Search

Brian Kays is the Vice President of Platform Design and Engineering at PacMar Technologies. Joining PMT in 2002, Brian has over 20 years of experience in mechanical, structural, and system design. Brian Kays Vice President – Platform Design & Prototyping Brian Kays is the Vice President of Platform Design and Engineering at PacMar Technologies. Joining PMT in 2002, Brian has over 20 years of experience in mechanical, structural, and system design. He has been involved with the design, fabrication, installation, and testing of mechanical, hydraulic, and electronic control systems related to the Aft Lifting Body (ALB) technology on numerous high-speed boats and amphibious vehicles. Recently, Brian engineered rapid inflation systems for numerous drop-stitch boats, sleds, chutes, and other inflatable structures. He is the principal investigator on the offboard refueling and data transfer system (ORADTS) which utilizes large-scale inflatable structures and ancillary systems to autonomously refuel unmanned vessels at-sea. Brian received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Washington in 1997. » back Technical experts

Visit this page for all the latest news regarding PacMar Technologies NEWS PacMar Technologies and MACSEA Ltd Announce Partnership » read more Pacific Marine Continues 80th Anniversary Celebrations with Hawaii on the Hill » read more Pacific Marine & Supply Company Celebrates it's Eightieth Anniversary with $80,000 Donation to Palama Settlement for Preschools » read more NEWS ARCHIVES » Pacific Marine & Supply Company Celebrates its 80th Anniversary with $80,000 Donation » In-Water Tests for DARPA Manta Ray Scaled Prototype » PMT Wind DARPA Phase 2 Award for Autonomous Underwater Vehicle » PMT One of 10 Winners Of U.S. Army XTech Pacific Competition » PMT Celebrates the Navy’s Birthday » Boat Christening of Vessel Oversight » New Portland Office Space » Navy SeaPort-Next Generation (SeaPort-NxG) Multiple-Award Contract (MAC) » PMT Employees Reflect on the Meaning of Memorial Day » Celebrating our Commitment to Green Energy: Earth Day 2021 » Meet Charlie F. » PacMar Technologies' University Partnerships » PacMar Technologies wins DARPA award for AUV » PacMar Technologies Wins Ocean Observing Prize » PacMar Technologies Awarded $8m Navy Contract for Advanced Planing Hull Research

PacMar Technologies’ Portland office has moved to the Portland Yacht Services (PYS) complex, Building D! This will be home to our Electric Propulsion Test Facility inside the 5,000 square foot workshop/fabrication space and provide office space for 24 employees. New Portland Office Space Article by Communications Staff September 2021 – PacMar Technologies’ Portland office has moved to the Portland Yacht Services (PYS) complex, Building D! This will be home to our Electric Propulsion Test Facility inside the 5,000 square foot workshop/fabrication space and provide office space for 24 employees. Locating on PYS is no accident, as it provides waterfront access for our maritime technology demonstrators. We are excited about the new space and look forward to our future here! » back

PacMar Technologies provides research and development capabilities for the Department of Defense, NASA, and other government agencies. At PacMar Technologies, we believe there are no limits to what we can do. We go after the toughest problems and tackle them with the innovation and ingenuity that has defined us for decades. We are a catalyst for change in our industry because when we believe any idea is achievable, we have the power to transform the technology solutions for tomorrow. Buelsing Takes the Helm at PacMar Technologies » read more Contested Logistics Sled – Rapid Prototype Demonstration » read more PacMar Technologies and MACSEA Ltd Announce Partnership » read more Applied CAX Features Pacmar Technologies as a Customer Case Study and Success Story » read more Pacific Marine & Supply Company Celebrates Its 80th Anniversary With $80,000 Donation to Palama Settlement for Preschools » read more In-Water Tests for DARPA Manta Ray Scaled Prototype » read more » Read More News Archives

We are pleased to introduce out Technical Experts here at PacMar Technologies Meet The Team Technical Experts Zensho Heshiki Director, Mechanical Engineering – West Kurt Hamel Director, Mechanical Engineering – East Scott Yamashita Director, Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering – West David Porter Director, Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering – East Gabe Foreman Director, Applied Engineering Eric Hultgren Director, Power & Energy

