Safety Services News

Falck Safety Services and Simwave are joining forces to serve the maritime and oil and gas industries with combined simulation and practical training. For more than 30 years, Falck Safety Services has offered safety training for the offshore, maritime and wind industries. On November 8th, Simwave will open its doors to the most advanced maritime simulator center in the world. This co-operation means that customers will be able to undertake simulation training at Simwave to complement the training at one of the training centers of Falck Safety Services.

Supported by European Space Agency (ESA) funding, Inmarsat’s forthcoming Maritime Safety Data Service (MSDS) for FleetBroadband, delivers an increased data capability over the Inmarsat-4 network, including the Alphasat satellite, providing global coverage and the same reliability of over 99.9 per cent associated with the Inmarsat network. MSDS will continue to offer distress alerting, priority messaging and SafetyNET safety information broadcasts, but also deliver greater data capability than is currently available with Inmarsat C safety services.

Wilhelmsen Ships Services (WSS) late last month obtained global approval for its safety services from ABS (American Bureau of Shipping). The approval comes after a two year process involving the entire safety services team and covers all safety services worldwide. “Along with Radio Holland, we are now the only maritime service provider in the world with global approval from ABS, and indeed, the only service provider within the safety sector. We are immensely proud of this,” said John Sanford, Technical Sales Manager Safety for the Americas.

Wilhelmsen Ships Service (WSS) opened a new FRS (fire, rescue & service) Center and Safety Training Academy in Antwerp, Belgium. “The opening of new safety service training facilities around the world will play a vital role in the growth of our total safety offer,” said. Andrew Sheriff, Business Director Safety. “Centers also housing a Safety Academy, such as this one, allow us to focus on specialized training alongside the ongoing development of our safety technicians. Antwerp was seen as a key location for expansion.

Class approvals and new training centres strengthen WSS safety service offering. Wilhelmsen Ships Service (WSS) has received vital approvals for its safety service from two of the world’s Classification Societies: Germanischer Lloyd (GL) and RINA (Royal Institute of Naval Architects). Mats Hestman, WSS International Service Manager Safety said: “WSS is the first maritime safety service provider to receive global GL approval, and we are extremely proud to have been approved by both GL and RINA. Stricter requirements from Class Societies have lead to the need for more audits, so this is a major achievement for us. This also means that we can continue to explore new and exciting possibilities within safety services.

Wilhelmsen Ships Service (WSS) has signed its first fleet Safety Service Agreement with a Japanese principal. The two-year agreement, valued at $300,000 includes 25 panamax and cape-size bulk carriers and 18 product carriers on behalf of Tokyo-based Victoria Ship Management. The WSS Safety Service Agreement provides a standardized service covering a client’s fleet, offering fixed prices for inspection at agreed ports covering fixed systems and portable equipment. The agreement also provides a single point of contact for clients, with customer support in local languages in the same time zone as the client. Under such agreements, WSS customers receive predictable pricing and professional service due date monitoring…

In advance of the conference on aircraft tracking currently being hosted by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in Montreal, Inmarsat has confirmed that it has proposed to ICAO a free global airline tracking service over the Inmarsat network, as part of the anticipated adoption of further aviation safety service measures by the world’s airlines following the loss of flight MH370. This service is being offered to all 11,000 commercial passenger aircraft, which are already equipped with an Inmarsat satellite connection…

Singapore-based Thome have signed a Safety Service agreement with Wilhelmsen Ships Service (WSS). Harald Lundestad, General Manager for WSS in Singapore said: “Companies such as Thome have to balance the logistical demands of managing a large and diverse fleet trading worldwide with the challenge of keeping vessels compliant. WSS safety service technicians carry out services on a wide range of safety, firefighting and rescue equipment such as CO2 high-pressure systems, portable fire extinguishers…

Wilhelmsen Ships Service has recently opened a new Fire, Rescue and Safety (FRS) service station in Gdansk, Poland, to serve vessels in the Baltic Sea. The service station is located in Gdansk and has the capacity to serve all ships in the Gdansk and Gdynia ports and repair yards. Roger Gundermann, WSS Technical Manager for Europe, commented, “A large new workshop has been purpose-built and includes impressive modern equipment. In addition to having approvals from DNV, LR and RMRS for the global WSS service network, this station has also been approved by the Polish Maritime Authority.

