DIGITAL SHIP maritime technology news you are receiving this e-mail because we have you on our records as a paid subscriber to Digital Ship inside this issue SOFTWARE AND E-BUSINESS * Alfa Laval joins e4marine * Stolt Offshore signs up to SeaSupplier * Ulysses Systems and ShipServ strategic alliance * OceanConnect and Starsupply launch bunker hedging service * BunkerDesk expands online bunker pricing coverage * MESPAS launches online maritime diesel engine part trading system * Mission to Seafarers website wins UK award SUPPLY CHAINS * General Defense Systems launches container inspection system * MOL America selects GT Nexus * Cargosmart publishes customer testimonials * US Coast Guard places electronic chart orders with Offshore Systems * CSX Lines provides logistics management based around Microsoft .NET * INTTRA-Link on general availability * TradeShip launches new version of shipping line software * Modern Terminals enhances its online portal * Greybox appoints Mark Pena SHIPBOARD ELECTRONICS * Transas to launch navigation products at SMM * XENEX Innovations signs OEM license agreement with Offshore Systems * NMEA introduces maritime electronics installation standards * Northrup Grumman to supply VDRs to Italian ferry fleet SHIP SHORE COMMUNICATIONS * INVSAT to supply TeleMedic systems * Iridium deploys 2 more satellites * Launch of Sailor News * SeaWave appoints Tim Green as account manager ________ Alfa Laval joins e4marine http://www.e4marine.com e4marine, the e-procurement company owned by ship supplier Unitor, has partnered with ship supplier Alfa Laval and technology company Cap Gemini in a bid to create a "common and generic solution" for electronic trading for maritime ship supplies, called MTS, or "Marine Transaction Services." Wärtsilä has also already integrated with the system. e4marine is making the bold marketing pitch that the other e-procurement companies in the market, including iShipExchange, MarineProvider, SeaSupplier and ShipServ, are in fact biased towards shipowners, and e4marine is in fact the only "balanced" trading system available on the market. "Over the past two years, the marine industry has been looking for an infrastructure which supports delivery of balanced benefits for the players in the marine market for e-commerce, with open access to all users and which utilises a common and generic solution to enable electronic trading," its press release says. "Until now, this infrastructure has not been available to the market." ________ Stolt Offshore signs up to SeaSupplier http://www.seasupplier.com Maritime e-procurement company SeaSupplier, a subsidiary of shipping line Stolt Nielsen, has signed up Stolt Offshore, which claims to be "the world's largest operator of specialty sub sea construction and maintenance ships". SeaSupplier anticipates that Stolt Offshore will push its $600m annual expenditure of products and services through the portal. Together with other SeaSupplier customers Seabulk International, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Teekay Shipping and NYK Line, it anticipates over $1bn expenditure pushed through the system annually. Stolt Offshore will use SeaSupplier's complete procurement system, SeaManager, as well as consulting services. Orders will be generated onboard vessels, using its existing shipboard systems AMOS and Maximo. Supplier responses and invoices will be managed through Stolt Offshore's JD Edwards software. ________ Ulysses Systems and ShipServ strategic alliance http://www.ulysses-systems.com Maritime software company Ulysses Systems has formed a "strategic alliance" with ship supply management online company ShipServ, to integrate and jointly market their maritime software packages. Customers will be able to use Ulysses' knowledge management tools, covering maintenance planning and purchasing, together with ShipServ's ship supply management software for procurement. Seafarers using Ulysses can send out requests for quotes through ShipServ TradeNet and receive quotes and order confirmations back into the Task Assistant. The Ulysses shipboard software is based around Task Assistant, a product to help seafarers manage their tasks. "Customers find that applications built on [the Task Assistant] platform are more likely to be used by shipboard staff," Ulysses says. "In contrast to software packages that force customers to modify operations around the capabilities of software, Task Assistant is designed to understand existing roles and the tasks within the organization and to use that understanding to provide end-users with exactly the information they want at exactly the time they need