Your access to and use of the Service is conditioned upon your acceptance of and compliance with these Terms. These Terms apply to all visitors, users and others who wish to access or use the Service. By accessing or using the Service you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you disagree with any part of the terms then you do not have permission to access the Service. TERMS AND CONDITIONS Terms and Conditions Last updated: July 26, 2019 Please read these Terms and Conditions (“Terms”, “Terms and Conditions”) carefully before using the https://pacmartechnologies.com website and the PacMar Technologies mobile page mobile application (together, or individually, the “Service”) operated by PacMar Technologies (“us”, “we”, or “our”). Your access to and use of the Service is conditioned upon your acceptance of and compliance with these Terms. These Terms apply to all visitors, users and others who wish to access or use the Service. By accessing or using the Service you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you disagree with any part of the terms then you do not have permission to access the Service. Intellectual Property The Service and its original content, features and functionality are and will remain the exclusive property of PacMar Technologies and its licensors. The Service is protected by copyright, trademark, and other laws of both the United States and foreign countries. Our trademarks and trade dress may not be used in connection with any product or service without the prior written consent of PacMar Technologies. Links To Other Web Sites Our Service may contain links to third party web sites or services that are not owned or controlled by PacMar Technologies PacMar Technologies has no control over, and assumes no responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third party web sites or services. We do not warrant the offerings of any of these entities/individuals or their websites. You acknowledge and agree that PacMar Technologies shall not be responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with use of or reliance on any such content, goods or services available on or through any such third party web sites or services. We strongly advise you to read the terms and conditions and privacy policies of any third party web sites or services that you visit. Termination We may terminate or suspend your access to the Service immediately, without prior notice or liability, under our sole discretion, for any reason whatsoever and without limitation, including but not limited to a breach of the Terms. All provisions of the Terms which by their nature should survive termination shall survive termination, including, without limitation, ownership provisions, warranty disclaimers, indemnity and limitations of liability. Indemnification You agree to defend, indemnify and hold harmless PacMar Technologies and its licensee and licensors, and their employees, contractors, agents, officers and directors, from and against any and all claims, damages, obligations, losses, liabilities, costs or debt, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney’s fees), resulting from or arising out of a) your use and access of the Service, or b) a breach of these Terms. Limitation Of Liability In no event shall PacMar Technologies, nor its directors, employees, partners, agents, suppliers, or affiliates, be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential or punitive damages, including without limitation, loss of profits, data, use, goodwill, or other intangible losses, resulting from (i) your access to or use of or inability to access or use the Service; (ii) any conduct or content of any third party on the Service; (iii) any content obtained from the Service; and (iv) unauthorized access, use or alteration of your transmissions or content, whether based on warranty, contract, tort (including negligence) or any other legal theory, whether or not we have been informed of the possibility of such damage, and even if a remedy set forth herein is found to have failed of its essential purpose. Disclaimer Your use of the Service is at your sole risk. The Service is provided on an “AS IS” and “AS AVAILABLE” basis. The Service is provided without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, including, but not limited to, implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement or course of performance. PacMar Technologies its subsidiaries, affiliates, and its licensors do not warrant that a) the Service will function uninterrupted, secure or available at any particular time or location; b) any errors or defects will be corrected; c) the Service is free of viruses or other harmful components; or d) the results of using the Service will meet your requirements. Exclusions Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of certain warranties or the exclusion or limitation of liability for consequential or incidental damages, so the limitations above may not apply to you. Governing Law hese Terms shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of Hawaii, United States, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms will not be considered a waiver of those rights. If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid or unenforceable by a court, the remaining provisions of these Terms will remain in effect. These Terms constitute the entire agreement between us regarding our Service, and supersede and replace any prior agreements we might have had between us regarding the Service. Changes We reserve the right, at our sole discretion, to modify or replace these Terms at any time. If a revision is material we will provide at least 30 days notice prior to any new terms taking effect. What constitutes a material change will be determined at our sole discretion. By continuing to access or use our Service after any revisions become effective, you agree to be bound by the revised terms. If you do not agree to the new terms, you are no longer authorized to use the Service. Contact Us If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact us at contact@pacmartech.com .