Wilhelmsen Ships Service (WSS) finalized a five-year Safety Service Fleet Agreement with Wilson Ship Management (WSM), sealing the deal last week in Oslo at Norshipping. Wilson Ship Management has been testing WSS’s new Safety Service Concept over the last 12 months. “In today’s market, we are continually looking for ways in which we can keep costs under control," said Heine Olsen, Fleet Manager at Wilson Ship Management . The contract with Norwegian-based WSM is the first of its kind for WSS. “This agreement is a result of successful team work between ourselves and Wilson Ship Management.

Inmarsat has marked the 25th anniversary of Inmarsat C by revealing that more than 600 distress alerts from vessels in urgent need were broadcast over the service in 2015. The disclosure demonstrates how the decision made by IMO administrations requiring all ships of more than 300 gross tons to be fitted with a Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) remains pivotal in protecting lives at sea. Inmarsat is the only safety services provider in the world approved to deliver GMDSS under the rigorous International Convention for the Safety of Life At Sea requirements.

Industrial Emergency Services LLC (IES) says that as part of its ongoing nationwide expansion of land-based and maritime emergency response and related safety services, it has added capabilities on the East Coast to supplement its existing Gulf Coast and West Coast infrastructure. Headquartered in Baton Rouge, LA, IES informs that the East Coast locations include Linwood, PA and Fort Lauderdale, FL. The bases add to IES’s capability to respond not only for marine firefighting incidents as part of the alliance with SVITZER Salvage…

The winners of OPITO’s annual global oil and gas workforce safety awards have been announced in the presence of Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, the Minister of Energy for the United Arad Emirates. SBM and MSTS/Falck Safety Services Malaysia were yesterday (Tuesday, November 19) named Employer of the Year and Training Provider of the Year respectively at the OPITO Safety and Competency Conference in Abu Dhabi. The global annual awards recognizes companies that best demonstrate their commitment to building a safe and competent workforce through OPITO standards and are presented at the OSCC.

Van Oord has signed a two year contract with Falck Safety Services for the provision of safety training.   Van Oord, a contractor for dredging, marine engineering and offshore energy projects, including oil, gas and wind, said it has invested in a trainee program for its employees for many years.   The new contract will see Falck provide Van Oord with the majority of necessary safety training. Alongside safety training for the offshore, maritime and wind industries, Falck also offers occupational health and safety training (Falck BHV) in the Netherlands.

Survitec Group continues its growth plans with acquisition of Spanish Safety Services Business ‘Servimar Sur’. Survitec Group Limited, one of the global leaders in critical safety and survival equipment and services, has completed its purchase of Servimar Sur SL, a marine servicing business. This follows the recent acquisition of Abteilung Seerettung, part of the larger Gummi Hasenkrug GmbH company in Bremerhaven Germany. The asset purchase will see the transfer of Technical Services employees and assets from Servimar Sur SL’s site to Survitec Group. The company also plans to move the business to new premises in Algeciras, allowing room for growth as a new range of marine safety services are rolled out.

Jones Walker LLP, on behalf of its client, SafeZone Safety Systems, LLC, has made the following announcement. SafeZone Safety Systems, LLC and Alford Safety Services, Inc. have announced a resolution of their patent infringement lawsuit pending in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Under the terms of the settlement, SafeZone can continue using certain safe welding enclosure systems without making any payments to Alford and can use those certain systems without worry that SafeZone or its customers will be sued for infringement of Alford's patents. SafeZone acknowledged that Alford's U.S. Pat. No. 6,783,054 is valid and enforceable in view of the prior art.

