The Future of Preventive Maintenance
The goal of any preventive maintenance program is to increase vessel uptime, reduce costs, and ultimately increase the reliability and availability of a fleet. These maintenance plans have traditionally relied on running hours or calendar days as effective measures...
Helm Conference 2019. That’s a wrap!
Well folks, another successful Helm Conference 2019 is behind us. Over 100 people from 43 companies across North America, South America, and Europe joined us in Nashville, Tennessee for three days of learning, insights, and networking, making this year's conference...
Westug goes live with AI-assisted Dispatch in Port Hedland
Port Hedland, October 4, 2019 Leading Australian towage operator implements AI-assisted vessel dispatching tool OptiPort to optimize and improve safety and sustainability of operations in the world’s largest dry bulk export port Perth-based Harbour...
Q3 Review: Getting Ready to Rock in Nashville!
Summer has come and gone in Victoria and so has Q3! It sure was a busy quarter here at Helm, but we still managed to get out and enjoy the sunshine too. These past few months we worked hard on adding new companies, launching two new releases, and...
You won’t believe how easy crew dispatching can be!
I think it's time we all admit it. Crew dispatchers do incredibly critical work in the maritime industry, yet this work often goes unsung. Many of you manage hundreds of crew across dozens of vessels, scheduling the right crew for the job and making sure they know...
Class is in session! Learn about what’s new in Helm CONNECT 1.16
We don't know about you, but we sure love September. Here in Canada, it's when kids head back to school with backpacks full of new school supplies. At Helm, we've got a few huge new features coming out later this year (more on those later!) but to tide you over in the...
Helm Operations announces tie up with the ACTion group
Leading SubM consultancy partners with top maritime software company to help ease the burden of new regulations while digitizing fleet operations. Victoria, BC – August 2019: Helm Operations (Victoria, BC, Canada) and the ACTion group (Channelview, TX) have signed a...
You’ve come a long way, baby!
It's summer here in Victoria, British Columbia and time to roll out another release! If you missed what happened in our last release, you can read about it here. This release comes at a time of celebration for Helm. This summer we're not only celebrating our 20th...
Q2 Review – New Partners, New Events, New Release!
It’s been a busy second quarter here at Helm Operations. We established two new partnerships, continued to grow our customer base to record levels, attended three trade shows, and celebrated our 20th anniversary! New Partners We are excited to announce that we signed...
PortX and Helm Operations team up to bring AI Assistance to Harbor Towing
New AI-assisted vessel dispatching tool could save operators more than US$1m per port. PortX (Rotterdam, Netherlands) and Helm Operations (Victoria, BC, Canada) announced that they have signed a new strategic partnership agreement to combine PortX’s...
Helm Operations Celebrates 20th Anniversary with Record Milestone
Leading marine operations software provider reaches 4000 vessels in only three years of new platform launch Victoria, BC – June 2019: Leading marine operations software company Helm Operations has announced that it has surpassed the 4000 vessel mark on its...
Five things you didn’t know you could do in Helm CONNECT
Helm CONNECT is currently being used around the world by companies in the marine industry to help better organize operations and optimize business intelligence. Although it's simple and intuitive, Helm CONNECT has some powerful features that you may not know about....
Our latest release is blooming with great new features!
Spring is here in Victoria and we have a great new release to share with you (Helm CONNECT 1.14), including new Helm CONNECT features and improvements across all four product lines. We're also excited to share a special feature that we started working on at Helm...
Q1 Review – Starting the Year off Right
It’s been an exciting first quarter at Helm Operations and we’re poised for an amazing 2019. We grew our customer base by 52 percent since this time last year, signed two of the largest towage companies in...
I Need Support! A Day in the Life of a Client Services Associate
At Helm, we pride ourselves on our top-notch customer service and support. The bedrock of our support team are our Client Services Associates, and they are incredibly important to our customers. So what exactly is a CSA? What do they do? This week I sat down with...
New Year. New Release!
Happy New Year! We're extending the joy of the holiday season and kicking off the year with a great new release. This one delivers features and improvements for all our users, including powerful new functionality for Helm CONNECT Personnel and some exciting currency...
Six secrets to leading exceptional change management
In today’s dynamic and competitive world, change has become a crucial component of business. It can be in the form of change in business goals, change in organizational structure, change in technology and processes, or change in culture and attitudes. When Helm...
Culture Matters: Transformation of Culture from the Inside Out
“In organizational transformation, if you’re not focusing on culture you’re leaving tremendous potential on the table.” Gregg Cochlan, President and Managing Director of The Pacific Institute Canada, was the keynote speaker for this year’s Helm Conference in Victoria,...
Meet the Release: Helm CONNECT 1.12
It's that time again! It's time for another major release, with major improvements and new features for you and your operations. If you missed what happened in our last release, you can read about it here. Here are some things you'll find in our winter release: Meet...
Helm Conference 2018. That’s a wrap!
A huge Thank You to everyone who attended Helm Conference 2018! With more than 100 attendees from all over the world—including companies representing harbor docking, inland barging, passenger vessels, and fishing—it was definitely our biggest conference ever. Our goal...
Tug & Barge Solutions brings 100th vessel under management with Helm CONNECT
Industry leader uses experience and easy-to-use compliance software to make Subchapter M compliance possible for tug and barge operators throughout the US. Daphne, AL - In less than two years since helping tug and barge operator Ivy Marine become one of the first...
What you need to know about the Coast Guard option for Sub M
As of July 20th, 2018, all tugboat and towboats in the US above 26 feet must comply with the new Subchapter M regulation. There are two options to becoming compliant with Subchapter M. The first is the Coast Guard option and the second involves writing a Towing Safety...
