Foss Maritime Centralizes Vessel Operations with Helm CONNECT

U.S. Marine Transportation and Logistics Services Provider Streamlines Fleet Management with Innovative Software Platform

Press Release – SEATTLE, Wash., June 27, 2018 – Foss Maritime has announced that it has kicked off a company-wide project to centralize fleet management and operations with Helm CONNECT, a leading marine software platform. The announcement comes as Foss moves forward on an initiative to better organize and streamline operations across core business units and wholly-owned subsidiaries along the U.S. West Coast, and in Hawaii and Alaska. 

As part of the agreement with Helm Operations, Foss will centralize its vessel dispatching, billing, maintenance, compliance, and personnel management in the Helm CONNECT software platform.

Seattle-based Foss Maritime has one of the largest tug and barge fleets in the United States. The company operates an integrated fleet of harbor tugs, offshore support, towing vessels and barges, comprising more than 200 vessels managed by four subsidiary companies: Foss Atlantic; AmNav Maritime Services; Young Brothers Limited; and Cook Inlet Tug and Barge.
 
“At Foss, we’re constantly looking at new ways to improve our business. Helm CONNECT is a great fit for us; it offers an integrated software solution but also acts as a partner in managing our wide variety of vessels and operations,” said Foss President and CEO, John Parrott. “Our goal is always to find ways to best support our staff and crews in the field. Helm CONNECT is another way for us to better provide the tools and information that are necessary to safe and efficient operations. It has long been our mission to deliver to our customers marine services without equal – and Helm CONNECT helps us to do just that.”
 
Streamlining marine operations is Helm CONNECT’s primary focus. “Our vision behind Helm CONNECT was bringing all the disciplines from vessel dispatch and billing, to maintenance and compliance, and crewing and payroll, into a single, user-friendly system that could be shared between ship and shore. We’re excited to help bring that to a great company like Foss,” said Ron deBruyne, CEO of Helm Operations.
 
“Foss will be using the full suite of Helm CONNECT products, including the Fleet Maintenance, Compliance, Jobs and Crewing modules,” said Scott Merritt, COO at Foss. “These tools help drive our commitment to incident-free operations and continuous improvement in every facet of their services. The Jobs module will support the order to invoice process and help the Foss Fleet Monitoring Center Watchstanders to both track the assets of Foss Maritime and her sister companies and assign the work in the most efficient manner. The Personnel module will enhance the scheduling and payroll process for the over 800 Foss Mariners.” 

Released in 2016, Helm CONNECT has emerged as one of the leading platforms for marine operations and vessel management both in North America and globally. Less than two years after launch, Helm CONNECT is the most widely used software platform in North America, with some 40% of the fleet of the American Waterways Operators (AWO), America’s largest ship owners group, and more than 3000 vessels using Helm CONNECT around the world.

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