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E-Commerce ShipDesk Strives To Carve A Niche Phenomenal is perhaps the only word adequately to describe the rampage of new, integrated e-commerce solutions that have recently swamped the mar- itime industry. The marine market, which has a solid reputation of follow- ing rather than leading technological surges, has gone from "zero to sixty" in record time on the e-commerce front. But while the industry today has a bevy of selections from which to choose — including portals for conducting every transaction conceivable, from fix- ing cargos to buying bunker fuel, spare parts or a ship's stores — the critical question revolves around not which choices are available today, rather which choices will be available one year from today. While the market has been consumed with about 70 new choices, some ana- lysts predict rapid and extreme fall-out, anticipating that a mere handful of top companies will survive. While it is prac- tically impossible to determine which Efe £
- iis;:: £ , 3 a £ * tt a » txvty Sh(*>: BafaMk. H t™m,|-r- mvfl G"»in --—• WELCOME TO SHIPDE Broker; and Agen ShipDesk offer; a lota! freighting ei through to post f enhanced hguidi companies will emerge from the .com fray, it is safe to say that those which combine the unique mix of solid indus- try experience, thorough technical expertise and solid financial backing will have a better shot than other at forg- ing a solid business. ShipDesk.com is one of the new offer- ings, which seems to achieve this opti- mum mix. Maritime Reporter recently met in New York with Peter Rygaard Andersen, vice president, Marketing and P.R., and formerly of the well- regarded BIMCO, to discuss the cre- ation and launch of ShipDesk. Lofty Goals With the aim of becoming the defini- tive independent chartering exchange, ShipDesk faces a stiff challenge to say the least. It must battle not only the pre- vailing "business as usual" current which pervades the sometime techno- phobic marine market, but also deal with literally dozens of new E-commerce solution providers which seek to provide August, 2000 roughly the same services. "First, we are seeking to build an exchange with the industry rather than for the industry," explained Andersen, noting the one- size-fits-all strategy of some high-pro- file entrants, who are seeking to meld OMEGA THRUSTERS FOR EASY MANOEUVRING * Ideal for river barges, seegoing vessels, inland vessels, supply vessels and drilling barges Ian Verhaar builds reliable, long-life Omega bow and stern thrusters With a thrust direction that's adjustable over 360°, Omega thrusters will keep any ship on the right course. They're the ideal complement to a Bollard Pull DP system of 24.9 LBF/kW. The thrusters' extremely compact size allows their installation in even the smallest engine room. The state-of-the-art Omega thrusters are available with power ratings ranging from 150 to 1500 kW. OMEGA THRUSTERS |an Verhaar. P.O. Box 119 2340 AC Oegstgeest - Holland Tel: + 31 71 5172631 Fax: + 31 71 5171926 E-mail: info@verhaar.com Website: http://www.verhaar.com Circle 244 on Reader Service Card And We Replace Your Old Marine Refrigerator. Three inches clearance from the front. That's all we need to replace your old marine refrigerator with a Cospolich modular refrigerator Do it yourself. No bulkhead or hatch cuts. No special skills or tools required. Kits come with easy, step-by-step instructions. Polarized wiring is pre-installed so it can't be plugged in wrong. With models from 20 cu. ft. to 200 cu. ft., all built to U.S. Navy standards, it's like having a refrigerator built to your specifications COSPOLICH REFRIGERATOR CO. 14695 Highway 61 Norco, Louisiana 70079 Tel.: 504-725-0222 • Fax: 504-725-1564 Toll Free: 800-423-7761 www.cospolich.com Circle 220 on Reader Service Card J J2 Rust Converting Primer CORROSEAL™ e S is IS a WORKS! o e www.corroseal.com c Rust4me@corroseal.com 1 Tel: 425-837-0200 Fax: 425-837-0300 hong kong-houston-dubai-seattle-bangkok-newyork-singapore-brooklyn Circle 218 on Reader Service Card o GIVE US THREE INCHES. Circle 297 on Reader Service Card 3fiHcnnium-2000 Capstans • • • Advanced Designs • • • 154 models, XA to 30 HP, 950# to 12,050# running loads For Details and/or our Distributor contact us at: FAX(715) 394-6199, Toll free: (888) 511-7922, ph (715) 394-4444 Barge Moving Train Car Pulling Pulling for Mooring, Anchor & Rope Handling the Future • Superior-Lidgerwood-Mundy Corp. 1101 John Ave. P.O. Box 39 Superior, WI 54880