International Maritime Associates, Inc.     |   home Offshore Oil and Gas Sector   |   Transportation Sector   |   Ports   |   Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Industry   |   Technology Sector and Manufacturers   |   Clients Consulting Services Performed in the Transportation Sector IMA has provided planning and advisory services to a wide range of clients in the ocean shipping and inland waterway transportation sector.   Among our clients have been tanker operators, container carriers, cruise ship companies, ferry operators, industry associations, public agencies and lending institutions.  The following illustrate the range of assignments.   assessed the likely impact of the Panama Canal expansion project on the global shipping industry and future shipbuilding requirements evaluated strategic options for restructuring tanker operations of a major national oil company, prepared for the World Bank assessed the technical and financial feasibility of initiating fast ocean transport service advised the Ministry of Communications in Saudi Arabia on long term strategy for developing and improving the maritime transport sector servicing the Kingdom evaluated the economic role of coastal barge transportation in North America and forecast the industry's outlook prepared a detailed business plan for establishing container feeder service in the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf, operating from transshipment hubs in Salalah and Aden evaluated alternatives for utilizing ro/ro shipping as a substitute for truck transport to export Syrian fruits and vegetables to the European market assessed the near and long term prospects for the cruise ship market and profiled the business strategy of major cruise lines analyzed the impact of additional port security requirements on the cost structure and competitiveness of transport companies evaluated ship piracy incidents and profiled industry response for dealing with this issue developed a long term strategy and business plan for a Norwegian container shipping company operating in the trade between North and South America recommended a ten year plan for improving inter-island shipping in the Philippines and trained maritime agency pesonnel in planning activities evaluated coastal shipping alternatives that could impact requirements for investing in port infrastructure in Madagascar assessed requirements and developed a plan of action for utilizing coastal shipping in Haiti as an alternative to investing in improved road transport evaluated the feasibility of converting tankers for use as floating coal storage/transfer vessels developed the conceptual design for a ferry system between Manhattan and New Jersey, including assessment of terminal requirements, vessel designs, route structure and implementation phasing evaluated alternatives for instituting ferry service to a protected seashore area on Cumberland Island, including potential vessel designs and terminal requirements examined the feasibility of establishing water taxi service on the Potomac River, including identification of potential terminal sites, forecast of demand and system breakeven analysis Prior to forming IMA Mr. McCaul had been senior advisor to the Taiwan Railway Administration, where over an 18-month period he helped implement a management accounting system and train personnel in capital investment strategy.  Earlier he participated in several major assignments involving rail mergers in North America, co-authored a major policy paper for the Urban Mass Transportation Administration on allocating capital transit grants and participated in several regulatory cases involving air freight transport.