Support Center News

This spring, Fincantieri Marine Repair (FMR) is expanding its presence to the Port of Everett with a new facility to support U.S. Navy assets.On March 12, the Port of Everett Commission unanimously approved a new one-year lease to establish an FMR office at the Port’s Marina Village at Waterfront Place.The U.S. Navy plans to homeport up to 12 new Constellation-class guided-missile frigates at Naval Station Everett, adjacent to the Port of Everett’s international Seaport. The FMR…

ABB and shipping company Wallenius Marine today introduced OVERSEA, a digital fleet support center available as a service that aims to help shipowners, operators and managers enhance the efficiency and sustainability of vessel operations.Engineered to enable measurable performance improvements for vessels, leading to decreased fuel consumption and reduced emissions, OVERSEA helps address such aspects of vessel performance as hull and machinery, speed and route planning, as well as emissions and carbon intensity reporting.

BIMCO announced it has hired Thomas Damsgaard to head its new office in Houston, as the shipping organization expands its global reach to better provide services to members in the Americas.Damsgaard has extensive experience working in shipowning companies, agency business, and is engaged in training activities. The main part of Damsgaard’s career has been in the United States, including in the Houston area. He joined BIMCO on June 1, 2022 and an additional staff member will be joining the Houston office shortly…

The Long Island Council of the Navy League of the United States recently held a World War II Veterans Recognition Event in conjunction with Veteran’s Day. The event honored the heroic service efforts of three Long Island World War II veterans who protected our freedoms during their service in the United States military: Lieutenant Commander Jules V. Steinhauer of Farmingdale, N.Y., Radio Technician 1st Class Victor Nelson of Bethpage, N.Y., and the late William J. Evanzia of Westbury, N.Y., Communications Officer, Radar-Man 2nd Class, RD2, who was honored posthumously.

Members of "The Greatest Generation" honored  for Valiant U.S. Military Service by the Long Island Council of the U.S. Navy LeagueThe Long Island Council of the Navy League of the United States earlier this year held a World War II Veterans Recognition Event in conjunction with Veteran’s Day. The event honored the heroic service efforts of three Long Island World War II veterans during their service in the United States military: Lieutenant Commander Jules V. Steinhauer of Farmingdale, NY, Radio Technician 1st Class Victor Nelson of Bethpage, NY, and William J.

SCHOTTEL Inc (USA) and SCHOTTEL Canada Inc have entered into a cooperative agreement with two Canadian West Coast marine industry companies to support the increasing local fleet of SCHOTTEL-propelled vessels. In the agreement, Seaspan Vancouver Drydock, based in North Vancouver, will act as a service and support center while McRae Electric, based in Burnaby, will be electric and controls service provider.Since the establishment of SCHOTTEL Canada Inc in 2016, the number of vessels equipped with SCHOTTEL propulsion systems in the Pacific Northwest area have increased enormously.

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co. announced Thursday it is moving its corporate headquarters to Houston, positioning the nation’s largest dredging services provider nearer to major regional projects and opportunities. The firm will also open regional offices in Jacksonville, Fla., and Staten Island, N.Y.The move to Houston from from Oak Brook, Ill., which stems in part from changing industry dynamics, places the company closer to key regional customers and new markets, especially along the Gulf Coast and the Mississippi River…

U.S.-based ballast water management system (BWMS) manufacturer Ecochlor announced it has opened a service support center in the world's top shipping hub. Michael Madely, VP of Global Service at Ecochlor, said the new Singapore location is the first of many planned for Ecochlor’s spare parts support network outside the United States.“Having an inventory of spare parts located in Singapore will provide a faster response time to all vessels in Asia with our system on board. Our goal is to have parts located in the three main time zones – Asia…

Technology group Wärtsilä has launched of its global Smart Support Center service. This service is aimed at improving asset uptime via remote access for customers of Wärtsilä’s Voyage business, thereby substantially reducing the need for physical service attendance. Operational support is delivered via virtual service engineers. Smart Support is designed to maintain all Wärtsilä Voyage equipment, including ship handling solutions, such as ECDIS and charts, simulation and training systems, and ship traffic control solutions.

Halifax Shipyard has commenced initial builder’s sea trials for Canada’s lead Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS), the future HMCS Harry DeWolf.The lead AOPS departed Halifax Shipyard at 0945 and, using its diesel-electric engines, moved to the Bedford Basin to start initial builder’s sea trails associated with anchor handling, the integrated bridge and navigation system (IBNS), fin stabilizers, Multi-Role Rescue Boat (MRRB) launch and recovery, and communication systems.Initial builder’s sea trials will continue over the next few weeks and will be followed by formal sea trials and acceptance by the Royal Canadian Navy. This will span into the first quarter of 2020.At 103 meters and 6…

Wärtsilä said it has established its latest Expertise Center (EC) in Singapore to provide support functions, including operational support and dynamic maintenance planning, for marine and energy customers.Together with nine other Wärtsilä EC units around the world, the new center supports Lifecycle Solution agreement customers with advice and recommendations based on the analysis of data from monitoring the condition and performance of the specified machinery.Based within the company’s Acceleration Center facilities…