it." "Our focus is about providing ship management solutions that improve the performance and efficiency of a vessel's crew and assets. Our integration with ShipServ's MTML Link will extend the benefits of our purchasing application and expand the reach of our existing electronic trading support and functionality." ________ OceanConnect and Starsupply launch bunker hedging service http://www.oceanconnect.com Online bunker procurement tool OceanConnect, in association with bunker derivative company Starsupply Petroleum, has launched a bunker hedging service, helping shipping companies manage their exposure to volatilities in bunker fuels. ________ BunkerDesk expands online bunker pricing coverage http://www.bunkerworld.com BunkerDesk, the online bunker pricing service for London-based Bunkerworld, now offers pricing for another 25 bunkering ports, now providing price indication for 149 ports worldwide, twice as many as any other online service, it claims. Recently added ports include Vanino, Vladivostok, Vostochny, Nakhodka, Huangpu (Whampoa), Batangas, Davao/General Santos, Cebu, Ras Tanura, Jubail, Yanbu, Esmeraldas, Guayaquil, La Libertad, Puerto Bolivar, Bourgas, Varna, Constantza, Galati, Odessa, Riga, Gothenburg. ________ MESPAS launches online maritime diesel engine part trading system http://www.mespas.com Mespas of Switzerland has launched d-trade, an online system for trading maritime diesel engine parts. It plans a supplementary technical knowledge database. The site also has functionality to help suppliers shift surplus stock. ________ Mission to Seafarers website wins UK award http://www.missiontoseafarers.org The UK Mission to Seafarers has been awarded GBP 2,000 as winner in the voluntary and community category, UK North East e-business awards, sponsored by UK online for business, a partnership between UK industry and UK government. The judges said that it demonstrates "an exemplary use of electronic commerce." ________ ***** SUPPLY CHAINS ***** General Defense Systems launches container inspection system http://www.generaldefense.com US maritime security company General Defense Systems has launched a container inspection system, geared towards preventing biological weapons and radioactive materials being smuggled into the US inside box containers and used for terrorist purposes. Devices are placed on cranes and lift trucks at ports. ________ MOL America selects GT Nexus http://www.gtnexus.com Shipping line MOL (America) has selected shipping line technology provider GT Nexus to provide pricing, rating and contract management tools. The tools will be provided over the web, to be used to streamline the management of shipping proposals and contracts. "Many pricing and contract management solutions in use today were built when the industry was more highly regulated and, as a result, are out of step with needs of a fast changing market place such as exists today," says MOL America. "With GT Nexus, we will deploy proven web technology that is efficient to operate over a collaborative network. It will significantly enhance our processes for engaging customers, responding to their needs and managing our commercial relationships with them." ________ Cargosmart publishes customer testimonials http://www.cargosmart.com/sol/stories.htm Container shipping portal Cargosmart, backed by OOCL, has published customer testimonials from its customers OfficeMax, Herbalife, MLO, Satellite Logistics Group, Castlewood Apparel, Cargo Express, Canfor and Crown Logistics on its website. Over 3,000 companies are currently using the system, it says. ________ US Coast Guard places electronic chart orders with Offshore Systems http://www.osl.com The US Coast Guard has placed US $1.4m orders in electronic chart systems with Vancouver-based Offshore Systems International. The systems are for USCG's buoy-tending vessels. ________ CSX Lines provides logistics management based around Microsoft .NET http://www.csxlines.com US domestic container shipping line CSX Lines, with its technology subsidiary Horizon Services, has unveiled plans to develop logistics management services based on Microsoft .NET technology, a new Microsoft system which makes it easier for companies to integrate their systems together. It will start with SEDcaptain, a tool to help shippers create and file Shipper Export Declarations with US Customs. ________ INTTRA-Link on general availability http://www.inttra.com Shipping line backed portal INTTRA has announced that its INTTRA-LIN system to connect shippers, forwarders and consignees to shipping lines over electronic data interchange, is now "generally available." ________ TradeShip launches new version of shipping line software http://www.tradeshiponline.com Maritime software company Trade Ship has launched a new version of its SeaLiner Enterprise software for shipping lines. The version, SeaLiner C, is aimed at smaller shipping lines. The system provides integrated transactions and reporting. Users can create bookings and bills of lading. ________ Modern Terminals enhances its online portal http://www.modernports.com ModernPorts.com, the internet portal for Hong Kong container terminal operator Modern Terminals Ltd, has been enhanced. The new portal has voyage code mapping, enabling users to find out about a Modern Terminals voyage by specifying a consortium's vessel or voyage. There is a port code mapping table enabling port codes to be converted between Modern Terminals and shipping lines. Shipping lines are provided with reports on Modern Terminals' performance on each vessel after the vessel's departure. Barge company information can be retrieved. Users can find out about containers under detention by Customs. ________ Greybox appoints Mark Pena Container management service Greybox Logistics has appointed Mark Pena as manager for GreySlot container asset utilisation product, covering Americas region. ________ ***** SHIPBOARD ELECTRONICS ***** Transas to launch navigation products at SMM http://www.transas.com Maritime software company Transas has announced plans to exhibit new ship navigation products at the SMM exhibition, under its 3000 line. This will include new PC-based radar display systems, a bridge system, an electronic chart display system for fishery vessels. Transas will also exhibit its simulators for radar, ECDIS and GMDSS, as well as its vessel traffic systems. ________ XENEX Innovations signs OEM license agreement with Offshore Systems http://www.xenex.com Xenex Innovations of Vancouver, which has designed a PC radar board, has signed an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) agreement with Offshore Systems, an electronic chart display and information systems company also in Vancouver. ________ NMEA introduces maritime electronics installation standards http://www.nmea.org The US National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) has introduced a standardised methodology for clarifying and outlining standards for installing marine electronics equipment. The standards are geared to after-market installation, mainly for recreational marine (boats 25 - 150 feet). NMEA has also redesigned its website, with industry news, online job listings, NMEA membership listings and details about standards and publications produced by NMEA. ________ Northrup Grumman to supply VDRs to Italian ferry fleet http://www.sperry-marine.com Northrop Grumman (parent of Sperry Marine) has received an order to supply 39 voyage data recorders to one of Italy's largest ferry fleets, Tirrenia Group of Naples. Installation and commissioning will be provided by Compagnia Generale Telemar, Sperry Marine's Italian sales and service representative. ________ *** SHIP SHORE COMMUNICATIONS *** INVSAT to supply TeleMedic systems http://www.invsat.com VSAT maritime communications company INVSAT has struck a deal to act as a supplier for shipboard medical services company TeleMedic systems. ________ Iridium deploys 2 more satellites http://www.iridium.com Iridium Satellite has deployed 2 spare satellites. Together with the launch of five spares in February 2001, this means that Iridium expects to be able to provide service through to 2010 on the current satellite constellation. ________ Launch of Sailor News http://www.sailornews.com A new seafarer news service has launched from India, Sailornews.com. The company produces a four page electronic daily newsletter in English, with news from India, Philippines, Russia, Latvia, Croatia, Ukraine, Greece, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Germany and UK. Each newsletter weighs about 7Kb and includes a "joke of the day," summary of the nations weather, regional news, international news, marine safety messages, sports news and (optional) company specific news. The newsletter costs $0.50 per day per newsletter, with reductions for larger orders. ________ SeaWave appoints Tim Green as account manager http://www.seawave.com Maritime communications company SeaWave has appointed Tim Green as regional account manager US South East, covering Florida, Gulf States and the Caribbean. Mr Green was previously with Viking Lifesaving Equipment in Miami. ______ DIGITAL SHIP LTD 213 Marsh Wall London E14 9FJ Tel (+44 207) 510 0015 Fax (+44 207) 510 2344 http://www.thedigitalship.com