Metis and Esvagt Team Up to Enhance SOV Data Analytics
Metis Cyberspace Technology is expanding its portfolio of data acquisition, real-time performance monitoring and intelligent analytics solutions to include the needs of service operation vessels (SOVs), following collaborative project with Danish vessel owner Esvagt.The move follows a collaborative project covering fleet performance optimization with Esvagt.The SOV fulfils multiple roles - as transport ship, accommodation vessel, warehouse and workshop - presenting a challenge when it comes to assessing overall efficiency.Following an Esvagt initiative…
Sercel Acquires Geocomp
CGG announced today that Sercel, its Sensing & Monitoring division, has acquired Geocomp Corporation, specialized in high-value services and products for geotechnical risk management and infrastructure monitoring. This acquisition gives Sercel access to the US infrastructure market and will accelerate deployment of its S-lynks and S-scan infrastructure monitoring solutions.
Dominicana Caribbean Shipyards, the New Face in Caribbean Shipbuilding and Repair
Ciramar Shipyards and Fassmer Technical Projects ink a deal to Create Dominicana Caribbean ShipyardsCiramar Shipyards signed a strategic alliance with Fassmer Technical Projects that establishes the basis for cooperation in various areas, including design and construction of new ships and multipurpose vessels manufactured in the Dominican Republic. The scope of the deal also includes maintenance, manufacture and local marketing of mechanical products, including propellers, stabilization and steering systems…
Marlink Provides VSAT for Turkey’s Gungen Maritime & Trading
Marlink said it has been selected by Turkish tanker operator Güngen Denizcilik ve Ticaret A/Ş (Gungen Maritime & Trading) to provide Inmarsat’s Fleet Xpress service on four of its six vessels. The agreement was concluded through Marlink’s local partner Ozsay Satellite which worked with the company to provide a high quality package of enterprise and crew welfare services.Gungen will use the high throughput Ka-band service together with Marlink’s voice service provided via XChange for Fleet Xpress.
Marlink Unveils IT Networks Monitoring Tool
Entry-level version of ITLINK management and monitoring software suite simplifies regulatory compliance for vessel and shore teamsMarlink has announced the release of a new stand-alone entry version of its ITLINK software, designed to improve transparency in monitoring and reporting of the status of IT networks onboard ships. The new monitoring tool enables shoreside teams or administrators to view the IT system status and availability, providing visibility on compliance with regulatory and charterer requirements.Starting in 2021…
Saipem Inks Deal with Equinor on Floating Solar Farm Tech
Italy's Saipem has reached an agreement with Norway's Equinor to develop technology to build floating solar power farms close to the coast, the energy contractor said.The agreement is between Saipem's high-value services unit Moss Maritime and the Norwegian energy firm."The agreement with Equinor goes in the direction taken by Saipem and Moss Maritime to develop new technologies related to clean energy," said Moss Maritime Chief Executive Ida Husem.Saipem, a market leader in subsea construction for the oil and gas industry…
Vinalines to Join Global Shipping Alliances
The Vietnam National Shipping Lines Corporation (Vinalines) has set sights on joining the global shipping alliances (GSA).As part of this move, Vinalines will devise a number of measures to further promote growth of its three key sectors of seaport, shipping industry and maritime services.According to Acting General Director of Vinalines Nguyen Canh Tinh, the firm will focus resources on these three decisive fields, which are expected to create breakthrough development for the corporation.Vinalines will pay attention to improving its competitiveness through providing all-in-one logistics service to customers, and promoting application of information technology…
Inmarsat, ITC Global Expand Connectivity Options
The global provider of mobile satellite communications Inmarsat and the Panasonic Avionics Corp subsidiary ITC Global have announced a five-year strategic collaboration.The partnership enables the organisations to combine their highly complementary, market-leading services to offer broadband connectivity, paired with high-value connectivity solutions to customers in the maritime, yachting and offshore energy sectors.ITC Global will offer Inmarsat’s market-leading Fleet Xpress service, incorporating the Ka-band solution into its existing comprehensive range of Ku-band connectivity services. Fleet Xpress for Offshore is powered by the Global Xpress Ka-band network…
VSAT Connectivity for Briese Schiffahrts Fleet Expansion
Globecomm has supplied its global Ku-band VSAT service to specialist shipowner and manager Briese Schiffahrts in support of its fleet growth plans.Long-time Globecomm customer Briese is undertaking a program of fleet renewal, constructing a series of eight ‘Open Top Eco 5000’ multi-purpose vessels, designed to consume 30 percent less fuel but with increased crane and cargo capacity.The first of four ships was christened in mid-April 2018 at Zhejiang Zengzhou Shipbuilding Co with three more of the 90-meter long…
CMA CGM Plans Multi-Temperature Logistics Facility at DP World
CMA CGM, a world leader in maritime transport, is to take a long-term lease and invest in a build-to-suit, multi-temperature warehouse facility at DP World London Gateway Logistics Park. The CMA CGM Group will occupy, through its international freight forwarding and logistics solutions subsidiary, a one hectare cold store facility within a 2.4 hectare logistics plot development on the River Thames and located close to main road access into the London area. This state-of-the-art facility, fitted with IT traceability and management systems, represents a major milestone for the CMA CGM Group’s strategy to develop a global range of products in maritime transportation but also in inland solutions and logistics.
