MILLER’S LAUNCH
THE UNSUNG HEROES OF MARITIME SUPPORT
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MILLER’S LAUNCH
I PROFILE
Known as the ‘Swiss Army Knife of the Atlantic Ocean’, Miller’s Launch is renowned for its versatile support services. For more than 45 years, the company has risen to the challenge of each request it receives. Vice President Nick Miller explained more, in an exclusive interview. Report by Imogen Ward.
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M
iller’s Launch has built a reputa-
established in 1977. Since then, the
tion for being a reliable and
company has worked hard to amass
highly versatile provider of
a strong fleet consisting of 70 pieces
marine support services.
of multipurpose floating equipment.
“Over the years, we have worked hard
“The company was founded by my
to carve out a niche in the industry,” Vice
father over 40 years ago,” Mr. Miller
President Nick Miller explained. “We are
explained. “At the time, we ran a simple
known for our multipurpose vessels that
launch service for the ships here in New
are equipped with various equipment,
York Harbor, and it has grown into the
including A-frames and cranes that allow
craziness that it is today.
us to complete a wide scope of work.”
“Now, my fleet allows me to get
Based on Staten Island, Miller’s Launch
involved with all different types of pro-
is a medium sized business that was first
jects. The same vessel could be involved
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MILLER’S LAUNCH
I PROFILE
in everything from a boulder relocation program to a conduit pipe pulling operation or just general support for a cable
recently there
installation vessel. That versatility allows
has been a tidal
us to keep that same vessel on charter for
shift and the work is
all the different phases of a project too.”
now chasing us – which is a great position to be in.”
Endless possibilities
Several of the company’s vessels
The list of jobs taken on by Miller’s Launch
were recently up in New England, sup-
continues to grow alongside the busi-
porting the installation of infrastructure
ness, and its capabilities broaden with
for the first U.S. commercial grade wind
each new project. One of the areas that
farm. The team carried out crew transfers,
the company has worked in repeatedly
acoustic monitoring, and OSV work.
is Protected Species Observation. Miller’s
“We are now at a point where we’re
Launch has been successfully supporting
trying to string all our different scopes
this area of expertise for many years.
together,” said Mr. Miller. “We have
The company has also held a strong
been approaching Tier 1 contractors
presence within the offshore wind sector
and explaining why it would be beneficial
(an area that it has been eager to work
to use a company like us throughout the
within since the sector first gained trac-
whole process.
tion in the American market). “We have been going to offshore
“With Miller’s Launch, companies don’t have to pigeonhole their projects
wind conferences since they first started
into small, separate timeframes: it makes
here in the U.S. about 15 years ago,” said
the entire process more cost effective
Mr. Miller. “Back then, there were 10 guys
and less stressful.”
in a bar talking about wind. The last conference I attended had more than 1,000
The perfect team
participants, so it’s definitely a sector
Whenever Miller’s Launch takes on a new
that is expanding quickly.
scope, the company relies on the knowl-
“In the past, we were really having to track down work in this sector, but
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edge and experience of the crew to help advise the best course of action.
“When a project comes in that is not something we do every day, we really like to converse with the captains and the crew who will be doing the job,” Mr. Miller explained. “At the end of the day, they’re the ones that are going to be out in the field making sure everything runs smoothly. Their opinions are vital to ensuring that, and they help make the whole process a lot more harmonious as well.”
The weird and wonderful: Miller’s Launch has supported a lot of interesting requests over the years, this includes offering a tugboat ride for a wedding ceremony, floating a giant inflatable poop emoji around New York Harbor for Charmin Toilet Paper, and providing support for movie productions.
Everyone at Miller’s Launch takes their job very seriously. At times, the company is relied upon for emergency oil pollution response and fully comprehends how quickly a situation can go south.
it is so important to have employees
“If someone isn’t paying attention to the
that know what they should and shouldn’t
right elements, things can’ go wrong very
do in this situation. We have been in the
quickly,” Mr. Miller continued. “That’s why
emergency response business for many
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MILLER’S LAUNCH
I PROFILE
years: we were down in the bp oil spill, and we helped recover the plane from the Miracle on the Hudson, so we have plenty of experience working in a crisis situation.” Included in the Miller Team is a chain of top quality suppliers and partners that
regularly work alongside Miller’s Launch. “At the end of the day, my business provides a service, and I appreciate what that means,” Mr. Miller enthused. “I can’t provide a service without my suppliers and partners; they are part of our team. There are very few companies that will answer your phone call at 3am unless you do two things: treat everybody with respect and pay your bills. We do both of those things. “We have great support from all our suppliers and vendors: everybody from the diesel mechanics to the guy that delivers the water – it doesn’t matter what part they play, they’re a part of the Miller team.”
Digitizing the operation For many years, Miller’s Launch has been intrigued by the advantageous nature of real time tracking. Now, with a sizeable fleet and an ever growing number of projects, the company feels it is the right time to invest.
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“When a business is very small, it is
“With the increasing demand for off-
easy for one person to know everything
shore wind support services, expansion
about the fleet,” said Mr. Miller, “but when
is definitely on the cards,” Mr. Miller con-
running a diverse suite, a reliance on
cluded. “At this current time, my business
digital tracking software becomes more
is starting to get outpaced by demand,
of a necessity. We have been on the cusp
so I am probably going to have to go
of implementing that for many years, and
and buy some more boats.
more recently, we have really started to
“Ultimately, I want to continue providing
ramp up and formalize our systems, with
a wide range of scopes and services for
a focus on preventive maintenance and
my customers. With the business that we
regulatory compliance.”
are in, it is so important to maintain a pos-
This investment remains an immediate
itive relationship with each client, whilst
commitment for the company and
also being able to provide solutions for
supports its longer term vision of contin-
their evolving needs. I am always excited
uing to provide a valuable service,
to work on new and unique projects,
whilst also expanding to further meet
and I want to continue maintaining
customer requirements.
that mentality going forward.”
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