Digital Ship America - Oct 7 - 8 2009

Communications, IT and electronics in the maritime and offshore industry

Supported by Connecticut Maritime Association

Digital Ship USA is the annual meeting place for people involved in digital technology in the maritime industry, including satellite communications, software, navigation technology and pirate detection and deterrence.

Whether you're from the tanker, cruise, dry bulk, military or offshore sectors, on deep sea or Great Lakes, we all have the same challenges of working out what technology to buy and how to get the most out of it - improving safety, operational efficiency and quality of life onboard.

We're working hard to create an event which will help you to learn about the best use of different technologies for satellite communications, software, navigation and piracy deterrence - how to get the most out of it for your company and how to keep it working well.

Find out if there are some useful experiences from others you can learn from, and share your own ideas, by attending our 2nd Digital Ship USA conference in Stamford, Connecticut on October 7-8.

Delegates registered so far include Chevron Shipping Company, Shipping IT Manager, Fleet Sr. Electronics Engineer; Colonial Navigation, technical manager; d'Amico Società di Navigazione S.p.A., CIO; Navios Maritime, IT Manager; US Coastguard , program manager; TBS Shipping , IT manager, IT engineer; Axion Shipping , president, office manager; CSL International , IT manager; Heidmar Inc , business systems manager; CSL International , IT manager, Axion Shipping, president and office manager, TBS Shipping , IT manager, IT engineer, DSTL , concept advisor, BGT Ltd , operations and risk manager, Liberty Maritime Corporation , manager information technologies, Campbell Shipping , director information technology, Shiptrade, IT manager, Torm , network engineer, Atlantic Towing , business improvement manager; Great Lakes Dredge and Dock , WAN admin / IT manager, Apex Bulk Carriers , port captain / technical manager

Admission is free of charge for employees of shipping companies - and just $735 / £450 for others.

See the agenda for different sessions:

Satellite communications
Software
Navigation
Inmarsat FleetBroadband training
Technology to assist with piracy preparedness

SPEAKERS INCLUDE
Captain Gordan Evans Van Hook Senior Director, Innovation and Concept Development Maersk Line, Limited
Rick Groen, Director of Systems and Advanced Technology, Seacor Marine
Giancarlo Coletta, purchasing and maintenance and cost control director, Grimaldi Group Naples
Capt John E. Lowell Jr., chief, Marine Chart Division, NOAA
Captain George Sandberg professor & director of Nautical Science Simulation, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
Saikat Basu, manager marine systems, Helix Energy Solutions Group
Russell Gise, manager, vessel IT services, Torm
Michael Mark, vessel IT manager, Clipper Ship Management
Marc Cullen, technical services analyst / telecoms co-ordinator, Husky Energy
Alan M. Weigel, maritime attorney, Blank Rome LLP
Commander Christian Hempstead, United States Merchant Marine Academy
Gerry Nielsen,, VP global operations, ABS Nautical Systems
, , ABS Nautical Systems Giampiero Soncini, CEO, SpecTec
Frank Coles, president and CEO, Globe Wireless
Frank August, director business development, Americas, Inmarsat

AGENDA DAY ONE - Satellite Communications and software

SESSION: SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS

Chairman: Jim Dodez, Vice President, Marketing & Strategic Planning, KVH

James S. Dodez has served as KVH's vice president of marketing and strategic planning since March 2007. He joined KVH in 1986, and over the past 20+ years has held the positions of marketing director, vice president of marketing and reseller sales, and vice president of marketing. Prior to joining the company, Mr. Dodez was the marketing director at Magratten Wooley, Inc., where he managed KVH's account from 1983 to 1986. Mr. Dodez received a bachelor's degree in business with an emphasis in marketing from Miami University. KVH is one of the largest maritime satellite communications companies in the world offering high-speed Internet connections via mini-VSAT Broadband and Inmarsat, voice and fax service, and access to regional, global satellite TV services.

9.15 Chairman's opening remarks

9.20 - Welcome address - Molly McCafferty, vice president, Connecticut Maritime Association and Manager, Claims and Legal Affairs, Clipper Bulk (USA)

Ms McClafferty is manager of claims and legal affairs for Clipper Bulk (USA) and vice president of Connecticut Maritime Association. She was previously involved with marine and aviation defense for Thomas Miller and McCormack & Knoblock, both in Miami. She is on the Admiralty Committee of the New York City Bar and on the Board of Directors for the Stamford Museum and Nature Center. Ms McClafferty graduated with a Juris Doctorate Degree from the University of Miami in Florida

9.30 Rick Groen, Director of Systems and Advanced Technology with Seacor Marine Experiences using VSAT, FleetBroadband and other satellite communications technologies

Rick Groen joined Seacor (Asia) in 2001 as Marine Project Manager. In 2005 he became Operations Manager for the Gulf of Mexico anchor handling fleet, and in September 2007 he was promoted to Director of Systems and Advanced Technology. Rick's department manages all communication and navigation systems including ECS, DP reference systems, satellite and traditional communications and Preventive Maintenance for Seacor's vessels worldwide. Rick is an Dutch Master Mariner with many years hands-on experience, and an avid sailor.

