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USER CONFERENCE REVIEW Partnership is critical for success Partnerships and teamwork were key themes at this year’s annual User Conference. Whether discussing product design, system management, or resolving issues, all of the guest presenters stressed the importance of teamwork.  Chris Flanagan, Overseas Shipholding Group Chris Flanagan, Vice President Marine Technical for Overseas Shipholding Group (OSG) set the stage during his keynote address in which he declared OSG’s commitment to assist Nautical Systems in developing the best fleet management software on the market. “NS 5 tells us where to focus our energy to improve operations, and is getting more and more engrained into our business operations,” Flanagan told the 170 attendees during his keynote address. “We are working with Nautical Systems to set the gold standard in fleet management software.” Following up on a key request from the 2006 conference, the NS team discussed development plans for ad-hoc reporting tools in the upcoming software version. OSG representatives, Tom Wingenfeld, Assistant VP, and and Amit Basu, Assistant VP, I.T., provided a demonstration to the user group of the OSG portal and reporting techniques using Oracle, highlighting some of the key performance indicators they are tracking through data available in NS 5. Projects underway with OSG include the development of a new vetting module integrated with NS 5, and expanded Root Cause Analysis tools based on the ABS RCA tree. Both products will be delivered to OSG by year-end for beta-testing before they are made available to all NS clients, and are discussed in more detail below. A seven-year veteran of the User Conferences, Mark Seed, PMS Superintendent for Dorchester Atlantic Marine Limited shared some of his tips to better manage the Maintenance & Purchasing modules. “When setting-up the software, I have always considered the end users on the vessels in order to make the operation and usage as easy as possible for them. It is they who create a high percentage of the daily data,” says Seed. “If the system is populated as much as possible with job and spares data upon the vessel installation, the end-users onboard are motivated from the beginning.” 
Mark Seed, Dorchester Atlantic Marine Ltd. Seed has worked closely with the Nautical Systems team on several development projects, including the DryDock module released early this year. Prior to using the new tools, Seed is following his own advice. “We will populate the software and test it with about 50 jobs of various scenarios and parameters before rolling it out. As always, we will work closely with ABS NS to address any issues which may arise.” During his address to the user group, David Kramer, Team Leader with Seaspan Shipmanagement, discussed the flexibility he found necessary when steering the NS 5 implementation towards its success. “Things did not get off to an easy start with SafeNet,” Kramer explained. “Each of us (Seaspan and ABS NS) focused on our ways of doing business. We both had to learn to give a little. Without teamwork, nothing comes together.” Seaspan and ABS NS came together as a team to address usage. Nautical Systems’ staff familiarized themselves with Seaspan’s business processes and suggested ways to better incorporate NS 5. Kramer states that companies must take ownership of the product to realize maximum benefits. “The software is what it is. It is up to each business to learn the detail of how the NS5 software works and then to take that knowledge and apply it with adaptation to their reviewed business flow.” Nautical Systems President, Jack Kitchura emphasizes the importance of client participation throughout the conference. “The user conference is the driving force behind product development,” says Kitchura. “We ask our clients to tell us what their priorities are, and we plan our development schedule accordingly. This is their product. We develop it, but they give it life.” TechExcel – your support window  Mark Olin, J. Ray McDermott All software on the market has one thing in common – bugs. Oftentimes what sets competing development companies apart is the manner in which they fix issues once identified. Nautical Systems has implemented a new tool to track issues and enhancement requests from the initial report through correction. This tool, TechExcel, is a web-based application that provides a portal for Nautical Systems clients to directly report issues, upload attachments, and watch the progress of the issue as it moves within NS for resolution. Now coming online to all clients, NS has been working with select users in a testing mode for the past several months. Mark Olin, Applications Development for J. Ray McDermott, presented his experiences with TechExcel to the user conference attendees, calling the application ‘your support window.’ “We are able to submit new incidents and events. We issue an ID number for each incident and event to make it easy to refer to in discussions. It has been very useful,” Olin says.While discussing his company’s internal procedures for tracking issues, Olin explained that they have one point person to report all issues to NS. “When McDermott discovers an issue/problem we send it to triage. That is where NS 5 administration determines if it really is an issue and proceeds to resolve it. If we are not sure, we consult with our client manager.” Olin stressed the importance of working with the NS staff and his internal operations department. He noted that TechExcel better utilized his time and felt it did the same for the NS staff. “Operations, IT and ABS – it is a three-armed team that makes this work,” Olin says. Contact your Client Manager for more details how you can setup a TechExcel account for your organization. Roundtables drive product development – NS requests your opinion This year, over twenty roundtables sessions focused on improvements to the software, including topics on electronic purchasing, work permits, and interfaces. The tables varied from small groups of five or six, to well over 30 people on several occasions. The results of the tables also varied, with some producing specific enhancement requests, and others listing best practices for managing a particular feature of the software. NS is requesting your assistance in prioritizing the roundtables. Detailed reports of the findings for each roundtable area available in the client support section of the NS website. Also included is a short electronic survey where you can submit your priority for each of the tables. The results of the survey will drive the development of the NS 5 product for the upcoming years. Don’t miss out on your chance to provide your feedback. Click here for access to the client support section to complete your survey… Nautical Systems to develop vetting module Responding to client requests voiced at its annual User Conference, ABS Nautical Systems will begin industry beta-testing of a new tanker vetting module by the end of this year with the expectation that it will be available to industry in 2008. The module is being developed with input and guidance from Overseas Shipholding Group (OSG), an existing ABS Nautical Systems client and one of the more prominent tanker operators in the world. This is believed to be the first module of a comprehensive, fully integrated fleet management software system that will have been developed in concert with industry that specifically addresses the vetting function to which all tanker and tanker operators are subject. According to ABS Nautical Systems Vice President of Operations, Gerry Nielsen, the new vetting module is being developed to help tanker operators improve the timeliness and accuracy of their responses to observations that are made during a vetting inspection as well as support improved use of data to encourage better preparation in advance of future vettings. The new software is being developed with sufficient flexibility that it will load protocol for a number of different vetting processes, including the OCIMF SIRE standards and the CDI (chemical ship) standards. Users at the conference made several additional suggestions that would expand the modules applicability to other audit and inspection routines, including future use by bulk carrier operators. The system will also link with the newly released NS 5 Root Cause Analysis module so that owners will be able to more easily investigate underlying causes of any problems that may be identified by the vetting process. The module also will create a library of previous responses to vetting observations. The concept received enthusiastic support from the other users attending the conference, many of whom participated in the round table workshop devoted to the topic. Root Cause Analysis tools in final development Overseas Shipholding Group (OSG), is also working with Nautical Systems to expand the Root Cause Analysis functionality in the NS 5 Quality & Compliance module. The software currently allows for users to build a list of root cause indices to be linked to a corrective action request (CAR). New developments will allow NS users to link to the Root Cause Map published by ABS Class and link multiple causes back to the CAR. Users will also have the ability to customize the Root Cause Map. All root cause details will be included in NS 5’s replication, and therefore available on both ship and shore. OSG will begin beta-testing the new tools this year. OTHER NEWS DryDock module featured in DigitalShip magazine Although version NS 5.3.0 released earlier this year included many enhancements, the most anticipated was certainly the new DryDock administration tools incorporated into the NS 5 Maintenance & Repair and Purchasing and Inventory modules. Digital Ship magazine spoke with Nautical Systems, OSG Shipmanagement and Dorchester Atlantic Marine Limited about the new tools, and the collaborative process of development. Click here to download the October issue of Digital Ship and read more… Software donation will help keep historic ship alive ABS Nautical Systems LLC, has donated the NS 5 Maintenance & Repair fleet management software to the historic S.S. American Victory museum ship, one of only four remaining WWII Merchant Ships still sailing under the U.S. flag. The donation includes the software, the consulting time required for implementation, and all related expenses. “What this software does is essential to us” says the American Victory’s Ship Administrator, Kurt Voss. Maintenance for the ship is performed by volunteers, and Voss admits that “while we have made a valiant effort at establishing a scheduled maintenance plan, progress has been slow and difficult, primarily due to a lack of resources. This donation is nothing short of a godsend”. The NS 5 Maintenance & Repair software is a comprehensive planned maintenance program that builds a maintenance history through the routine documentation of work completed. Additionally, the software provides the ability to track all surveys, certificates and work required for class and regulatory bodies. Having spent 12 years at the Texas Seaport Museum prior to joining the S.S. American Victory, Voss recognizes the challenges faced when maintaining museum vessels in sailing condition. “I believe museum ships should be kept operational,” he says “and we can only continue to keep the Victory alive through routine maintenance. This software is crucial to her survival”. 