5 February 2010

Melbourne under-keel clearance system specialist OMC International will widen its global coverage next month by establishing a presence in South America.

OMC has announced it will open an office in the Colombian capital, Bogota, headed by senior engineer Matthew Turner.

Dr Turner has already met port and maritime executives in Brazil, Peru and Argentina to discuss OMC's Dynamic Under Keel Clearance product...

7 January 2010

"The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) says it expects to have a new shipping navigation system operating in the Torres Strait by the end of the year..."

7 January 2010

OMC INTERNATIONAL has been chosen as the preferred supplier for a provisional under-keel clearance management (UKCM) system for the Torres Strait.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) decision comes 14 months after The Delivery of Coastal Pilotage Services in the Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait review panel report recommended a single UKCM system be used by pilotage providers and coastal pilots to enhance the safety and efficiency of transiting deep draught vessels through the region.

December 2009

OMC's Dynamic Under Keel Clearance System has been a huge success for the group and given it international attention.

3 December 2009

IT WAS, as always, as a night to celebrate excellence – a record 350 people coming together to recognise the brightest and sharpest from an industry that has battled hard in tough conditions.

...OMC International was recognised with the Maritime Services Award for its work in developing under keel clearance systems, which it has taken to international markets.

November 2009

The Australian Bulk Handling Awards were held on November 12th, 2009 at Doltone House in Sydney on a thundery and wet evening.

In the Innovative Technology category, the finalists were OMC International, Minprovise, BFM Global and Corradini Engineering. ...OMC International was highly commended for its Dynamic Under Keel Clearance software and technology which has had a huge and beneficial impact on ports handling bulk commodities such as coal, iron ore, and bauxite.

November 2009

OMC International’s Dynamic Under Keel Clearance (DUKC) technology was rewarded with a highly commended certificate at the Australian Bulk Handling Awards.

DUKC is a computer system that calculates waves, tides, currents, vessel dynamics and, crucially, the vertical component of navigation (what you can’t see under the water) to allow the safest and most efficient transit of ships in and out of ports. ...OMC International’s highly commended certificate was awarded to it in the Innovative Technology category.

15 September 2009

Melbourne tertiary education institutions have provided important initiatives for the maritime and logistics industries over the past week, including the establishment of "logistic cities". ...Details have also emerged of Swinburne University's Port Access and Navigation five-day postgraduate study unit next week at its Hawthorn campus. The unit will feature Melbourne under-keel clearance firm OMC International. Prof Alexander Babanin, from Swinburne University’s Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Sciences, said Ports Australia had recommended OMC as an industry partner.

September 2009

Port Hedland Port Authority (PHPA) has approached OMC International to investigate how its proven DUKC® technology can help the port regularly repeat its recent record of five ships sailing on the one tide, says OMC chief Dr Terry O’Brien. PHPA grabbed media headlines when it announced that it had sailed five capsize bulk carriers (four BHP Billiton Iron Ore and one Fortescue Metals) on the morning high tide on Friday, June 26, with a combined total cargo of 841,062 tonnes.

September 2009

WORLD-leading and award-winning OMC DUKC technology assisted the Port Hedland Port Authority (PHPA) to set a recent shiploading record in August.

_{Reprinted with permission from The Australian Mining Review, published September 2009.}

8 August 2009

OMC has recently opened a UK office, to help promote its Dynamic Under Keel Clearance (DUKC) system and support its European installations. This technology has been proven in the difficult waters found around Australia. Melbourne for example has the Port Phillip heads at its entrance, where swells up to five metres can sometimes combine with a six knot ebb current, causing even large ships to plunge several metres downward.

July 2009

Melbourne maritime engineering firm OMC International has licensed its world-leading navigation technology to the Port of Melbourne Corporation (PoMC) to help ensure the safety of large vessels enterng Port Phillip Heads, one of the most challenging waters for ship navigation to be found anywhere on earth.

June 2009

Shipping Australia - Melbourne improves safety of ships at Port Phillip heads

Port Phillip heads poses one of the most challenging waters for ship navigation to be found anywhere on earth. The history of shipwrecks since settlement began at Melbourne in 1835 attests to this reality. Huge, long swells up to 5 metres significant wave height, combined with currents up to 6 knots on the ebb (which occurs at low water), cause even ships in excess of 250 metres in length to plunge several metres downward in extreme conditions.

