View non-flash version
E-Commerce Marine Software: Aiming to Lower Costs Founded by a group of marine engi- neers in 1991, Marine Software, Ltd. was established with the goal of provid- ing the industry with simple, easy-to-use software. By virtue of the founder's experience, it was sure that the company had a clear insight as to the needs of the industry and intricacies of systems for onboard use. The company today counts 330 vessels as customers, with others joining the installed base at a steady rate. Existing clients include the U.K. Ministry of Defence, Seabulk Interna- tional, Global Marine Systems, Reed- erei Nord, Dobson Fleet Management, Bluewater Marine Management & Midocean (IOM) Ltd. All systems produced by the company are manufactured in modules, a tactic that allows customers to purchase only what they need. For example, if the operator requires only Planned Mainte- nance, then this could be supplied as a stand-alone system. If needs changed requiring stock control, purchasing or project management, Marine Software can easily add these and additional mod- ules, linking them to existing modules with no disruption to the system. Marine Software recently launched Marine Planned Maintenance Lite for Windows and Marine Storekeeper Lite for Windows, systems that only exhibit the core functionality for basic planned maintenance and stock control. While the 'Lite' systems are perfectly adequate for basic functionality they can, if the customer later requires, be upgraded to the full systems with a simple program change, without the need for restructur- ing or importing their databases. For ship operators, sourcing a planned maintenance package is only the first part of the task of implementation. The more formidable hurdle is setting up the system for individual ships — a process that can be the most time consuming and expensive part of the project. A Helping Hand Down Under Incat — a leading supplier of fast fer- ries — needed to supply a standardized planned maintenance package on deliv- ery of each vessel, as Marine Software had already supplied planned mainte- nance systems directly to the ship oper- ators, Sea Containers and Condor Fer- ries, for many of their existing vessels. These systems, due to their simplicity and ease of use, had proved very suit- able to the operating environment found on board fast ferries, limited manpower, fast turnaround times, high operational work load and frequent changes of crew. Sea Containers therefore contracted Marine Software to supply planned maintenance systems to four fast pas- senger ferries operating in New York il r. m From ship to shore, C-MAP's professional electronic chart database is there to help you navigate. > fir . * • • • -/j .v ICM-93 led it ion 31 / I /: / • ; rWri:" c- OMMERCIAL ami • Worldwide coverage on ONE CD. • Over 18,000 charts available. • International sales and support. "HE • Choose from systems by Raytheon, STN Atlas, Sperry Marine, Kelvin Hughes and others. • Online updating with Notice To Mariner corrections. • Worldwide Tidal Reference Stations included. C-MAP/Commercial • 133 Falmouth Road • Mashpee. MA 02649 • 508.477.7537 • www.c-map.no Reederei Nord (above), and the U.K. Ministry of Defence (next page), have made opera- tions more efficient with Marine Software Ltd 60 Circle 227 on Reader Service Card or visit www.maritimereporterinfo.com Maritime Reporter & Engineering News
