2008 news articles
Nicom maritime 2008 news articles
Halifax firm expanding market for port logistics software
November 25, 2008 Halifax, Nova Scotia
By BRUCE ERSKINE Business Reporter
Chronicle Herald
Halifax-based Nicom IT Solutions is joining forces with the Maritime Exchange for the Delaware River and Bay to take a port logistics software system global.
"We’re going there anyway and we’re thrilled to be taking the Maritime Exchange along with us," Nicom partner Pat d’Entremont said in a release on Monday. "They’ve been a delight to work with."
Nicom recently rebuilt a logistics software system for the Philadelphia-based exchange, a non-profit group that promotes trade at the world’s largest freshwater port.
"We’ve always intended to take our system to other seaports, and Nicom is the organization to do it," exchange president Dennis Rochford said in a release.
"Nicom has demonstrated to us that their knowledge of the seaport and the IT industry, coupled with their international marketing capabilities, makes for a great partner to help us move our agenda forward."
Nicom, which beat out bidders from across North America for the contract, has spent the past 10 months integrating diverse software applications into a web-based suite called Maritime On-Line.
Maritime On-Line enables marine exchanges and port authorities to record and report on vessel movement, cargo manifests, customs and border requirements and advanced arrival and departure schedules.
Nicom plans to market Maritime On-Line along with its own seaport-related systems and services, including software to track containers, hazardous goods, port property leases and marine pilots.
"It’s not just about perimeter fencing, cameras and guards," said Mr. d’Entremont, although he acknowledged the importance of port security.
"Also of great importance are the information networks that ensure all partners in the transportation chain are aware of the shipping and transit information necessary to promote the secure, efficient and safe movement of goods."
Mr. d’Entremont said in an interview Monday that he sees great market potential for the Maritime On-Line system in the United States, the Caribbean, the U.K., Australia and New Zealand.
He said his firm, which has 25 employees, could handle the production and implementation of another system in-house, but beyond that, he said, it would involve adding five or six people per system, which he said cost about $500,000 to design and implement.
Mr. d’Entremont said the partnership with Maritime Exchange bodes well for Nicom’s future.
"Two years ago, we were not in this marketplace," he said.
Nicom specializes in web design, electronic commerce application development, technical support services and IT consulting. Its clients include the Halifax Port Authority, the Saint John Port Authority and the Atlantic Pilotage Authority.
TopNicom Signs Second Agreement with Delaware River Organization
November 24, 2008 Halifax, Nova Scotia
Nicom IT Solutions of Halifax has barely completed rebuilding a ports logistics system for a client in Philadelphia, and already the client wants to take the relationship further.
The Maritime Exchange for the Delaware River and Bay wants to make its software available to other seaports throughout the world, and has chosen Nicom to lead the process.
Nicom knows the system well, having spent the past 10 months turning a collection of diverse software applications into an integrated web-based electronic commerce suite, after having beat out contenders from across North America to win the contract.
“Nicom has demonstrated to us that their knowledge of the Seaport and the IT industry, coupled with their international marketing capabilities, makes for a great partner to help us move our agenda forward,” says Dennis Rochford, President of the Maritime Exchange. “We’ve always intended to take our system to other seaports, and Nicom is the organization to do it.”
Called Maritime On-Line, the system enables marine exchanges and port authorities to capture and report on vessel movement, cargo manifests, Customs and Border requirements, and advanced arrival/departure schedules.
Nicom’s intention is to market Maritime On-Line along with its own seaport-related systems and services, including software to track containers, hazardous goods, port property leases, and marine pilots. “We’re going there anyway,” says Pat d’Entremont, Partner at Nicom, “and we’re thrilled to be taking the Maritime Exchange along with us. They’ve been a delight to work with.”
Security is high on the list of priorities for implementing a system such as Maritime On-Line. “It’s not just about perimeter fencing, cameras, and guards,” notes d’Entremont. “Also of great importance are the information networks that ensure all partners in the transportation chain are aware of the shipping and transit information necessary to promote the secure, efficient and safe movement of goods.”
Canada’s Ambassador to the United States, Michael Wilson, helped seal the deal between the two organizations—one from each side of the border—by presiding over the original contract signing ceremony earlier this year. Mr. Wilson noted how the partnership is a good example of how Canada and the United States are working together to better secure North America.
