USA.

"Service is the primary area of future growth for MacGREGOR," said the Group's president and CEO, Hans Pettersson, announcing a plan that will simplify the organisation's structure to increase its efficiency. After his appointment in August last year, Hans Pettersson initiated an exhaustive performance improvement programme that examined every aspect of MacGREGOR's activities. "For more than 60 years we've consistently come up with revolutionary cargo handling solutions that have become the standard. We have a truly global presence, both in terms of manufacturing and our service network. More than 13,000 ships use MacGREGOR products. Why weren't we more profitable?" he said.

Privately-owned Balmoral Group has sold off its marine division formerly known as Balmoral Marine- and now the Viking Moorings- to a management buy-out team in a $38.8 million deal. At least $17.6 million of the proceeds would be invested in its tanks and advanced composites business, while a further $17.6 million would be used to kick-start long-awaited plans to build a business park on 22 acres of surplus land at the group's headquarters in Aberdeen. The sale to the Viking buy-out team was announced on the opening day of what is scheduled to be a six-week trial to hear the case between Balmoral Group and Borealis. Balmoral claims that a material called Borecene sold by Borealis led to failures in the tanks Balmoral makes for holding chemicals, fuel, oil, sewage and similar fluids.

Oslo based navigation specialist Fugro Seastar AS has announced the introduction of a new service: SeaSTAR G2. This new high performance navigation service combines the navigation satellites of both the American GPS constellation and the Russian GLONASS constellation, to produce a composite GPS/GLONASS position solution. The service utilizes Fugro’s own network of dual system reference stations to calculate ‘orbit and clock’ errors on a satellite by satellite basis for all 50…

Taiwan-based Evergreen Group announced management changes. Capt. S.Y. Kuo has been promoted to Second Vice Group Chairman of the entire Evergreen Group based in Taipei. Most recently, Captain Kuo has been Vice Group Chairman overseeing all Evergreen Group business in the Americas. He will relocate to Group headquarters in Taipei. Marcel Chang has been promoted to Vice Group Chairman of Evergreen Group from Chairman of Evergreen Shipping Agency (America) Corp. (EGA), succeeding Captain Kuo. He will be responsible for supervising all Evergreen Group affiliate business in the Americas. Thomas Chen has been named Chairman of Evergreen Shipping Agency (America)Corp. (EGA) from President, succeeding Marcel Chang.