July 1, 2024 - Honolulu, HI - PacMar Technologies, a leading innovator in marine and energy solutions, and MACSEA Ltd, an industry pioneer in advanced monitoring systems, are excited to announce a strategic partnership to develop cutting-edge infrared monitoring technologies. This collaboration aims to enhance shipboard safety, especially with the use of Lithium-Ion batteries. Buelsing Takes the Helm at PacMar Technologies Honolulu, Hawaii - May 29, 2025 Article by Communications Staff PacMar Techologies today announced that Mike Buelsing, who has served as President of PacMar Technologies since December of 2024, will assume full executive leadership responsibilities upon the departure of outgoing Chief Executive Officer, Dan Brunk. This strategic leadership transition will streamline operations and support the next chapter of PacMar’s legacy of maritime innovation. “Mike has demonstrated exceptional leadership and a clear vision for our future,” said founder and Chairman, Steven Loui. “We’re excited about what lies ahead under his continued direction.” Born and raised in Hawaii, Mike Buelsing first joined the Pacific Marine family of companies in 2010 as a mechanical engineer at PacMar Technologies. His early PacMar responsibilities included engineering design, analysis, fabrication, and testing – the core elements of nearly every PacMar project lifecycle. After pursuing graduate studies at MIT, Mike returned to PacMar’s parent company, Pacific Marine & Supply Co., where he led the planning, construction, and relocation of PacMar and Pacific Shipyards’ waterfront operations to their current location at Honolulu Harbor’s Pier 24. Beginning with an undeveloped parcel, the site has been transformed into a safe, efficient, and productive ship repair and applied engineering complex. Mike received his MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management, and M.S. Mechanical Engineering from the MIT School of Engineering. Additionally, he holds a 100 GRT Captain’s License. “It’s been a privilege to work alongside so many incredible individuals at PacMar Technologies, and across the Pacific Marine family of companies over the past 15 years,” said Mike. “I’m excited for this next chapter and committed to building on the company’s incredible legacy of excellence, creativity, and innovation.” About Pacific Marine & Supply Company : PacMar Technologies is a small business and leading provider of innovative research and product development. Founded in Hawaii in 1978, PacMar Technologies has a long history of naval architecture design & analysis and innovations in hydrodynamic simulations, cutting-edge motion control systems, and advanced marine prototype fabrication and testing. With over 30 domestic and foreign patents, PacMar Technologies is a diversified technology company with a national presence, leading the way in research, engineering, design and innovation. For more information: POC Ann Chung, PacMar Technologies, 808-351-6000, achung@pacmartech.com » back

Portland, ME — 6 August 2019 — PacMar Technologies LLC has been awarded an $8 million contract from the U.S. Navy Office of Naval Research (ONR). The contract entitled “Advanced Planing Hull Research” focuses on pursuing new science and technology for safer hulls and hybrid-electric propulsion systems for fast boats. Pacific Marine & Supply Company Celebrates its Eightieth Anniversary Article by Communications Staff Honolulu, HI - February 15, 2024 - Pacific Marine & Supply Company proudly announces its 80th anniversary, commemorating eight decades of dedicated service to Hawaii's key economic sectors: defense, maritime transportation, construction, tourism, and technology R&D. Since its founding by Fred and Alyce Loui in 1944, the company has been a cornerstone of innovation and project excellence across diverse industries and has remained a family-owned and managed enterprise. Throughout its history, Pacific Marine has championed innovation and entrepreneurship, often assisting the managers and employees of subsidiaries and affiliates to buy their companies. Notable among these that were formerly owned by Pacific Marine are Unitek Contracting Group, Unitek Insulation, Unitek Environmental Services, Safety Kleen, Unitek Electronics, Lady Ann Cruises, Seabird Cruises, Hawaiian Cruises, Catamaran Cruises, Kem’s Electrical Services, and Accutron. "Our commitment to groundbreaking innovation and successful project delivery has been unwavering since day one," said Steven Loui, Chairman & President of Pacific Marine & Supply Company. "As we celebrate this milestone, we reflect on our journey with immense pride, knowing that our family of companies continues to thrive thanks to the dedication of our highly qualified managers and talented employees and the support of our customers, vendors and the Hawaii Community." As the parent company of the organization, Pacific Marine's mission is to nurture new ventures while providing leadership, risk management, and centralized administrative services to ensure the efficient performance and sustained growth of its subsidiaries. The company is eighty years into its voyage, yet its vision remains fixed on the horizon. About Pacific Marine & Supply Company: Pacific Marine & Supply Company, headquartered in Honolulu, has been a leading force in Hawaii's economy since 1944. Specializing in defense, maritime transportation, construction, tourism, and technology R&D, the company fosters innovation and excellence across its family of subsidiaries. » back