Helm Operations Joins Volaris Group
Ateet Patel, Portfolio CFO of Volaris Group, and Ron deBruyne, CEO of Helm Operations Leading developer of marine software looks to accelerate growth with new backing from global technology firm Victoria, BC - Leading marine operations software company Helm Operations...
Helm CONNECT hits 3000 vessel milestone
Leading marine software platform achieves record growth in just 24 months Victoria, BC - Leading marine software company, Helm Operations, announced today that it now has more than 3000 vessels subscribing to Helm CONNECT, its industry-leading maintenance,...
Meet the Release: Helm CONNECT 1.11
It’s been a busy summer here at Helm. We are ramping up for the fall, football season, the school year, and the return of Helm Conference! On top of all that, we’re also rolling out another release of Helm CONNECT, chock full of new features and improvements to make...
Choosing Support Vendors: Considerations beyond Price
When it comes to choosing support vendors, workboat companies have a lot of considerations to make. However, with help from John Truitt, President of Kalleo Technologies, an IT consulting and support services firm, this does not have to be a painful process. Truitt...
Dupre Marine Transportation launches Helm CONNECT Personnel
Houma, Louisiana-based towing operator becomes first company to roll out new Helm Operations software for crew management. Houma, LA - Leading marine software company Helm Operations announced today that Houma, LA-based Dupre Marine Transportation is the first...
How Helm Operations is building the business intelligence functionality the maritime industry needs.
When creating a new piece of software, we love to engage our customers in the development process, starting with the feature request. Building software from the ground up can be risky business: tremendous effort and expense goes in to designing, creating, and...
Why one of the oldest towing companies in Germany chose Helm
URAG is a leading German towage provider that was established in Bremen, Germany in 1890. Today, they operate a diversified fleet of 17 tugs in Bremerhaven, Wilhelmshaven, and Hamburg. Before 2012, URAG used a software that was specially developed to fit their needs...
Helm Operations and ShipTracks Announce Integration Partnership
US industry heavyweights team up to integrate marine operations and AIS platforms, allowing better data-based decision-making in vessel operations. Victoria, BC - Marine operations software developer Helm Operations announced today that it has launched a new...
Summer’s here with Helm CONNECT 1.10!
Summer's finally here in Helm Country! That doesn't just mean hotter weather, it also means we've got another batch of cool new features and improvements ready for you in Helm CONNECT 1.10. If you missed what happened in our last release, you can read about it here....
Getting your Crew Engaged with Workboat Safety
Are you looking to transform your crews workboat safety practices in your organization? With the growing number of rules and regulations businesses must comply with in the workboat industry, developing a safety culture has become an essential part of operations. Ron...
Five regulations you should know now that Subchapter M is here
Happy Subchapter M Day! Our partners Tug and Barge Solutions have put together five subchapter m regulations within Sub M you should know now that the regulation is officially in effect. Here's what they had to say: Today Federal Regulation 46 CFR Subchapter M goes in...
Subchapter M is finally here. Are you ready?
We’re just weeks away from Subchapter M coming into effect. Starting July 20th, all tugboats and towboats in the US above 26 feet, must comply with the regulation. As enforcement approaches, many operators are focused on receiving their first Certificates of...
How Korevaar Marine Group have mitigated unplanned breakdowns using Helm CONNECT Maintenance
Since 1967, Korevaar Marine Group has been a family owned and operated business running out of the Port of Melbourne in Australia. Their focus is on hiring out commercial vessels for a variety of marine related projects involving construction, entertainment, film,...
Foss Maritime Centralizes Vessel Operations with Helm CONNECT
U.S. Marine Transportation and Logistics Services Provider Streamlines Fleet Management with Innovative Software Platform SEATTLE, Wash., June 27, 2018 - Foss Maritime has announced that they have kicked off a company-wide project to centralize fleet management and...
The ease of implementing Helm CONNECT
Tug and Barge Solutions (TBS) offer a turn-key solution for Subchapter M inclusive of all TSMS manuals and procedures for fleet and annual vessel surveys. TBS partnered with Helm Operations in 2016 so they could provide services to their clients using Helm CONNECT...
How Wood Towing benefits from Helm CONNECT
Wood Towing, LLC. has provided towing, barge fleeting, and shifting in the Lower Mississippi River and Gulf Intracoastal Waterways for over 60 years. They operate seven towboats, working for several of the largest barge lines in the nation. We recently visited their...
Meet the Release: Helm CONNECT 1.9
Hey everyone, I’m Rachel Aylard, Product Manager for Helm CONNECT Personnel, and I’m excited to introduce you to the latest release of Helm CONNECT! If you missed what happened in our last release, you can learn more about it here. Helm CONNECT version 1.9 is...
Helm CONNECT Personnel software for straightforward crew scheduling and payroll
Helm CONNECT Personnel Product Manager, Rachel Aylard and Director of Sales, North America, Steve Robertson June 5, 2018- Victoria, BC - Leading marine software provider, Helm Operations, is making waves again this month with the launch of Helm CONNECT Personnel, a...
Brown Water Marine benefits from TBS’s safety management system powered by Helm CONNECT
Brown Water Marine owns and operates 15 boats and 33 barges providing a wide variety of marine transportation services throughout the Gulf Coast of Texas and Louisiana. With Subchapter M coming into effect, Zane Brown, Safety and Compliance Manager at Brown Water...
Choose your own HR Solution
Remember the days before cell phones? When people planned their conversations, took time to prepare, and chose the right words to express themselves? By the time a conversation happened, its message was clear. Today, information moves fast. It's ever changing and hard...