Nautical Structures Opens Fort Lauderdale Service Center

Nautical Structures has opened a service center at the Lauderdale Marine Center (LMC) in Fort Lauderdale as a tenant partner. "Our new service center is the next logical step in our continued growth and expansion," said Nautical Structures' President, Colin Kiley. "When fully staffed, we anticipate 12 trained service professionals will work out of the new facility; we're now actively hiring for key positions." The operation will be managed by Jim Olejar, Director of Service.

Lauderdale Marine Center is the largest yacht repair facility in the United States and a one-stop service and refit destination for vessels ranging from 40' to 200' LOA. "As Lauderdale Marine Center strives to provide a world-class customer experience, I am excited to welcome Nautical Structures as a tenant partner," said LMC President Doug West.

"Nautical Structures has led the way for product quality and warranty; now we're poised to deliver best-of-class service with global reach. Our commitment is to build a scalable, full warranty and maintenance program, including service contracts, with world-wide support. This program expands our commitment to include industry-leading product support and service."  Kiley concluded.

"I recently met with many of the big U.S. OEMs," Kiley recounted. "At Hatteras, the head engineer primary concern was his customers' experience with our products over time. How will they be taken care of, from installation through the end of the equipment's service life?" Kiley reported hearing identical concerns from Westport, Delta, Viking, Tiara, Feadship and Ocean Cove. "What they want-and what we're committed to delivering-is the 'easy button," Kiley explained.

"Maintenance that is predictable and scheduled, service that is one phone call away, no matter the vessels' location. Our team will take responsibility for ensuring the proper maintenance and service. Most importantly, we're the manufacturer, not an outside service provider. We engineered the equipment, we manufactured it, we will maintain it, and if there's a problem, we'll fix it. It's an all-encompassing commitment to support our products."

The expansion now affords Nautical Structures' clients service by qualified technical support staff out of the Largo and Ft. Lauderdale facilities; each providing full product sales, engineering support, and service. Service includes installation, annual inspections for classed products, global product support and warranty work through its entire service life.

Established in 1986, Nautical Structures is a 30-year-old company specializing in innovative boarding and tender-handling systems for the luxury and blue-water maritime markets. Product lines include transom lifts, gangplanks, passerelles, accommodation stairs and shell doors. Nautical Structures also provides unique engineered-to-order services for specialized hydraulic systems, small submarine launching and retrieval equipment, cruise ship boarding systems, and handicap mobility products.

The company's NSI Precision division specializes in close-tolerance sheet-metal work for manufacturers from around the globe. The division can manufacture most anything, from airport scanner cabinetry to stadium chillers.

Nautical Structures' 94,000 square-foot sales, engineering and manufacturing facility is located in Largo, Florida, 22 miles west of Tampa; as well as service centers in Fort Lauderdale, the Netherlands, and the Mediterranean. The company currently employs 86 professionals.