SEACOR Marine operates a fleet of 151 offshore marine support vessels around the world, serving the oil and gas exploration and production industry. It has vessels in the Gulf of Mexico, Latin America, North Sea, West Africa, Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Altogether it has 21 anchor handling towing supply vessels; 17 platform supply vessels; 14 mini supply vessels; 64 crew / fast support vessels; 21 stand by safety vessels; 9 towing supply vessels and 5 speciality vessels.

10.00 Michael Mark, vessel IT manager, Clipper Shipmanagement
Introducing broadband on the Clipper fleet to increase capacity and reduce cost

Michael Mark joined Clipper Group in 2008, assuming the role of Vessel IT Manager with main focus on building up a complete new department. In the process of this, have we looked in to communications and method used, streamlining and setting standards onboard all vessels, setup processes for support and also responsible for validation of planned maintenance data for all vessels.

Prior to coming to Clipper, Michael Mark was employed as IT Service Manager at Eitzen Group with responsibilities for Europe and US based offices, and also the support on the vessels in same area. Michael Mark is educated as datanom specializing in IT and Law.

Clipper is a leading international shipping consortium with a modern fleet specifically designed to handle a variety of cargo types as our core business units are within handysize, handymax and panamax bulkcarriers, multipurpose tonnage and chemical tankers. Clipper has investments in a number of VLCCs, cruise vessels, ro/ro vessels and reefers.

10.30 Developments with Inmarsat's FleetBroadband service - what is currently available, when is it cost effective, how should you make the decision to switch to it? Frank August, director business development, Americas, Inmarsat

Inmarsat operates the satellite communications system used by most of the world's merchant shipping fleet & also forms the backbone of global GMDSS provision. In August 2008 Inmarsat launched the 3rd of its next generation Inmarsat-4 satellites, which will provide enhanced service provision to both existing & future users of its maritime services. FleetBroadband is Inmarsat’s latest maritime service which was launched in November 2007 & provides simultaneous voice & data at speeds of up to 432 kbps

11.00 Break

Sponsored by iDirect Day One Coffee Break sponsor:

11.45 Developments with crew calling technology - what technologies are available today to provide crew calling services to your crew so they are easy to manage and easy to use? How do you justify the cost? Kartik Sinha, maritime market manager, Inmarsat

• Results of the Inmarsat Crew Communications Survey for world maritime fleets
• View of the cost/benefits of communications services for seafarers during this time of severe crew shortages
• Steps Inmarsat has taken to enable better communication for seafarers

12.15 Satcoms technology showcase - 3 x 10 mins slot

12.15 -12.25 -Fastlink: download data on vessels with up to 60 per cent compression. Tim Renzi, IT Team Lead, World Link Communications

12.25 - 12.35 - Using small diameter terminals for VSAT communications. Steven J. Griffin, Commercial Marine Sales Manager, KVH Industries, Inc.
- Benefits of mini-VSAT to commercial operators
- New crew calling system
- Test Drive offer

12.35-12.45, Outsourcing the running of your shipboard PCs to a third party Otto Pedersen, chief technology officer, Palantir

12.45 Panel discussion - with Rick Groen, Michael Mark, Kartik Sinha, Frank August, Frank Coles and Marc T Cullen. Joining the panel will be: Russell Gise, manager, vessel IT services, Torm

1.00 Lunch
Day One Lunch sponsor:

2.00 Today's choice of satellite communications. Frank Coles, president and CEO, Globe Wireless

How does Iridium's OpenPort service compare with Inmarsat services? When does it get cost effective to use VSAT rather than Inmarsat for broadband?

Frank Coles joined Globe Wireless in 1999 as the Chief Operating Officer and became CEO and President in August 2005. He is a Master Mariner and served 13 years as a deck officer. Mr. Coles practiced shipping law in London with Richards Butler and in Hong Kong with Stephenson Harwood & Lo. He moved on to become General Manager of Pacific Basin Bulk Shipping in Hong Kong, and spent three years as CEO of Rydex Industries Corporation, a pioneer company in marine satellite communications. Before joining Globe Wireless, Mr. Coles was with Litton Marine Systems, serving as their Vice President, Business Development and Information Technology.

