Marine operations software company Helm Operations has been acquired by Toronto-based Volaris Group, joining SpecTec, ShipNet, and Idea Yacht in the stable of maritime software companies bought by the Canadian firm.

US-based Dupre Marine Transportation has become the first company to go live with the newly-launched Helm CONNECT Personnel software for crew management and payroll, the companies report.

Marine software company Helm Operations has launched a new partnership with AIS data services provider ShipTracks, which will see the firms integrate their platforms to allow users of the Helm CONNECT package of fleet management applications to access vessel location and route data provided by ShipTracks.

Foss Maritime has begun a company-wide project to centralise its fleet management on the Helm CONNECT marine software platform, as it looks to streamline its operations across core business units and wholly-owned subsidiaries along the US west coast, and in Hawaii and Alaska.

Helm Operations has introduced its new software system for crew management, called Helm CONNECT Personnel, to sit alongside its existing range of marine maintenance and compliance applications.

Tug and Barge Solutions (TBS) has announced a new partnership with Helm Operations that will see the TBS safety and compliance management program integrated with Helm CONNECT for customers who wish to use an electronic system to manage their safety and compliance, particularly for Subchapter M.

Helm Operations has launched a new software package called Helm CONNECT Jobs, specifically designed to support tugboat operators in areas like contract management, tariffs, billing, dispatch and vessel logs.

Software developer Helm Operations reports that it has signed up 15 commercial maritime companies to use its planned maintenance and compliance software, Helm CONNECT, over the last two months.

Software developer Helm Operations has signed a deal with Pacific Pilotage Authority (PPA) Canada for its Helm CONNECT Preventive Maintenance system.

Helm Operations reports that SAAM SMIT Towage Brazil has selected its Helm Marine Operations software for the management of billing and dispatch.