Kenny to Take the BMT Helm
When BMT Group Ltd (BMT) current CEO Peter French retires in September, he will be succeeded by Sarah Kenny, who joins BMT on August 1. “Sarah is well qualified to take on this role," said BMT’s Chairman, Sir John Hood. "She is ambitious for BMT and her extensive background in the marine and defence industries means she is ideally positioned to ensure that BMT’s research and development roots are cultivated and innovation nurtured. Kenny comes from QinetiQ where most recently she established and led the Maritime, Land & Weapons business as Managing Director, reporting to the Group CEO.
SRH Marine and Setel Powerline Pact for Greek Market
SRH Marine Electronics SA and SETEL PowerLine Ltd have entered a Reseller and Installation Partner Agreement. Through this cooperation SRH is able to offer a complete and holistic approach to e-Navigation concept through Setel PowerLine specializing in the design and implementation of network solutions based on SETEL PowerLine suite of INDUSTRIAL GRADE PowerLine Communications (PLC) products. Vessel and Platform solutions as well as Wi-Fi, CCTV, LAN & Anti-Piracy are among the added value services that Greek Ship-owners can benefit from this agreement. SRH Marine Electronics is a leading provider in the maritime industry since 1995, offering sales and technical services in the field of Communication, Navigation, Safety as well as other marine equipment.
Helikon Expands Use of GNS Voyager
Maritime services group Global Navigation Solutions (GNS) announced that London-based bulk carrier operator Helikon Shipping Enterprises has expanded its use of its VOYAGER software solution across its fleet to take advantage of VOYAGER’s advanced route planning and optimization tools. Helikon, a customer of GNS for more than a decade, has extended its contract to make use of the navigational efficiency tools available within the VOYAGER solution. In addition to VOYAGER’s inventory management, compliance management and chart updating functionality, the fleet is now also using A2BviaC digital distance tables and Meteo Group’s SPOS weather routing technology, all of which is enabling Helikon to improve route planning and achieve greater fuel efficiencies.
Mississippi River Intermodal Terminal Dedicated
The Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans joined a host of elected officials and industry partners today to dedicate the Port’s new $25 million Mississippi River Intermodal Terminal. The terminal, made possible by a $16.7 million federal transportation TIGER grant, has a capacity of moving 160,000 twenty-foot-equivalent units (TEUs) per year by rail. “This new terminal provides a highly efficient option for our customers moving cargo via rail,” said Gary LaGrange, Port President and CEO. The Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant provided about 68 percent of the total funding for the terminal.
Baku Calls Upon Antwerp’s Port Expertise
The port of Baku on the Black Sea is Azerbaijan’s largest port. Now to support its further development it is calling on the know-how and expertise of the port of Antwerp. For this purpose the management of Baku International Sea Trade Port recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with two subsidiaries of Antwerp Port Authority, namely Port of Antwerp International (PAI) and Antwerp Port Training Centre (APEC), for them to provide consultancy and training. The co-signatories on the Antwerp side were Jan Blomme and Paul Verkoyen, the respective CEOs of PAI and APEC. “This agreement is the direct result of a visit to Antwerp in May this year by the Director-General of the port of Baku, Taleh Ziyadov,” explained Jan Blomme.
