This June, we’re taking a closer look at the critical role fluid automation and flow control play in marine operations and the partnerships helping keep vessels running safely and reliably. From solenoid valves used in fuel, ballast, bilge, and fire suppression systems to proven solutions built for harsh marine environments, the goal remains the same: helping customers improve uptime, support mission readiness, and reduce downtime across government and commercial fleets.
Q&A: ASCO Product Line & Marine Applications
Lisa Smith, CEO of JA Moody, sat down with Steve Vincent, Industry Sector Manager at Emerson/ASCO, to discuss ASCO’s product line, its role in marine applications, and where the market is headed. Here’s the conversation that followed.
Lisa Smith: Steve, can you start by giving a high-level overview of the ASCO product line and its relevance to the marine market?
Steve Vincent: Absolutely. ASCO is a global leader in fluid automation and flow control, with a long history of supporting critical infrastructure and transportation markets worldwide. Within the marine industry, ASCO is best known for highly reliable solenoid valves and control solutions used in applications where uptime, safety, and system reliability are absolutely critical. In the maritime sector—whether we’re talking about U.S. Coast Guard vessels, Military Sealift Command ships, Navy support platforms, or commercial fleets—our products support the control of air, steam, fuel, water, hydraulic fluids, and pneumatic systems throughout the vessel. What makes the marine market unique is the operating environment. These systems must perform reliably under constant vibration, temperature swings, humidity, and corrosive salt-air exposure. That’s where ASCO has built a very strong reputation over decades of service.
Lisa Smith: Where do you see ASCO products most commonly used onboard USCG and MSC vessels?
Steve Vincent: We see ASCO products used throughout many of the mission-critical systems on board these vessels. Some of the most common applications include:
- Fuel oil systems supporting propulsion engines and generators
- Ballast and bilge systems for vessel stability and water management
- Fire suppression and safety systems, including CO₂ and water mist applications
- Pneumatic automation systems used for valve actuation and process control
- HVAC and environmental control systems that support both equipment cooling and crew habitability
These applications are common across major USCG platforms such as National Security Cutters, Offshore Patrol Cutters, and Fast Response Cutters, as well as MSC vessels including fleet oilers, dry cargo ships, and expeditionary transport vessels. The common requirement across all of these programs is reliability. Vessel operators need products that continue performing in harsh marine environments with minimal maintenance requirements over very long service lifecycles.
Lisa Smith: How does ASCO differentiate itself in terms of performance and compliance for naval and government applications?
Steve Vincent: There are three key differentiators: First is proven reliability. Many of these platforms are expected to remain in service for decades, so component reliability and long-term support are extremely important to maintaining mission readiness. Second is material and design integrity. ASCO products are engineered specifically to handle demanding marine environments, including corrosion resistance, vibration resistance, and harsh operating conditions. Third is compliance and traceability. Government and naval programs require strict adherence to military and industry standards, along with complete documentation and material traceability throughout the supply chain. For example, our 2-way solenoid valves comply with MIL-R-16743 requirements, and our 3-way solenoid valves conform to MIL-DTL-16556 standards, helping ensure alignment with U.S. Navy and broader Department of Defense specifications.
Lisa Smith: Let’s talk about commercial vessels. How does the ASCO offering translate into that segment?
Steve Vincent: In the commercial marine market, many of the core applications are very similar, but the priorities can shift slightly toward operational efficiency, lifecycle cost, and minimizing downtime. Whether it’s tankers, offshore support vessels, inland marine vessels, container ships, or cruise ships, operators are focused on keeping vessels operational while maintaining compliance with environmental and safety regulations. ASCO products support those goals by providing dependable performance and long service life, while our global support network helps customers maintain consistency across fleets operating in multiple regions around the world.
Lisa Smith: Looking ahead, where do you see opportunities for growth in ASCO’s marine applications?
Steve Vincent: We continue to see strong opportunities tied to fleet modernization programs across both government and commercial marine markets. There is also growing demand for automation upgrades that improve operational efficiency, reduce crew workload, and increase system visibility onboard vessels. Environmental compliance is another major area of growth, particularly around emissions reduction systems and ballast water treatment applications.