Falck Alford announced it has completed the acquisition of Occupational Safety Training, Inc., a player in safety services within the gulf coast region. Falck Alford, a company focused on continuously building diversified safety solutions, offers safety training, personnel services and compliance solutions on a global scale. The acquisition of OST complements and expands Falck Alford’s footprint to reach new market opportunities and allow an even greater safety solution by integrating the existing offerings of both companies. With this combination, customers are assured a high level of service and premium quality. “This partnership will serve to extend our standing as an industry leader.

Independent safety supplier in the U.K., Ocean Safety, received the EC Certificate of Authorization from Lloyds Register, allowing the company to carry out all in-house certifications of gas cylinders. In accordance with the Transportable Pressure Equipment Directive 2010/35EU, Ocean Safety is now authorized to pressure test many types of cylinders including composite, welded steel, seamless steel and aluminum gas. These cylinders are used in many applications within the commercial and leisure marine markets, including cruise ships, liferaft inflation and fire suppression systems.

Denmark's Mermaid Maritime (Vietnam) Ltd. has opened its office in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province under a cooperation agreement between Vietnamese and Danish firms in the oil and gas industry. The event took place early this week on the occasion of a Vietnam visit by eight Danish offshore industry companies from October 9-13 to explore business opportunities. Mermaid Maritime (Vietnam) is located in Dong Xuyen Industrial Park. Though it was set up in October 2004, it has already become a market leader in marine and offshore safety equipment in Vietnam. The visit also takes in Hanoi and HCMC. The delegation is scheduled to join seminars aimed at looking into the prospects-for cooperation in the oil and gas industry. The seminars are arranged by the Danish embassy in cooperation with PetroVietnam.

Sea Tow Services International, Inc. announced it has completed installation of its Automated Radio Check (ARC) boating safety service through its network of Sea Tow franchises, and will make the free public service available nationwide through additional marine outlets. Boaters can now obtain radio checks through the Sea Tow ARC service in major coastal boating markets across the U.S., including the East Coast, Gulf of Mexico, and Southern California, as well as in select inland regions. The first boating safety program of its kind, Sea Tow ARC is made possible due to Sea Tow’s ongoing relationship with marine communications specialist MariTEL.

Wilhelmsen Ships Service (WSS) is increasing its offer to clients in the offshore vessel and energy production sectors in 2013, with a strong focus on opportunities in Singapore and Southeast Asia. WSS has been supplying the Offshore Supply Vessel (OSV) market for more than 30 years, but going forward will increase its focus on non-OSV markets, providing its safety services to customers working in seismic exploration, mobile drilling rigs/platforms/vessels, accommodation platforms, pipe layers and other speciality vessels as well as fixed installations and decommissioning sectors. WSS’s offshore capabilities cover safety systems (personal safety…

Wilhelmsen Ships Service (WSS) has expanded and upgraded its premises and service station facilities in Darwin in direct response to market demand for the Life Raft Exchange (LRE) program. Geoff Brown, General Manager for the Northern Territory and South Australia said, “This new facility in Darwin will service vessels operating within the region’s growing offshore and oil and gas market ... The new premises are well placed to supply and exchange rafts in major resource ports in Australia’s North West Shelf…

The United States Coast Guard has published a free resource CD-ROM that brings comprehensive chemical information to the fingertips of fire and safety service personnel responding to a hazardous materials incident. Users can search the database by a substance's color, odor, and physical appearance and use the data to plan for a safe and effective response. Chemicals are rated according to health risk, flammability, and reactivity, among other factors, using data from several sources. The CD-ROM, known as CHRIS+, contains several databases of chemical, physical, thermodynamic, toxicological, and fire properties. Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) First Responder's Guide, the Coast Guard's advice for responders to WMD incidents.