2007 Great River Race This year the London Rowing team reduced in size to four hardy souls. Enough to warrant only a salter skiff in the 22 mile race from the Ham House near Richmond down to Greenwich. (The race was timed during when the tide was going out , thank goodness). This was quite a change from last year's 8 man whaler. The ABS team finished the race number 167 out of 268 in just over 3 hours and 47 minutes. In the City class the racers finished 9th. After the race was over our racers crawled up the bank and were rewarded with a refreshing pint! http://www.greatriverrace.co.uk/ NEVA 2007  Meeting on #17 Green from left, Tom Wingenfeld, (OSG), Doug Elliot (SMT Services), Bryan Vogel, (MARAD), Nathan Guice (Ridgon Marine), Mike Harris (SMT), Royce Engler (ABS NS), Joe Woods (ABS NS), Orlando Faundez (Southern Shipmanagement). Nautical Systems made its debut at the NEVA 2007 conference in St. Petersburg. A warm reception was received, and NS looks forward to participating in the event again in 2009. 1st ANNUAL NS GOLF TOURNAMENT Held in conjunction with the User Conference, NS sponsored its first golf tournament. We congratulate the team winning First Place, which included Tom Wingenfeld (OSG Shipmanagement), Orlando Faundez (Southern Shipmanagement), Doug Elliott (Seaway Marine Transport) and Joe Woods (ABS NS). All participants walked away with numerous prized due to the overwhelming support of clients donations. With the success of the first event we are looking at further expanding the event next year at the 2008 Conference.
NEW HIRES AND STAFF PROMOTIONS 
Christopher McCourt Christopher McCourt brings to Nautical Systems over 10 years of International Shipping experience including Business Analysis, Project Management, and Marine Operations & Marketing. During that time, he worked on a variety of projects including the development of internal and external web applications to assist in streamlining shipping operations. Since joining Nautical Systems in 2006 as a Product Consultant, McCourt lead the project management initiative on several key implementations, utilizing his blended knowledge of business requirements specification, project planning and shipping operations. In his current role, McCourt manages sales for North America, and is responsible for the global marketing efforts of Nautical Systems. He graduated from the University of South Florida earning a Masters of Business Administration with concentrations in Marketing Strategy, Finance and Management. 
Jan Jenichen Jan Jenichen joined Nautical Systems in September of 2007. Prior to joining ABS-NS he worked 5 years as Consultant in a Software Company providing Safety Management Systems for Shipping Companies. There he began his experience with software implementations and trainings especially for maintenance software on board and in managing offices. After he received his degree as a Mechanical Engineer he worked as a Project Planner for Plant Maintenance and Control in a Coal-Fired Power Plant. He moved to Santiago, Chile in 1993, where he met his future wife. In 1995 his first daughter was born. In 2001 Jan followed a job opportunity and decided to move with his family back to Germany. He lives now in Berlin, with his wife and two children. Visit Nautical Systems at the upcoming events!
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Contact
your regional ABS Nautical Systems Representative
for additional details.
| North America | South America | London/ Northern Europe |
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| Representative | Joe Woods | Alvaro Pozo | Bob Kessler |
| Telephone | 281-877-5714 | 56-32-21-79-68 | 44 (0) 20 7377 4424 |
| jwoods@abs-ns.com | apozo@abs-ns.com | rkessler@abs-ns.com | |
| Hamburg/ Northern Europe |
S. Europe/ Middle East |
Far East | |
| Representative | Tom Kreissl | Evangelos Valsamis | Ooi Ka-Lok |
| Telephone | (49) 40 37 85 8726 | +30-210-4294046 | + 603 22722732 |
| tkreissl@abs-ns.com | evalsamis@abs-ns.com | kooi@abs-ns.com |
Nautical Systems E-News is produced by the Nautical Systems team on a quarterly basis for clients interested in learning more about NS and its products. You may reproduce any article in a printed format or redistribute on a mass basis subject to the following conditions: (1) text must be copied without modification and (2) all copies of text must contain this story credit: "Courtesy of ABS Nautical Systems." To subscribe or unsubscribe to NS E-News, or for more information about ABS Nautical Systems, please contact Christopher McCourt at 1-281-877-5726 or cmccourt@abs-ns.com. Copyright © 2007 by ABS Nautical Systems LLC
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