Our company was founded in 1978 in Honolulu, Hawaii with a focus on developing advanced ships to improve passenger ride quality, reduce operator injury, and improve hull efficiency. These engineering capabilities quickly led to innovations in hydrodynamic simulations, novel hull form designs, cutting edge motion control systems, and advanced marine prototype fabrication and testing. ABOUT PacMar Technologies is a leader in developing cutting-edge solutions in the defense and maritime industries. Our company was founded in 1978 in Honolulu, Hawaii with a focus on developing advanced ships to improve passenger ride quality, reduce operator injury, and improve hull efficiency. These engineering capabilities quickly led to innovations in hydrodynamic simulations, novel hull form designs, cutting edge motion control systems, and advanced marine prototype fabrication and testing. We’ve since grown into a diversified technology company with a national presence, leading the way in research, engineering, design, and innovation. We help our partners in the Department of Defense, academia, and other scientific fields – so our partners can guarantee national security and ensure reliable industry and commerce. We believe that the best solutions can only be developed through close collaboration with our clients, beginning by identifying core objectives. PacMar Technologies’ experts then collaborate with our partners to create cross-disciplinary solutions. The unique challenges associated with the harsh marine environment originally led us to seek inspiration for our work across diverse industries. Our successes continue to leverage non-traditional material science, novel manufacturing techniques, physics and machine learning modeling capabilities, artificial intelligence, and data science. We are a team of scientists and engineers who believe in finding solutions that don’t just innovate, but that spark lasting change. Our work enables the thousands of men and women in uniform to keep our country ahead of advancing global powers. We equip members of our military with the best technological solutions in the world, adhering to the core principles of science and applied engineering. We bring these principles to life through innovative software, comprehensive testing, full-scale technology demonstrations, and final products. We focus on the future, anticipate problems, and always deliver the right solution. Our mission is to convert research into products by leveraging emerging technologies and applying them to National problem sets with speed, trust, and expertise.

Vigorous performance prediction and prototype field testing results in a wide-range of innovative concepts across multiple domains – land, sea, and air. Our software expertise allows us to rapidly design and model, from idea to prototype demonstration, complex mechanical systems in relevant environment. Platform Design & Prototyping Vigorous performance prediction and prototype field testing results in a wide-range of innovative concepts across multiple domains – land, sea, and air. Our software expertise allows us to rapidly design and model, from idea to prototype demonstration, complex mechanical systems in relevant environment. Ships, Small Craft, and Unmanned Vehicles PacMar Technologies has a strong heritage designing cutting-edge marine vehicles that draw upon our world-class and multi-disciplinary engineering expertise spanning naval architecture, marine, mechanical, and systems engineering. PacMar Technologies has all the capability needed to design, analyze, prototype and test novel marine vehicles for customers in the Department of Defense and commercial sectors. Our expertise spans high-performance small craft, naval surface combatants, and unmanned vehicles – both surface and undersea (USVs and UUVs). PacMar Technologies repeatedly develops vehicles to meet demanding specifications and achieve never-before-seen capability. Our capabilities also include the design of launch, recovery, recharging, and refueling technology for sustaining unmanned systems from legacy host platforms and autonomous sustainment. unmanned vehicle sb42 BLB70_IMG_0605_edited unmanned vehicle 1/3 Large-scale Rapid Prototyping & Test Rapidly developing from an idea to a prototype or demonstrator in relevant environments is core to our business and culture. Every PacMar Technologies facility has fabrication and experimentation capacity for marine, ground, and aerial systems prototyping. We also frequently work with a network of partner shipyards and test sites to achieve ambitious program schedules. UHAC Large-scale-2-540x360 hdv100 UHAC 1/3 Unmanned Amphibious and Ground Vehicles PacMar Technologies is uniquely positioned to provide system design, integration, and testing for amphibious vehicles that can operate in challenging littoral conditions. Our engineers design vehicles capable of transiting through surf and rugged shoreline conditions to seamlessly connect between ships operating at stand-off distances at sea and maneuver forces inland. Modeling & Simulation Our ability to rapidly prototype advanced systems is powered by industry-leading modeling and simulation expertise. PacMar Technologies engineers use virtual environments, physics-based simulations, and high-performance computing to explore a broad trade space for novel systems and validate performance specifications. Modeling and simulation enable PacMar Technologies culture and process of rapid prototyping and innovation. » back to top

