Helm CONNECT Contributes to First Ever Subchapter M COI

Leading harbor towage operator Marine Towing of Tampa earned an industry first on April 20th, when its 87 foot, 4200 hp towing vessel Endeavor became the first vessel to be awarded a Certificate of Inspection (COI) for compliance under the US Coast Guard’s new stringent Sub M rules for towing vessel safety.

Marine Towing of Tampa, which operates a fleet of four vessels providing harbor docking, ship assist, and escort services on the west coast of Florida, is widely regarded as one of the most progressive and technically proficient towing vessel operators in the industry. In addition to investing in new, cutting-edge vessels which have won industry accolades for their use of new technology, they’ve also invested in software systems to modernize their operations, including Helm CONNECT, the industry’s leading system for vessel compliance management.

“Helm CONNECT has helped us streamline, simplify, and modernize our compliance operations.  In addition to the efforts of our great team here at Marine Towing, Helm CONNECT was a central part of our achieving compliance with Sub M and earning our first Certificate of Compliance,” said Capt. Scott Moorhead, ISM Coordinator/DPA at Marine Towing of Tampa.

Helm CONNECT is the marine industry’s fastest growing platform for marine operations, including maintenance, compliance, and operations management. According to Helm Operations CEO Ron deBruyne, Marine Towing’s achievement reflects the spirit that led the company to develop Helm CONNECT, “We built Helm CONNECT to help operators like Marine Towing of Tampa more easily achieve compliance with regulations like Sub M, and we’re honored and excited to be part of this historic milestone for both Marine Towing of Tampa and the wider industry.”

This is the second industry first for Helm CONNECT under the Coast Guard’s new Sub M regulations. Alabama-based Ivy Marine made waves in September 2017 when it became the first towing vessel operator in the US to have its Towing Safety Management System, or TSMS, approved by the Coast Guard. Like Marine Towing of Tampa, Ivy Marine uses Helm CONNECT to help manage their vessel maintenance and compliance operations in line with domestic regulations.
 
Released in 2016, Helm CONNECT has emerged as one of the leading platforms for marine operations and vessel management, both globally and in the US. Today, Helm CONNECT is the most widely used marine software platform in North America, with some 40 percent of the fleet of the American Waterways Operators (AWO), the US’s largest association of ship owners and operators, using Helm software.

About Helm Operations

Since 1999 Helm Operations has been developing Helm software to help workboat companies better organize their operations and optimize their business intelligence. Our operations are based on Vancouver Island on the west coast of Canada. As the company has continued to grow, we’ve recently expanded our presence in Europe and opened a second office in The Netherlands.

Our brand promise is: to connect the marine industry like no other technology company, so we strive to make our software, service and culture reflect that promise.

Helm Operations is a subsidiary of ClassNK, one of the world’s leading classification societies. ClassNK is dedicated to supporting the growth and development of the maritime industry, and ensuring the safety of ships, their crews, and the marine environment.