Products & services

Consilium Marine Group and Orange Business Services announces global agreement for Maritime Satellite Services

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 06 July 2011 06 July 2011

Consilium Marine Group, a worldwide supplier of marine products and customer services,and Orange Business Services, a leading global integrator of communication solutions, announces today that they have signed a high-level global cooperation agreement.

Consiliumwill globally market Orange marine VSAT communication solutions through its 34offices in 19 countries. Orange Satellite Services includes a VSAT satellite communication system specially developed for marine communications and that integrates vessels into a corporate network enabling access to all business applications as if the vessel is a terrestrial office.

This global cooperation brings together the 40 years of satellite and maritime experience from Orange Business Services with Consilium's leadership in developing and marketing products and systems for safety and navigation to the shipping industry.

"We look forward to progressing this cooperation agreement, and it will also allow us to develop our systems to their full extent for compliance with the industry's never-ending enhancement of safety requirements," said Ove Hansson, president, Consilium AB. "Improved communication for verbal and written conversation and remote diagnostics are only a few features enabling this and that can be made possible by this collaboration."

Roger Söderberg, Vice President Nordics & Baltics, Orange Business Services,said: "The success of this cooperation agreement will bring more customer value to the respective offers of Consilium and Orange Business Services Working together, we can provide customers the option of having their products and systems from Consilium integrated into a communications system that provides real-time broadband services to vessels wherever they are. Through this solution, Consilium products and systems can be managed from the shorewhich can lead to decreased operational costs, such as saving fuel thanks to ECDIS."

International Humanitarian Assistance conference in Miami in 2012

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 06 July 2011 06 July 2011

The International Humanitarian Assistance Symposium will be held in Miami, June 7^th – 8^th 2012, organized by The Family Assistance Foundation and Intercruises Shoreside & Port Services. The symposium will enhance industry response to emergencies and disasters, uniting different sectors through knowledge sharing and thus ensuring those involved in an unforeseen tragedy are given the support they need. The two day event will consist of a series of educational panels, practical workshops and experiences recounted first hand by disaster and accident survivors and responders. Specialist subjects to be discussed include the role of Humanitarian Assistance with regard to terrorist attacks and an examination of international protocol for death notification. www.ihas2012.com

The Family Assistance Foundation is an independent non-profit organization established for the purpose of empowering people following tragedy. It has taken a research led approach to identifying the best possible way to respond and support people in an accident or emergency. The annual symposium provides a platform to share these lessons and discuss how they can be applied in real life situations.

“The unfortunate truth is that accidents and disasters happen. Even with advanced safety and prevention programs in place, it is impossible to foresee when and where a coach will crash, a person will become ill at sea or when technological or natural disasters will occur. We don’t claim to have a full proof plan for humanitarian response, but through our survivors and responders we can share lessons learnt with others on how to respond when disasters happen. ” Said Jeff Morgan, Chairman & Co-Founder, The Family Assistance Foundation.

The symposium will provide information on the international resources available in the event of a disaster or accident. The Global Survivor Support Network of The Family Assistance Foundation has trained members worldwide and acts on behalf of organizations, should they need to provide humanitarian support in a location in which they have no local presence.

“With greater expectations on international businesses to take the duty of care once a client, guest or passenger is receiving their service, being prepared for the worst scenario becomes a corporate requirement. Many international businesses are unaware of the global resources available to assist in emergency situations. This symposium provides the knowledge and networking opportunities for organizations to forge partnerships that will ensure the appropriate response to an emergency or disaster in locations worldwide. ” Said Mark Robinson, Intercruises Managing Director.

The announcement follows the recent news that Intercruises is undertaking full Go Team training in partnership withAviem International, a global leader in providing emergency planning and consulting services, becoming the first international cruise industry ground handler to have this level of emergency response.

MCP meeting the need for speed at sea

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 28 June 2011 28 June 2011

The exponential growth in mobile internet usage on smart phones has also reached the high seas!

Through its innovation program Maritime Communications Partner (MCP), the leading onboard communications partner, has implemented EDGE on selected cruise ships. EDGE, an impressive means of utilizing bandwidth capacity more efficiently, allows mobile users higher speed and a better user experience when updating their Facebook account, checking the recent news on Twitter or just surfing the internet on their phones. This technology is, however, only an intermediate step towards the 3G and 4G service launch with turbo surfing speed at sea.

The 3G and 4G introduction brings along a significant increase in capacity and performance compared with an ordinary mobile connection. MCP is an expert on compression technologies, saving ship-owners and mobile users both money and resources. This further strengthens MCP’s position as the leading onboard communications partner.

Germanischer Lloyd: New operational structure reinforces client focus

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 01 July 2011 01 July 2011

GL Group announces a number of changes in the management structure of its Maritime Services organisation. The new operational structure is designed to further enhance GL's focus on customer demand and reinforce the service orientation of the classification society. The changes reflect the transformation of the classification services, and are built around strengthening customer relationships, and providing strong operational management. From July 1st, 2011 the Maritime Services Management Board will consist of Erik van der Noordaa (CEO), Tjerk de Vries (CTO), Torsten Schramm (COO) and Albrecht Grell. Dr Tjerk de Vries will take up the position of Chief Technical Officer (CTO), responsible for Fleet Service, Ship Newbuilding, Maritime Systems and Components, Strategic Research and Development and Process Improvement.

Mr Torsten Schramm will be globally responsible as Chief Operating Officer for GL's business activities in Europe/Middle East/Africa, Asia/Pacific & the Americas as well as for Sales & Business Development.

Albrecht Grell remains in charge of the business unit Maritime Solutions including consultancy, certification, software and training.

Mr Matthias Ritters will succeed Mr Torsten Schramm as Head of Region Europe/Middle East/Africa (EMA). Mr Ritters has been Area Manager Middle East/Africa based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. His new position covers Germany, Southern, Northern, Western, and Eastern Europe as well as the Middle East/Africa Areas.

Lloyd's Register publishes its latest guidance on ballast water treatment technologies

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 22 June 2011 22 June 2011

The fourth edition of Lloyd's Register's popular guide, Ballast Water Treatment Technology, has been released.

With the International Maritime Organization's Ballast Water Convention potentially coming into force as early as next year, ship-owners, managers and operators should be planning now for retro-fits of their operational ships, according to Graham Greensmith, Lloyd's Register's Ballast Water Management Specialist.

This edition provides timely support to anyone looking for the latest information on ballast water treatment systems.

"This is a challenge for operators and we have been doing our best to provide them with the technical support that they need as they face big investment and operational decisions," Greensmith said. The guide reflects a fast-changing world and provides updated information on suppliers and the solutions that they provide, as well as providing the status of systems in relation to approval procedures. An outline description of water treatment processes and an appraisal of commercially available and developing technologies for ballast water treatment are provided, along with updates relating to the operation of those systems as the technologies become more widely used. Section 2 of the guide contains a summary of the governing regulations that make ballast water treatment mandatory; Section 3 covers treatment technologies as they relate to ballast water management.

These sections also provide background and context for an assessment of the commercial technologies that are either commercially available or projected to be market-ready this fiscal year, including references to their technical characteristics, testing and approval status.

Full data, referenced against individual suppliers, is provided in Section 6. It is based on information provided by the individual supplier and has not been fully verified.

The information in this guide is supported by practical support for ship owners and managers previously offered by Lloyds Register in: Ballast water treatment systems - Guidance for ship operators on procurement, installation and operations.

Additionally, in the March issue of Shipping and the environment, Lloyds Register provided operators with 10 steps to selecting a ballast water treatment system.