Portland, ME — 6 August 2019 — PacMar Technologies LLC has been awarded an $8 million contract from the U.S. Navy Office of Naval Research (ONR). The contract entitled “Advanced Planing Hull Research” focuses on pursuing new science and technology for safer hulls and hybrid-electric propulsion systems for fast boats. Pacific Marine & Supply Company Celebrates its 80th Anniversary with $80,000 Donation to Palama Settlement for Preschools Article by Communications Staff Honolulu, HI - February 20, 2024 – In commemoration of its 80th Anniversary, Pacific Marine & Supply Company announced today a donation of $80,000 to Palama Settlement to build preschool classrooms. The new classrooms align with the state’s universal access to preschool initiative, Ready Keiki, which is being led by Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke. Pacific Marine has also committed to work with Palama Settlement on additional funding needs to ensure that these classrooms come to fruition. Since its founding by Fred and Alyce Loui in 1944, the Honolulu company has been a cornerstone of innovation and project excellence across diverse industries and has remained a family-owned and managed enterprise. Throughout its history, Pacific Marine has been committed to giving back to the local community and inspiring the next generations of innovation, entrepreneurship, and building a strong local workforce. Each year, Pacific Marine has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to numerous local non-profit organizations, with a strong focus on education and children. "Our company was built over the last eight decades on the foundation of dedicated service and a philosophy of building and supporting the local community,” said Steven Loui, Chairman & President of Pacific Marine & Supply Company. "It all begins with our keiki and we are so happy to be able to partner with Palama Settlement to build preschools right in the heart of Kalihi. When I learned about the Lieutenant Governor’s preschool program, I knew right away that we wanted to help give Hawaii’s children the right start and get them ready for success in school. Hopefully, to become Hawaii’s future engineers, inventors, leaders and even boat builders.” Currently, there are over 8,000 unserved preschool-aged children in Hawaii. The Ready Keiki initiative focuses on expanding preschool seats —both public and private—while increasing childcare subsidies and supporting the early childhood workforce. “These collaborative partnerships bring us closer to reaching our goal of universal access to preschool for Hawaii’s keiki,” said Lt. Gov. Luke. “The support from partners like Pacific Marine and Palama Settlement speaks to the multi-faceted approach of Ready Keiki, embracing community collaboration to serve more of our youngest learners.” Since the pandemic, Palama Settlement has seen an increase in participating families and community volunteer groups that help to produce community events, engage in programming, and assist in community service projects. “As Palama continues to grow, we want to make sure that our programs and services are relevant, inclusive and accessible to our families,” said Executive Director Sam Aiona. “Thanks to Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke and donors like Steven Loui, our “Pālama Mamas” can rest assure that their toddlers will be ready for Elementary School through the new Family Learning Center, here, at Palama Settlement.” “Companies are about its people and we have been blessed,” continued Steven Loui. “As we celebrate this milestone, we reflect on our journey with immense pride, knowing that our family of companies continues to thrive thanks to the dedication of our highly qualified managers and talented employees and the support of our customers, vendors and the Hawaii Community. So many people have supported us and we want to make sure the next generation is ready to continue to move Hawaii forward.” About Pacific Marine & Supply Company : 841 Bishop St., Suite 1110 Honolulu, HI 96813 Pacmarhawaii.com Pacific Marine & Supply Company, headquartered in Honolulu, has been a leading force in Hawaii's economy since 1944. Specializing in defense, maritime transportation, construction, tourism, and technology R&D, the company fosters innovation and excellence across its family of subsidiaries including PacMar Technologies, Pacific Shipyards International, HSI Mechanical, SEABLADE, FLS Composites, Hull Scientific Research, and CAP Insurance Co. Inc. For more information about Pacific Marine & Supply Company and its subsidiaries, visit pacmarhawaii.com or contact us at info@pacmarhawaii.com or 808-848-6333. About Palama Settlement : 810 N. Vineyard Blvd., Honolulu, HI 96817 Palamasettlement.org Established in 1896, Palama Settlement is a nonprofit, community-based social service agency serving the Kalihi and Pālama neighborhoods. Palama offers a wide range of educational, recreational, cultural, social, health and community-building programs and services for children, youth, adults and senior citizens. Palama Settlement’s mission is to partner with those who have the greatest need in the community, empowering them to enhance their well-being through health, education, and recreation. For more information about Palama Settlement, visit palamasettlement.org or contact us at info@palamasettlement.org . » back