2.25 Marc T Cullen, technical services analyst / telecoms co-ordinator, Husky Energy . Experience using Inmarsat FleetBroadband on research vessels.

Marc T Cullen is a technical services analyst / telecoms co-ordinator for Husky Energy, one of Canada’s largest energy companies based in Calgary. He is mainly involved in Husky’s White Rose project off Canada’s East Coast, 350km East of St John’s, including managing the telecommunications for the 258m Searose FPSO. His work includes management and maintenance of marine radio systems, internal telecommunications, navigational aids, satellite services, aeronautical systems, and environmental monitoring systems. Mr Cullen was previously employed in a remote mine site operated by SNC Lavalin, managing communications and infrastructure, and before that managing Cisco routers and end devices for Aliant.

2.50 Break

3.20 SOFTWARE SESSION CHAIRMAN: Steve Ricketts, SVP sales and marketing, Navarik Corporation (Vancouver)

Steve Ricketts is Senior VP of Sales and Marketing for Navarik. Navarik customers, including BP, Chevron and Shell, use Navarik's Inspection platform to improve maritime cargo assurance, reduce operational costs and make more informed trading decisions. Prior to Navarik, Steve spent over 20 years in the enterprise software business, including management positions at IBM, Bowstreet, Xerox, Nortel, and Emptoris. Steve also co-founded ScanSoft (now Nuance Communications).

3.20 Interfacing Systems - Marine/Offshore with Shorebased ERP. Saikat Basu, manager marine systems, Helix Energy Solutions Group

Helix Energy Solutions Group, based in Houston, is the world's largest rigless well intervention contractor; the most active deepwater pipelay contractor in the Gulf of Mexico; the operator of the first dynamically positioned floating production vessel in the Gulf of Mexico (starting production early 2010); co-owner of the world's deepest floating semi submersible production platform; and owner of the largest reservoir engineering and wex``ll technology consultancy. It also owns a controlling interest in the world's largest diving contractor, Cal Dive International.

3.45 Developments with maintenance and purchasing software - case study using SpecTec's AMOS software.

Giancarlo Coletta, purchasing, maintenance and cost control director, director, Grimaldi Napes

Dr. Giancarlo Coletta is the Purchasing and Maintenance & Cost Control Director of Grimaldi Group Naples, in Italy. The company has a fleet of about 95 owned and chartered vessels, with regular liner services covering North Europe, the Mediterranean, West/Central Africa and South America, Baltics for the transport of cars, vans, trucks and other commercial vehicles, containers, general cargo (paper, forestry products), and project cargo. About 2 million vehicles are carried each year. The Grimaldi Group (Naples) includes the following companies: Atlantica S.p.A. di Navigazione, Grimaldi Compagnia di Navigazione S.p.A., Industria Armamento Meridionale S.p.A., Atlantic Container Line, Malta Motorways of the Sea Ltd and Finnlines. www.grimaldi.napoli.it

4.10 Shipdex - developments with electronic technical documentation onboard. Giampiero Soncini, CEO, SpecTec

Giampiero Soncini is CEO of software company SpecTec, the world's largest maritime software company. He has led the development of Shipdex, a new standard protocol for ship technical information, which should avoid the need to use paper manuals and drawings on ships. He spent 14 years in the Italian Navy and 12 years at NATO, where he acted as a technical manager for research vessels, one of which was the first vessel with GPS and an INS.

4.35 Comprehensive asset integrity management Gerry Nielsen, VP global operations, ABS Nautical Systems

Gerry Nielsen is vice president of global operations at ABS Nautical Systems, responsible for all operations efforts including software implementation, support and consulting. He was previously a marine surveyor and program manager with ABS, and before that a seafarer with Exxon and Global Marine, reaching chief engineer level. He has a degree in marine engineering systems from the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point. ABS Nautical Systems is one of the leading providers of fleet management software to the maritime and offshore industry. It offers a fully integrated, modular approach to managing all of the principal operational expenses associated with a vessel or offshore rig, ranging from maintenance and repair, to regulatory requirements, purchasing and inventory, and crew management and payroll.

