About
Intermarine
Founded in New Orleans in 1990, Intermarine is the managing agent of the vessel operating companies Industrial Maritime Carriers, US Ocean, Linea Naviera Paramaconi, and West Coast Industrial Express. The group also includes Industrial Terminals in Houston, Texas, the largest project cargo port in the United States, and the primary U.S. load center for Intermarine services.
These carriers operate fleets of modern multipurpose vessels (including US flag) with a concentration in servicing heavy industry construction projects, power generation plants, oil field and mining developments, and US flag impelled cargoes.
On behalf of the vessel operating companies, Intermarine offers an array of regular services between North America, South America, and Asia. Industrial Maritime Carriers operates regular services between the Americas including the Caribbean and the North and East coasts of South America. It also operates services Intra-Asia, constructs special project voyages worldwide, and provides relay services between Asia and South America via Houston; US Ocean operates the US Flag services; Linea Naviera Paramaconi provides inland and coastal services in Venezuela; West Coast Industrial Express operates between the U.S. Gulf and the West Coast of South America.
The reasons behind Intermarine’s success, include a commitment to quality, a dedication to problem solving, and the expertise to “make it happen.” This is why our approach forms an ideal match with the needs of project shippers.
At Intermarine, it’s the people that make your cargo move.
Roger Kavanagh, Founder of Intermarine
A native of Greensboro, North Carolina, Roger Kavanagh graduated from Princeton University in 1975. Roger chose a career in ocean shipping and quickly distinguished himself within the industry by concentrating on the movement of complex industrial equipment that included refinery components, power plants and other over dimensional project pieces that required heavylift specialization. His early success was hallmarked with tenures as President of Transoceanic Shipping Company, a leading project transport forwarder, and President of Gulfship Marine, a project shipping company.
Roger settled in New Orleans and in his late thirties, founded Intermarine to provide specialized breakbulk project transportation. His concept stressed personal service and the development of innovative solutions while using traditional equipment. In 1996, Ernst and Young recognized Roger’s business achievements by presenting him with the Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
Within a decade Intermarine became America’s largest project ocean carrier with offices in New Orleans, Houston, Shanghai, Buenos Aires and Caracas. Intermarine is also one of New Orleans largest privately held companies. Subsequently, the Intermarine group expanded the scope of its services to include U S flagged vessels, its own ocean terminal in Houston, and also provide fully integrated logistics service for transporting from fabrication site to construction site.
In October of 2006, Mr. Kavanagh was awarded the Journal of Commerce’s Lifetime Achievement Award for distinguished service in the shipping industry.
After a year long battle with cancer, Roger passed away on January 29, 2007. He was 54 years old.
iso 9001:2008 Certified
Intermarine believes that quality in services is vital to achieving client satisfaction. The management of Intermarine recognizes that quality depends on attitudes, just as much as procedures, and seeks to instill the best in both. For this reason, Intermarine places much emphasis on quality management and the day to day management of the quality system.
The quality management system at Intermarine was developed as an evolutionary process. The current quality program is backed by practical experience acquired in operating to statutory regulations such as the Code of Federal Regulations, International Maritime Organization, International Organization for Standards (ISO 9001:2008) and client requirements. In June of 1991, Intermarine established a Total Quality Management Program. All employees old and new are trained in the Total Quality Process. Quality Action Teams were established to address continuous improvement in all areas of Intermarine’s service.
Through the Quality Action Teams and outside consulting, the management system was reviewed against the ISO 9001:2000 requirements. A plan for ISO implementation was commenced and Lloyd’s Quality Register awarded ISO 9001:2000 Certification to Intermarine in mid 1998.
Since its inception, Intermarine’s ISO program has been monitored regularly through both internal and external audits, and the program has been consistently approved and recertified. In 2009, Intermarine upgraded its ISO program to the most recent and highest standard – ISO 9001:2008 – reflecting Intermarine’s commitment to continuous improvement.
Our plans for continuous improvement do not stop with ISO certification. We have internal Quality Audit Teams that review Intermarine’s complete system on a scheduled basis. These internal audits review procedures and corrective actions for compliance and effectiveness. Intermarine’s clients are the most important part of our business. Therefore, any complaint received by Intermarine is investigated fully and corrective actions are taken to prevent their recurrence. All audits, client complaints, and corrective and preventive actions are reviewed by Intermarine’s Executive Steering Committee, which is comprised of the President, all Vice Presidents, Quality Assurance Manager and the Controller.
Through this program, Intermarine is setting new standards for quality in ocean transportation and ensuring that we deliver more than promises.