MDL Awards Service Centre Status to Star-Tech Marine Electronics

Published Jan 11, 2007 12:01 AM by The Maritime Executive

SERVICE centre status for its Fanbeam® laser radar systems has been awarded to Star-Tech Marine Electronics Inc by global laser systems pioneer, Measurement Devices Ltd (MDL).

The award means that Star-Tech Marine Electronics, Berwick, LA, is able to provide support as well as service and repair MDL’s Fanbeam® laser radar systems on vessels deployed in The Gulf of Mexico.

Fanbeam® is designed for the repetitive, high-accuracy positioning of vessels, such as supply boats and dive support craft, and static and semi-static structures, such as rigs, in the oil and gas industries.

The system, developed by MDL which has bases in Houston, Texas, Aberdeen, Scotland and York, England, is widely used on dynamically- positioned platform supply vessels, anchor handling tugs, offshore construction and dive support vessels, shuttle tanks, drill rigs, ships and dredgers worldwide.

Star-Tech Marine Inc, which was founded in 1989, is an established service centre for many types of marine electronics equipment including radars, chart plotters, echo sounders and positioning reference systems.

MDL’s Dynamic Systems Business Unit manager, Keith Park, says: “This agreement, which will allow Star Tech to market itself as an accredited Fanbeam service centre, is the key to providing a better service to our many end-users in The Gulf of Mexico.

“We are delighted to have awarded service centre status to Star-Tech Marine. The company’s involvement will ensure end-users a more local service and a faster turnaround of repairs than MDL is able to achieve on its own.”

Star-Tech Marine Inc sales director, Hank Morgan, says: “We are extremely pleased by this agreement. It will enable us to enhance our service and reduce costs for owners of vessels in The Gulf of Mexico as we will have greater control of the turnaround and project costs involved.”

Privately-owned MDL was founded in 1983 and has four strategic business units for laser modules, handheld laser systems, laser systems and dynamic systems. MDL, which is ISO 9001/2000 certified, has more than 60 resellers worldwide and generates 80 per cent of its sales outside the UK.