GAC Sets its Sights on UK Cruise Business
GAC UK is boosting its services for the cruise industry with the appointment of Fergus Poole as Cruise Manager. For nearly two decades, Poole has specialized in the sector and has held a number of managerial and operations posts dedicated to serving cruise and passenger vessels, most recently for services at U.K. and Irish ports. He joined GAC on May 1 and is based in Sunderland, from where he will coordinate cruise calls at ports nationwide. Ports in the U.K. have always been popular as cruise destinations.
GNS Launches Free E-Navigation Solutions
At SMM in Hamburg, Germany this week, Global Navigation Solutions (GNS), the maritime services group announces the launch of (i) its new free Essentials package, as well as (ii) an upgrade to the Voyager Planning Station dashboard, and (iii) a new bundle purchasing option. With effect from 1 October 2014, GNS customers will be able to use its new Voyager Essentials Package free of charge. This will enable vessels to benefit from GNS’s navigational purchasing and information management tools irrespective of whether they are using chart updating and other added value services on board. Vessel’s using the Voyager Essentials package can…
Bureau Veritas Diversifies with MatthewsDaniel Acquisition
Bureau Veritas announced today that it has acquired MatthewsDaniel Ltd, a global provider of loss adjusting and risk assessment services for the offshore industry. Created in Houston, Texas, in 1962, MatthewsDaniel is headquartered in London and has operations in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Americas. The company employs more than 150 people and reported revenues of approximately EUR 34M in 2013. MatthewsDaniel primarily provides services for the insurance market. Their loss adjusting activities include incident investigations, root cause analysis, damage and reinstatement assessment and cost estimation. Their risk assessment portfolio focuses especially on Marine Warranty Surveying activities for both offshore projects and rigs.
DELO Invests to Boost Shipping Business
Over the past three years, DELO Group, a Russian private transport company, has implemented an investment program, including rail and other adjacent port infrastructure, construction of stevedoring and inland storage terminals for oil products, construction of the KSK grain terminal, acquisition of 50% of the NUTEP container terminal from its JV partner and an expansion program turning the terminal into a chief container terminal throughout Russian coasts. “We are planning to double capacity at NUTEP from 350,000 to 600 - 700,000 TEU,” said Andrei Bubnov, CFO of DELO Group.
OW Bunker Launches Physical Operations in New York
OW Bunker, international physical distributors and resellers of marine fuels, announced the launch of physical distribution operations in the ports of New York and New Jersey. The move follows the start of physical operations in Los Angeles and Long Beach this past March. With ports in New York and New Jersey, OW Bunker’s furthers its strategy in expanding its physical presence in key North America locations. Adrian Tolson, General Manager, OW Bunker North America said, “The positive…
Five Minutes with WSS's Simon Hutt
The business of ship service has changed mightily in recent years, with many new regulations and technical mandates on modern ships, the continued and rapid consolidation of major players and a historic shift in vessel trading patterns driven by the shale energy revolution in the U.S. To help put it all in perspective, MR reached out to Simon Hutt, the new VP of the Americas for Wilhelmsen Ships Service. Please encapsulate your maritime experience to date. My career has always been in maritime. I was in the Royal Navy as an officer for 17 years, specializing in diving and navigation.
Drydocks World Receives API Spec Q1 Certification
Drydocks World, a maritime service provider to the international, maritime, oil and gas and energy sectors, announced formal recognition through American Petroleum Institute (API) Specification Q1 certification for the shipyard’s Quality Management System which is suited to the requirements of the offshore oil and gas sectors. This certification complements the company’s strategy to penetrate the offshore oil and gas sector with high quality, customized and added value services. The company’s Quality Management System is also certified in accordance with ISO9001: 2008 requirements.
Hydrasun, Parker Spearhead Hydrocarbon Leak Reduction Initiative
Hydrasun, a provider of integrated fluid transfer, power and control solutions, is teaming up with Parker Hannifin, a specialist in motion and control technologies, at Offshore Europe 2013 to showcase a range of process control instrumentation products and added value services, which support the industry’s Hydrocarbon Leak Reduction initiative. A practical demonstration area at the Parker Instrumentation technology center (stand X60), will offer hands-on educational opportunities…