We develop digital twins of systems and subsystems on DoD platforms, for hull structural health monitoring, self-healing autonomous machinery, and smart electrical grids. Our unique understanding of artificial intelligence and machine learning is applied to the development of efficient and accurate virtual worlds. Methods to test and train unmanned systems in all domains ensures resiliency of these technologies and systems. Computational Fluid Dynamics The Art of the Possible PacMar Technologies is a leader in computational fluid dynamics and physics-based motion simulation and optimization. Engineering Expertise: Advanced Seakeeping & CFD Analysis Engineering Development from TRL1 to TRL6 Hydro-Mechanical Simulation Concept Design Mechanical Systems Design Amphibious Vehicles Uncrewed Refueling Remote Vessel Operation Undersea Vehicle Design Case Study with AppliedCAx Building prototypes to validate designs is costly and limits innovation. PacMar Technologies has created virtual sea states in which we can simulate and optimize design iterations before constructing physical prototypes and testing in real-world conditions. We utilize advanced simulation tools STAR-CCM+ and our in-house code AEGIR in the product development cycle to validate product designs. Developing the Next Generation of Aquatic Vessels As a company, PacMar Technologies prides itself on tackling tough challenges and being able to take an idea from a napkin sketch to a detailed design and simulation, then finally constructing and delivering a fully functional physical prototype that goes to the sea for in-water testing. Our Honolulu location offers an optimal setting for real-world validation as the challenging sea state and uniquely rough waters makes for a dynamic testing ground. Designs that can perform here can perform anywhere. Designing for the Rigors of the Ocean The ocean is an unforgiving environment, and the main challenge of maritime design is the sea itself. Watercraft designs and prototypes taken to the sea must be ready for those challenges and be able to overcome the dynamics of a harsh, deep ocean environment. Surface vessels, underwater vehicles, as well as amphibious vehicles, all have to deal with waves, the surf zone, currents, and wind, all coming together in an incompressible fluid - whether it's on the surface or below. Innovative Success Powered by Simulation PacMar Technologies has had many successful surface ship programs in its history. Oneof the most successful has been their Sea Blade line of surface ships. Novel in its approach to hydrodynamics and performance, they leveraged STAR-CCM+ to run simulations on "many, many" iterations, doing different benchmark comparisons against different hull designs. The most comparable hull ship is a Deep-V hull design. Looking at the Sea Blade vs the Deep-V, they showed a 23% reduction in slamming and a 50% reduction in roll response. They're also able to go up an additional 2 knots in speed. These are key metrics for operator safety, allowing the operator to not only go faster but also avoid injuring crew and damaging machinery or electronics. These designs would not be possible without having access to simulation. Without the reduction in risk, the cost of developing cutting-edge technologies would not have been possible. Read more about the Sea Blade project here . » back to top