Nicom IT Solutions is an IT professional services firm based in Halifax which specializes in web design, electronic commerce application development, technical support services, and IT consulting. Other customers include the Halifax Port Authority, the Saint John Port Authority, and the Atlantic Pilotage Authority.
TopNicom Extends Port Experience to Longshore Industry
November 17, 2008 Halifax, Nova Scotia
Nicom IT Solutions is using its knowledge of Information Technology in the seaport industry abroad to find new customers at home.
After having spent most of the year developing logistics software for the Maritime Exchange for the Delaware River and Bay of Philadelphia, the Halifax-based IT shop won a contract to build new software to manage the Halifax Employers Association.
The HEA is a non-profit organization who acts as the bargaining representative for all workers in the Longshore Industry in the Port of Halifax.
HEA membership consists of companies such as Atlantic Container Lines, Ceres Corp, and Halterm, and is responsible for the overall training of employees in the longshore industry in Halifax.
The new system will replace an aging and outdated system currently used by the HEA, and will manage all the billing to shippers entering the Port, including an electronic commerce component accessible over the Internet, something Nicom specializes in.
Besides their electronic commerce capabilities, Nicom was chosen because of its strong partnership with Microsoft as well as past experience in the seaport industry. In addition to their work in Philadelphia, Nicom also developed a billing system for the Saint John Port Authority as well as a Container Tracking System for the Port of Halifax. The Container Tracking System recently won an award from the American Association of Port Authorities.
Nicom Partner David Nicholson also points out that they have many other associations as customers, including the College of Physicians and Surgeons, the College of Paramedics, and the Offshore/Onshore Technology Association of Nova Scotia.
Nicholson is quick to point out that although foreign contracts catch people’s attention, Atlantic Canadian organizations are Nicom’s bread and butter. “By far the majority of our revenues are domestic,” says Nicholson, “and it’s wonderful to be able to find new customers like the Halifax Employers Association right here at home.”
TopCanadian Ambassador Applauds Nicom IT Solutions' American Port Contract
April 02 , 2008 philadelphia, pennsylvania
By The Canadian Government Trade Commissioner Service
Washington DC
It was all smiles and handshakes at the Coast Guard Headquarters for the Delaware River and Bay as a Canadian ICT company and an American trade association signed a contract to work together to make seaports safer.
Canada's Ambassador to the United States, Michael Wilson, was present for the ceremony, and called the partnership yet another example of how Canada and the United States are working together to better secure North America.
From left to right:
Michael Wilson, Canada's Ambassador to the U.S.;
David Nicholson, Partner; and Pat d'Entremont, Partner
Photo Credit: David Scott
Nicom IT Solutions of Halifax, Nova Scotia won a major contract to redevelop the port logistics system for the Maritime Exchange for the Delaware River and Bay, an organization based in Philadelphia.
The new system, called "Maritime On-Line" will consist of a number of software applications to capture and report on vessel movement, cargo manifests, Customs and Border requirements, and advanced arrival/departure schedules. This will be a web-based electronic commerce system that will be used by a large number of organizations who form part of the Maritime Exchange.
Pat d'Entremont, Nicom Partner in charge of new business development sees this as central to Nicom's growth plans. "This event is pivotal in our corporate history as it represents our first significant international project, and the largest project we have ever undertaken", says d'Entremont, "Where better to start than in the United States of America".
Nicom credits the success, in part, to the Canadian Consulate of Philadelphia in helping advance the agreement. As well as developing the application, Nicom will be working with Canada's Trade Commissioner Service towards marketing this product, once completed, to other ports throughout the world.
Nicom has already developed software systems for other seaports, including the Saint John Port Authority, the Atlantic Pilotage Authority, and the Halifax Port Authority. The system they developed for Halifax won an award at the American Association of Port Authorities, which is how they were introduced to the Maritime Exchange.
The Maritime Exchange for the Delaware River and Bay represents the interests of federally regulated ports, vessels, and related businesses in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. As a not-for-profit trade association the Exchange's role is to promote commerce, protect trade, and enhance navigation safety.