Marine services firm Bourbon has signed a contract committing more than 100 offshore support vessels (OSVs) to Inmarsat’s Fleet Xpress, the maritime broadband service that combines the speed of Ka-band with continuous back up from Inmarsat’s FleetBroadband operating on L-band.The deal represents a breakthrough offshore contract for Fleet Xpress, which is already installed on some 7,000 vessels - mainly seagoing merchant ships, the company said.“This contract is substantial in…

The Royal Canadian Navy’s second Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS), the future HMCS Margaret Brooke, was launched yesterday, Nov. 10, 2019, at Halifax Shipyard.The launch of the second of six AOPS for the Royal Canadian Navy, marks a significant milestone for Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) and the revitalization of the Royal Canadian Navy’s combatant fleet.The 103-metre future HMCS Margaret Brooke transitioned from Halifax Shipyard’s land level facility to a submersible barge on Nov. 8, 2019 and launched in the Bedford Basin today.The ship is now pier side at Halifax Shipyard where work continues to prepare the ship for sea trials and handover to the Royal Canadian Navy late next year.The future HMCS Margaret Brooke joins Canada’s lead AOPS…

The launch of Europort 2019 at the Rotterdam Ahoy yesterday (November 05) saw well-known journalist Geert Maarse bring four of the leading owners in Europe’s special ship segments to grips with the key challenges facing the maritime industries today and tomorrow. Now in its 39th edition, Europort continues to hold its own as one of the most significant events in the maritime calendar, with registered visitors this year reaching 27,000. In 2020, a new convention center will open alongside the existing site, expanding overall space by 50%.

ABS, Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and Hyundai Global Service (HGS) have agreed on a framework for the exchange of Digitalization and Decarbonization (D&D) concepts to apply to present and future designs. This new framework will be an industry first D&D ecosystem between class, shipyard and ship service company.Launched at a ceremony during Gastech, the new framework enables HHI, HGS and ABS to support alternative means of compliance with new remote survey capabilities using the newly commissioned ABS Remote Decision Support Center, supported by HHI and HGS’ technology and services.

Van Oord has decided to use the option of ordering a third trailing suction hopper dredger at Keppel FELS Limited. The vessel is similar to the two vessels that Van Oord ordered in May 2018. Each one has a hopper capacity of approximately 10,500 cubic meters and measures 138 meters in length and 28 meters across the beam.This investment is part of a broader fleet renewal program in the Dredging business unit. The new hoppers will replace existing vessels and fit in with Van Oord’s aim of making its fleet state-of-the-art and more energy efficient.

North American brownfield redevelopment firm Commercial Development Co. Inc. (CDC) has announced an expanded port operations agreement at the Brayton Point Commerce Center, a former Massachusetts coal plant being redeveloped into an offshore wind hub. The port operations agreement further builds upon CDC’s vision to transform the former coal-fired power plant site into a world-class logistics port, manufacturing hub, and support center for the offshore wind energy sector.The Brayton Point Commerce Center is equipped with a 34-ft deep water port capable of berthing large trans-Atlantic merchant vessels – once used to import coal, the port will now be used for bulk cargo…

With fuel talk dominating maritime discussions, it's worthy to note that Hydrogenics Corporation – a developer and manufacturer of hydrogen generation and fuel cell power modules – opened a new North American facility in Carlsbad, Calif. Located near San Diego, the site will primarily focus on the integration of hydrogen fuel cell systems into heavy-duty truck and bus platforms for customers in California, while also serving as a local support center for fueling, energy storage…

The U.S. Coast Guard’s Navigation Center (NAVCEN) is involved in a number of activities that have an impact on all Americans, even if they don’t realize it.From motorists checking directions with their Global Positioning System (GPS) to boaters to ships coming and going to U.S. ports, the NAVCEN plays an unseen but vital role.With a staff of19 officers, 17 enlisted personnel and 19 civilians, NAVCEN falls under the Director of Marine Transportation Systems (CG-5PW) at USCG Headquarters…

CMA CGM Group said it has reduced its CO2 emissions per container transported by 4 percent in 2016. In 2016, the Group has succeeded in reducing its carbon emissions in line with its 2025 targets. The CMA CGM Group intends to reduce its CO2 emissions per transported container by 30 percent by 2025. CMA CGM had already improved its performance per transported container per kilometer by 50 percent between 2005 and 2015. Operational optimization of the fleet thanks to the work of the exports of CMA CGM Fleet Navigation and Support Center. Technological innovations such as the bulbous bows that improve the ships’ hydrodynamics. The chartering of modern giant container ships equipped with new efficient technologies.

At present, several icebergs are drifting out of the Arctic Ocean and into the North Atlantic. This natural phenomenon occurs each year in the period roughly stretching between April and August. During this season, these massive chunks of ice cross the major shipping routes on the North Atlantic. But German container carrier Hapag-Lloyd is prepared for them, as the company’s captains keep their vessels south of the drift ice limit so as to avoid any dangerous collisions. American and Canadian authorities mark the drift ice limits on their own maps.

Alphatron Marine has launched the Alphatron Marine Magazine, an international glossy to communicate and share Alphatron Marine and JRC news, show its latest innovations and deliveries and tell about the group’s locations and services worldwide. the magazine will also give the floor to customers and business partners. With Rotterdam being the homeport of Alphatron Marine, the company has handed over the first printed copy of the Alphatron Marine Magazine to René de Vries, (State) Harbor Master of the port of Rotterdam.

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.