Page 35: of Marine News Magazine (June 2013)

The May announcement that W&O Supply had been named as the exclusive distributor of Hyde Marine?s GUARDIAN Ballast Water Treatment Systems (BWT) in the U.S. and Can- ada may seem like routine news. After all, W&O Supply is one of the world?s largest marine suppliers and has many such agreements in place, covering a wide range of equipment. This agree- ment, however, comes in advance of Ballast Water Treatment deadlines looming large in the porthole. It also lays out the blueprint for owners and operators to move forward on the com- plicated process of achieving regulatory compliance with both Coast Guard and IMO mandates. Florida-based W&O will begin selling Hyde GUARDIAN BWTS effective immediately. The W&O/Hyde partnership is a logical one, leveraging W&O?s experi- ence in turnkey maritime equipment solutions and Hyde Marine?s proven, type-approved and Coast Guard com- pliant equipment. Leading up to the agreement, W&O had already invested considerable time meeting with owner/ operators and shipyards to help them better understand the regulations, ves- sels? needs and how the Hyde GUARD- IAN system can meet those needs. None of that will be easy for those operators who late too long. Early en-gagement, prior planning and partner- ships will the key for those who hope to smoothly comply with the looming regulatory requirements. Here?s why: HYDE, W&O, PG M ARINE ? AND YOU Since its initial launch in 1998, the Hyde has sold more than 235 GUARDIAN® BWTS units for in- stallation in various ship types and sizes around the world. Founded in 1975, W&O is one of the world?s largest sup- pliers of valve automation, engineered solutions and marine pipe, valves and  ttings for the marine and upstream oil and gas industries. Their inventory will now include BWT solutions, some- thing W&O can distribute through a global network of 19 branches. For vessel operators, there are now ex- panded options on the table which will help them get to the Promised Land. Norway-based PG Marine is Hyde?s Distributor for the worldwide Offshore Service Vessel market and also is Hyde?s Distributor for Norway. In terms of the most recent announcement, the PG Marine Agreement predates and is comprehended in all other Distributor and Agent Agreements. Hyde Marine?s key account manager Jim Mackay ex- plains, ?We encourage PG Marine to cooperate with Hyde?s Representatives around the world and in this case, MN 35www.marinelink.com MN June2013 Layout 32-42.indd 35MN June2013 Layout 32-42.indd 355/30/2013 11:10:37 AM5/30/2013 11:10:37 AM