Strategic Software News

Wärtsilä announced it will reorganize its marine business into three independent entities, with the objective to accelerate strategy execution and simplify the business structure.The new businesses, consisting of Marine Power, Marine Systems and Marine Voyage, will be operational as of July 1, 2020.The organizational structure change is a continuation to the shifts made in 2019, whereby Wärtsilä's equipment and service businesses were integrated to strengthen the focus on complete lifecycle solutions…

Maritime software provider, Strategic Software, and e-JAN corporation, the Japanese internet shipping group established by NYK Line have announced a joint venture to be launched on November 1, 2001. The two companies have joined forces to create e-JAN/DrybulkIMX, a web-based application enabling seamless data exchange and management, for companies involved in dry bulk ocean transportation. e-JAN/DrybulkIMX is a set of tools to support the pre-fixture chartering and post-fixture voyage management process. The application will enable users to share data in a private and confidential environment. Through close dialogue with e-JAN’s members and Strategic’s customers, the ongoing development of e-JAN’sbulkIMX will closely reflect user requirements.

Strategic Software is restructuring in order to streamline its business services and allow expansion into the ship operating sector. Ownership of VesselOps, the integrated vessel operations and voyage management system developed in close cooperation with the Armada Group, is passing to Softmar Ltd., a dedicated company created by founder and chairman of Strategic software, David Marais. Softmar will work closely with Strategic Software and both companies will continue working from Strategic’s London headquarters. Marais will remain a major shareholder and member of the board of Strategic, the company he founded nearly 20 years ago. Strategic is also a major shareholder in Softmar.

Strategic Software has announced that StrategicIMX can now integrate all users of existing Strategic and Dataworks shipbroking software over the internet. A number of companies are already benefiting from IMX. US-based McQuilling Brokerage and Charles R. Weber are among the tanker brokers utilising the fully functional TankerIMX, a version specifically designed to cater for the tanker industry. E-Jan/DryBulkIMX, the IMX software for companies involved in dry bulk ocean transportation, is being used by NYK Line, Japanese shipbroker Yamamizu and other Japanese, European and US shipbrokers and shipowners.

A leading software supplier to the shipping industry said on Friday it had launched a new internet-based tool for the chartering and operation of tankers. It said the system had been developed with support from three U.S. ship brokerages: Dietze, McQuilling and Weber. Strategic Software, which acquired its closest competitor Dataworks in May, has long dominated the shipping sector. In the last two years it has come under increasing pressure from internet start-ups keen on taking a slice of the $120 billion per year maritime freight industry. The system is likely to compete with the online services of London's Baltic Exchange, which will be launched next Monday. To some extent it also competes with LSX-2, a product being developed for online ship chartering by London-based Levelseas.

John Rolfs, a founding director of shipping IT provider Dataworks, has returned to the maritime communications and technology sector after a two-year absence with his new company, Chipcraft. Rolfs left Dataworks in 2001 when it was acquired by Strategic Software. Chipcraft, his first venture back into the maritime sector, is a specialized software provider to the shipping world. Chipcraft is the official U.K. and Northern Europe representative for Danaos Shipping Software of Greece. As well as bringing communications and ship management software to match client needs, the company provides installation and support for its customers through U.K. partner and network specialists, Blue Diamond IT.