The Exchange continues to promote and encourage commerce on the Delaware River and Bay by fully utilizing today's modern technologies. "We have always been conscious of the changing needs of our members and the port community," remarked Dennis Rochford, President of the Maritime Exchange. "Our work with Nicom will result in significant improvements to a system used by both the private and public sector to facilitate trade, improve maritime domain awareness and enhance navigational safety."
"Canadians and Americans are in this together. We make things together. Keeping North America safe is our commitment. Nicom IT Solutions is typical of the many Canadian firms that have developed innovative technologies to take on the ever-evolving security threat", said Michael Wilson, Canadian Ambassador to the United States.
TopIT firm lands u.S port deal
January 22 , 2008 Halifax, Nova Scotia
By BRUCE ERSKINE Business Reporter
Chronicle Herald
Nicom IT Solutions of Halifax has won a contract to rebuild the port logistics system for the Maritime Exchange for the Delaware River and Bay, a Philadelphia organization that promotes trade at the world’s largest freshwater port. The web-based Maritime On-Line system will collect and report vessel movements, cargo manifests, customs and border requirements, and advanced arrival/departure schedules. Nicom, which beat out bidders from across North America for the Delaware River contract, has developed similar logistic systems for the ports of Halifax and Saint John, N.B. “(It) is the foot in the door we’ve been working so hard to establish into the U.S. marketplace," Nicom partner Pat d’Entremont said in a release Monday. "We will be able to use this win as a springboard to many other new opportunities.” Nicom, which is in discussions with the Maritime Exchange about marketing the logistics system to other ports, has visited eastern U.S. markets recently with government organizations like Nova Scotia Business Inc., the province’s business marketing agency, and the federal Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. "Opportunities like this don’t come every day and we fully intend to capitalize on it," said Mr. d’Entremont. Last year, a container tracking system that Nicom developed for the Port of Halifax won an award from the American Association of Port Authorities for improvements in intermodal freight transportation. The company said that award caught the attention of the Maritime Exchange.
TopNicom iT solutions wins american port contract
January 21 , 2008 Halifax, Nova Scotia
By BRUCE ERSKINE Business Reporter
Chronicle Herald
Nicom IT Solutions won a major contract to rebuild the port logistics system for the Maritime Exchange for the Delaware River and Bay, an organization based in Philadelphia. Capitalizing on successful projects of a similar nature for the Port of Halifax and the Port of Saint John, Nicom was able to beat out other contenders from all over North America.
The new system, called "Maritime On-Line" will consist of a number of software applications to capture and report on:
- Vessel movement
- Cargo manifests
- Customs and Border requirements
- and advanced arrival/departure schedules
This will be a web-based electronic commerce system that will be used by a large number of organizations who are located all over the world. This project will take a team of developers most of the year to develop.
Pat d'Entremont, Nicom Partner in charge of new business development sees this as pivotal in Nicom's growth plans. "This will be the largest project we've undertaken since the merger [between DDA Solutions and Nicom Ltd. in early 2006]", says d'Entremont, "and is the foot-in-the door we've been working so hard to establish into the U.S. marketplace. We will be able to use this win as a springboard to many other new opportunities".
Nicom had been targeting the eastern US marketplace, having recently taken several trips to that market in association with organizations like Nova Scotia Business Inc. and the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.
As well as building the application, Nicom is in discussions with the Maritime Exchange for marketing this product, once completed, to other ports throughout the world.
"Opportunities like this don't come every day and we fully intend to capitalize on it", says d'Entremont.
Nicom's initial foray into port systems began with a contract in Saint John New Brunswick where they developed a system to manage vessel and cargo movement, hazardous goods and property leasing for the Saint John Port Authority. In related business, Nicom also developed a system for the Atlantic Pilotage Authority that enables central dispatching of marine pilots across the four Atlantic Canadian provinces.
Then last year, a container tracking system that Nicom developed for the Port of Halifax won an award from the American Association of Port Authorities for "improvements in intermodal freight transportation". Intermodal freight transportation refers to freight that is shipped via multiple modes of transportation, for example both sea and rail. The system tracks dwell time (the time a container sits at a terminal) and transit time (time to its ultimate destination), two key factors for the Port of Halifax to be competitive.
It was this award that caught the attention of the Maritime Exchange in Philadelphia and which led to this new contract for Nicom.
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