In addition, as the industry moves toward hybrid propulsion and electrification strategies, precise fluid and pneumatic control remains a critical part of overall vessel performance and reliability. As marine systems become more automated and interconnected, the importance of reliable control components only continues to increase.
Lisa Smith: How does JA Moody’s role as an authorized distributor enhance the value proposition for customers?
Steve Vincent: JA Moody brings a tremendous amount of value to the marine market because they understand both the technical side of the applications and the operational realities of maritime customers. They have deep experience supporting the U.S. Coast Guard, MSC, U.S. Navy, and commercial marine programs, along with established relationships across shipyards, fleet operators, and government procurement channels. Just as important, JA Moody understands the complexities of government and defense sourcing requirements, including DLA procurement processes and FAR-based contracting environments. That knowledge helps streamline support for customers operating within highly regulated and time-sensitive programs. From an operational standpoint, marine customers are often dealing with tight schedules, vessel availabilities, and mission-critical timelines where downtime can become extremely costly. One of the major advantages JA Moody brings is their commitment to maintaining strong inventory levels and supporting quick turnaround requirements for customers that cannot afford long delays. Having a knowledgeable distributor that can quickly identify the correct ASCO solution, provide local support, and respond rapidly to urgent vessel or shipyard requirements is extremely valuable in this industry.
Together, Emerson and JA Moody provide customers with both proven ASCO technology and the responsive field-level support necessary to keep critical marine systems operating reliably. I would summarize it very simply: ASCO provides the proven technology and engineering reliability, while JA Moody provides the marine market expertise and customer support necessary to successfully apply those solutions in the field. That combination is extremely important in the maritime industry, where reliability, responsiveness, and long-term support are all critical to mission success.
Contact sales@jamoody.com for additional information or a quote.
Administrative Professionals Day
In celebration of Administrative Professionals Day a few months ago, we want to recognize and sincerely thank Ashley for everything she does to support the MMS team each day.
Ashley plays a critical role in keeping operations running smoothly behind the scenes. From coordinating schedules, supporting communication efforts, assisting with documentation and reporting, helping drive team organization, and always stepping in wherever needed. Her professionalism, positive attitude, attention to detail, and willingness to support the team never go unnoticed.
Ashley’s dedication, reliability, and commitment to the success of MMS make her an invaluable part of the organization. We truly appreciate everything she does to support our people, our operations, and our mission every day.
Thank you, Ashley, for all that you do for the team!
Onsite Operations Meeting
The leadership team recently gathered in one location for dedicated time to connect, collaborate, and align on the company’s objectives moving forward. Bringing everyone together in person enables open conversations, idea-sharing, and thoughtful discussions about priorities and direction. The time spent face-to-face helped strengthen alignment across teams and reinforced a shared commitment to where the company is headed. It was a productive and energizing session that set a clear path forward and laid the groundwork for continued collaboration.
Curtiss-Wright Golf Tournament
On Friday, May 1st, Andrew Sparck and Adam Cassidy represented the company at the Curtiss-Wright Annual Golf Tournament, taking advantage of the opportunity to connect with peers across the shipboard industry. The event provided a relaxed but valuable setting to build relationships, exchange ideas, and strengthen industry ties. Throughout the day, Andrew and Adam met with representatives from several companies, including port engineers who expressed interest in working together moving forward. It was a great opportunity to showcase our capabilities, expand our network, and continue building partnerships that support future growth.
Curtiss-Wright Golf Tournament
Over the past few weeks, the team has been busy connecting with partners, customers, and industry leaders to keep momentum moving forward. Meetings with MSC engineering leadership focused on DESMI pump applications, rotatable pools, and repairable spares, with plans in place for a more detailed pump-specific discussion. At Sea-Air-Space in National Harbor, the team reconnected with current customers, met with OEMs and primes, and explored new partnership opportunities. Additional conversations with port engineers, MARMC, and industry partners are setting the stage for turnkey opportunities and expanded hydraulic and mechanical service support. All this activity helps reinforce our growing partnerships and positions MMS for continued success in the months ahead.
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