Ecosphere Delivers Robots to BAE Systems Ship Repair
Ecosphere Technologies, Inc., the Stuart, Florida-based technology innovation company for homeland security, marine, disaster relief and defense applications, announced today that it has shipped the initial M3500 Robotic Systems to begin coating removal services for BAE Systems Ship Repair in San Francisco, through its wholly owned subsidiary, UltraStrip Envirobotic Solutions. UltraStrip's robotic technology will begin performing high speed coating removal services to the shipyard's customers, including U.S. Navy vessels, oil tankers, cruise ships, bulk carriers, and container ships as part of the five year agreement signed in February. The first ship scheduled for coating removal will be the USNS Henry J. Kaiser, a naval support ship.
BAE Systems Ship Repair is the U.S.'s leading non-nuclear ship repair, modernization, and conversion company. The company is focused on dry dock and ship repair services for the U.S. Navy, other defense agencies, and commercial customers. It has major operations in Norfolk, San Diego, San Francisco, and Hawaii.
Dennis McGuire, Chief Executive Officer of Ecosphere Technologies commented, "We are excited to begin this partnership with BAE Systems and our patented robotic systems will provide BAE Systems with the best shipyard coating removal systems in the world. BAE Systems' choice of Ecosphere's high production, environmentally sensitive robotic systems is further recognition of the shipping industry's need to automate traditional coating removal processes with high production equipment that protects the environment and the health of shipyard workers."
UltraStrip Envirobotic Chief Operating Officer, John Odwazny stated, "BAE Systems' customers will appreciate the quality finish our equipment provides while meeting the customers' needs for quick turnaround times in the dry dock. Our robotic equipment will allow the surface preparation work to be completed simultaneously with other trades finishing their work and will contain all the hazardous paint material for proper disposal."
Ira Maybaum, president of BAE Systems Ship Repair in San Francisco stated: "We are pleased with the arrival of the UltraStrip robotic systems and this begins a new day in our shipyard. BAE Systems remains committed to giving our customers the best service possible and this new automated technology will give them the best coating removal service available anywhere in the world. The fact that we can also protect the environment, do other critical path work in close proximity while the robots are removing coatings, and have a dust free environment for our workers are just some of the advantages this system gives us."
Ecosphere is a technology innovation company that creates patented and engineered solutions for the defense, homeland security, disaster recovery, and global ship repair markets. Our intellectual property includes a portfolio of registered and pending patents, trade secrets, trademarks, and copyrights. Ecosphere has ten registered United States patents all relating to robotic coating removal technology, airplane and automotive paint removal technology. Ecosphere has filed three United States patent applications relating to our water filtration system. In addition, the Company has 411 patent applications pending either actual filings or reserved under the right to seek priority date filing covering our robotic coating removal technology and automotive paint removal technology in numerous countries, including Europe, Asia, and the rest of the world. Additional information is available at http://www.Ecospheretech.com.