June 2009

World Port Development - Melbourne adopts DUKC

A unique system bringing safey to vessels arriving in some of the largest bulk, container and multi-cargo ports in the world including the Pilbara iron ore ports in North Western Australia has now been licensed to the Port of Melbourne. WPD reports.....

18 June 2009
Lloyd’s List DCN Online - OMC technology wins more recognition

Australian maritime technology company OMC International has garnered new international recognition. The company's Dynamic Under-Keel Clearance in-transit technology won the marine civil engineering and construction category at this year's Seawork awards in the United Kingdom.

18 June 2009
Lloyd’s List DCN - Feeling the draught of change

It has been an exciting month just past for OMC International. This has included more important recognition for it's Dynamic Under Keel Clearance (DUKC) technology and early workout after its deal with Port of Melbourne Corporation.

21 May 2009
Lloyd’s List DCN - Keel clearance advance for Melbourne

The Port of Melbourne Corporation was the latest ports body to take up OMC International's Dynamic Under Keel Clearance (DUKC) technology, the Melbourne maritime engineering firm said on Monday.

19 May 2009
Lloyd’s List DCN Online - OMC gets under-keel clearance green light for Melbourne

The Port of Melbourne Corporation was the latest ports body to take up OMC International's Dynamic Under Keel Clearance (DUKC) technology, the Melbourne maritime engineering firm said yesterday.

December 2008
World Port Development - DUKC technology – a clear winner

On safety grounds, Maritime New Zealand strongly recommended that the NZ Port of Marsden Point install OMC International’s Dynamic Under Keel Clearance (DUKC) technology following two oil tanker groundings back in 2003. Just four months ago, (August 2008) the system helped unblock Australia’s biggest iron ore port after a large bulk carrier, the ‘Iron King’, ran aground because of a steering malfunction.

4 November 2008
Brisbane Courier Mail - Holding the Baby

Maritime identity and honorary Queenslander Dr Terry O'Brien will today make a huge sacrifice.

16 October 2008
Lloyd’s List DCN - Keel system now in Europe

Australian underwater clearance specialist OMC International is hoping to develop its position in the European market with a demonstration of its services in Portugal this week.

14 October 2008
Lloyd’s List DCN (International edition) - OMC launches under keel system in Europe market

Australian underwater clearance specialist OMC International is hoping to develop its position in the European market with a demonstration of its services in Portugal this week, writes Rob McKay in Melbourne.

September edition, Vol 9 No. 2
Commodities & Trade to Asia - Port Authority uses latest technology in a world-first

Port Hedland Port Authority (PHPA) and OMC International have jointly achieved a world first by successfully using the latest DUKC VTS technology to assist a large bulk carrier safely transit the main channel once it had been refloated after being grounded at Port Hedland in August.

25 September 2008
Lloyd’s List DCN - DUKC firm plans launch in Weipa

Exciting month coming up for Dynamic Under Keel Clearance system firm with Weipa debut and European office opening, reports Rob McKay.

24 September 2008
The Western Cape Bulletin - OMC wins Port of Weipa contract

OMC International has signed a three-year contract with Ports Corporation Queensland (PCQ) to supply its world-leading Dynamic Under Keel Clearance (DUKC) system to the Rio Tinto Alcan bulk export port in Weipa.

16 September 2008
Lloyd’s List DCN Online - OMC signs Weipa under-keel clearance contract

OMC International had signed a three-year contract with the Ports Corporation of Queensland (PCQ) to operate its dynamic under keel clearance (DUKC) system at the Rio Tinto Alcan bulk export port of Weipa, the Melbourne company revealed today.

8 August 2008
Lloyd’s List DCN Online - OMC hails under-keel clearance role in Iron King refloat

OMC International has revealed the role its under-keel clearance (UKC) technology played in the refloating of the capesize bulker Iron King at Port Hedland last week.

31 July 2008
BRW - Powerful software increases export profitability

For a routine operation, getting ships in and out of ports seems to cause an uncommon amount of ire these days. The deepening of Melbourne’s shipping channels to ensure the future of Australia’s biggest container port is happening in the face of intense opposition from the environmental lobby.

1 June 2008
Herald-Sun   - OMC helps keep Euro ports afloat

A Melbourne designed navigation system that allows cargo ships to safely transit shallow waters has been bought by German authorities.