5.00 Panel discussion

17.30 Conference sessions end, make way to Golf Club

18.00 – 18.30 Welcome drinks at dinner venue sponsored by SpecTec & Veson Nautical

Cocktails sponsors:

18.30 – 22.30 Evening dinner sponsored by Inmarsat
Banquet sponsor:

AGENDA DAY TWO - Navigation and piracy assistance

PARALLEL SESSIONS: ELECTRONIC NAVIGATION AND INMARSAT FLEET BROADBAND TRAINING
Electronic navigation session

CHAIR: Captain Sandberg USMS, FNI, Nautical Institute Branch Secretary North East Coast United States Branch and professor and director of Nautical Science Simulation U.S. Merchant Marine Academy

Captain George Sandberg is a full professor and director of nautical science simulation at the United States Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, New York. He has taught at the Merchant Marine Academy since 1990, including ten years as head Department of Marine Transportation. He is also Branch Secretary of the Nautical Institute North East Coast Branch. He has nineteen years seagoing experience, five as master, aboard vessels operated by Chevron Shipping, Marine Transport Lines, El Paso LNG, and Hvide Shipping.

9.15 Chairman's opening remarks

9.20 Experience with navigation technologies at Maersk Line Gordan Evans Van Hook, CAPT USN (Ret), Senior Director, Innovation and Concept Development Maersk Line, Limited

- Combining shipboard radar and AIS - and feeding data into satellite data systems network for sharing with operations centres
- Experience with enhanced radar and electro-optics for anti-piracy

Gordan van Hook is senior director for innovation and concept development with Maersk Line Ltd in Arlington, Virginia. Maersk Line Ltd operates 24 container ships, 2 product tankers, 2 car/truck carriers and 3 multipurpose vessels, all under US flag. It also operates 9 fast sealift ships, 7 special mission ships and 2 ammunition prepositioning ships for the US government.

At Maersk Line Limited Capt Van Hook is focused upon ways that US maritime services can leverage commercial best practices and innovation in energy efficiency, sustainment, sea basing and commercial ship conversions. With his significant naval experience he also assists in maintaining an active dialog between industry and government on maritime security issues and piracy.

Captain van Hook recently retired from the US Navy after 29 years. He was the Chief Engineer in USS SAMUEL B. ROBERTS (FFG-58) when she struck a mine in the Persian Gulf in 1988 during “the Tanker War”. Captain Van Hook later commanded USS O’BANNON (DD-987) and served as the operations officer for the Fifth Fleet to launch Operation Enduring Freedom after 9/11. Capt Van Hook also commanded DESTROYER SQUADRON 23, and served as Sea Combat Commander for the NIMITZ (CVN-68) Strike Group.

In his final job in the Navy, he served as the Executive Director of the CNO Executive Panel, a group of 32 civilian leaders from government, industry and academia that provide advice to the CNO on issues of strategy, policy, technology and innovation.

Capt. Van Hook has a MS in Information Systems from the Naval Postgraduate School and an MA in National Security Strategy from the Naval War College.

9.50 Developments with electronic charts at NOAA. Capt John E. Lowell Jr., NOAA chief, Marine Chart Division, NOS Office of Coast Survey

John Lowell is chief, marine chart division at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), overseeing the production of nautical charting products for the US. He has been selected to serve as the next director for the US Office of Coast Survey managing NOAA’s national effort directed at hydrographic data collection and nautical chart and publication production. He also serves as US National Hydrographer representing the US in international forums related to hydrography and nautical charting activities. Mr Lowell joined NOAA in 1984 and has spent over 10 years at sea, with his last sea tour in 2006 as Commanding Officer, NOAA Ship Fairweather conducting hydrographic surveying in Alaska.

10.20 Legal issues of electronic charts. Alan M. Weigel, maritime attorney, Blank Rome LLP.

- Ensuring that your electronic charts and voyage planning are accepted by port state control inspectors around the world.
- Liability of mistakes on charts - is it different for charts supplied by government and charts supplied by private companies?
- Who takes responsibility if seafarers do not know how to use the electronic chart equipment on their vessel? There is much variation in installations from different manufacturers. Courts in the United States are starting to take notice and will probably not wait for the industry to solve these problems.
- Legal issues for vessels carrying non-ECDIS electronic charts

Alan Weigel concentrates his practice in the area of commercial and insurance litigation and arbitration, with particular emphasis on the maritime industry. Areas where Mr Weigel has represented clients include maritime casualties, (including vessel collisions, groundings and oil spills); maritime limitation of liability actions and vessel arrests; maritime environmental issues and maritime personal injury defense. Mr. Weigel is a 1979 graduate of the United States Naval Academy and a 1987 distinguished graduate of the United States Naval Postgraduate School. During his twenty year career as a submarine officer in the United States Navy he attained the rank of Commander and developed focused skills as both a deck officer and engineer, as well as in deep ocean search and salvage.

