Responding
to industry concerns over sufficient Towing Safety Management System service
capacities for the impending Sub-Chapter M implementation, Houston
headquartered Germanischer Lloyd (USA) and
New Orleans-based Baker, Lyman & Co., Inc. have announced a strategic
alliance.
The
announcement followed several months of speculation following the end of the
Sub-Chapter M notice of proposed rulemaking public comment period of how the
U.S. Coast Guard and the industry could address what the Towing Safety Advisory
Committee and American Waterways Operators have characterized as a serious market
shortage of TSMS delivery service capabilities.
These
service capabilities include TSMS assessments/plan writing, TSMS plan
certification, and TSMS audits/surveys.
Germanischer
Lloyd (USA) and its sister company, Noble Denton, offer certification/inspection
process expertise for tug and barge, workboat, and offshore energy markets.
Baker Lyman has been a marine consulting chart agent operation in the United
States domestic inland and offshore industry since 1919.
The
strategic alliance creates a TSMS “one stop shop” for Sub-Chapter M impacted
operators, the companies say. Germanischer
Lloyd and Baker Lyman will cross-market each partners’ product and service
lines creating affordable, scalable, and flexible TSMS solutions for any sized
fleet, they say.
Baker
Lyman provides TSMS company/vessel assessment, TSMS plan creation, CORSAIR towing
vessel record, and annual TSMS internal audits. Germanischer Lloyd (USA)/Noble
Denton provides TSMS plan certification, TSMS audit and survey services, TSMS vessel
reclassification, and TSMS training through the Germanischer Lloyd Academy.
Baker
Lyman’s extensive TSMS business intelligence and Germanischer Lloyd’s expertise
in the worldwide tug and barge market make for a powerful combination, the
companies say, that is rivaled only by ABS domestically and DNV
internationally.
The
strategic alliance commenced operations in August with a network of sales, admin,
and field personnel positioned in key TSMS hotbeds.