10.50 Break

11.20 Teaching your seafarers about ECDIS. Commander Christian Hempstead, associate professor, United States Merchant Marine Academy

Helping seafarers keep up to speed with continuous new technical developments with ECDIS
Making the most out of developments in simulators
How ECDIS operation is taught at US Merchant Marine Academy
What does reliance on ECDIS mean?
Establishing minimal standards of ECDIS competence
Structuring ECDIS training
Best set-up of simulation classrooms and labs

Christian Hempstead served 19 years as a deck officer with SeaRiver Maritime Inc (formerly Exxon Shipping Co), including 5 years responsible for type-approved ECDIS and other electronic chart systems as watchstanding navigation officer; also 10 years as a USCG certified ECDIS instructor (at USMMA, GMATS, SUNY, MITAGS, & PMI), and a developer and author of ECDIS certified training at USMMA, GMATS, MITAGS, & PMI (author of first approved ECDIS course in the US, 2000). He has been at the USMMA since 2004.

11.50 Technology showcase - new navigation technologies presentations.

11.50 - Mike O'Brien, East Coast operations manager, Applied Weather Technology

12.00 - Eric James, sales manager North America - commercial navigation solutions, Jeppesen

12.10 - Panel discussion - how can shipping companies get the most out of electronic charts?

10.00 FleetBroadband training (parallel)

Led by the Inmarsat training department from London, FleetBroadband is Inmarsat's next generation of maritime services delivered via the world's most sophisticated satellites - the I4s. It will bring you simultaneous voice & broadband data through a single terminal incorporating the latest technology, to take you seamlessly into the IP age. Inmarsat will deliver a 2-hour 'training' session on FleetBroadband at Digital Ship USA. During the session, Inmarsat will update you on the technology behind FleetBroadband, the proposed coverage, the prospective services, and the new terminals & network.

12.30 - Lunch

Day 2 lunch sponsor

1.30 Technology to assist seafarers be better prepared for piracy

Chair: Barry Parker, principal, BDP1 Consulting

Barry Parker is the President of bdp1 Consulting Ltd, which he started in 1997 just as the dotcom boom was eying shipping as an industry "vertical". The consulting business provides high level counsel and execution on shipping business, marketing and technology. Mr. Parker is also a well known maritime writer. His New York Times interview and his on the air commentary, during the April 2009 Maersk Alabama incident, were both seen on widely on the "World Focus" television programme.

1.30 - Opening remarks: Gordan Van Hook, senior director for innovation and concept development with Maersk Line Ltd

1.40 Using high resolution radar in piracy detection. Adrian Pilbeam, Vice President Sales, Kelvin Hughes USA

Adrian Pilbeam, VP of Kelvin Hughes Americas spent 9 yearsin the British Royal Navy, in a variety of roles including airborne surface search and search and rescue. On leaving the Royal Navy, Adrian ventured into the commercial marine environment having wide ranging responsibilities in companies involved in marine services, marine communications and environmental pollution control. Adrian joined Kelvin Hughes in 2006, to drive forward the data distribution side of Kelvin Hughes' business. In 2007, Adrian was given responsibility to lead the adoption of the SharpEye Radars to the security, coastal surveillance and military fields. In 2009, due to the success of these efforts in the USA, he was posted to the newly formed Kelvin Hughes LLC office in Washington DC.

2.00 Computer based training to help seafarers be better prepared for piracy. David Friesem, manager, security and business development, Liberian Registry.

The Liberian Registry is the second largest ship registry in the world, including over 2,600 ships, with total gross tonnage of over 80 million tonnes. The Liberian Registry is recognized at the top of every industry “white-list” including the International Maritime Organization and the major Port State Control authorities such as the US Coast Guard as well as the Paris and Tokyo MOU regimes. Furthermore, according to the U.S. Maritime Administration, Liberian flagged vessels carry more than one-third of the oil imported into the United States.

2.20 Panel session - can technology make a useful contribution to helping protect vessels from piracy? With Gordan Evans Van Hook, CAPT USN (Ret), Senior Director, Innovation and Concept Development Maersk Line, Limited ; Adrian Pilbeam, Vice President Sales, Kelvin Hughes USA; David Friesem, manager, security and business development, Liberian Registry. Moderated by Barry Parker

3.15 Cocktails, conference closes

Exhibition enquiries: Ria Kontogeorgou, on ria@thedigitalship.com Tel +44 207 510 4931

Speaker enquiries: Karl Jeffery on jeffery@thedigitalship.com