LinuxForce Wins Aker Philadelphia Shipyard Contract

For Immediate Release

Date:     November 28, 2005
Contact:  CJ Fearnley / 610.734.1900
          press@LinuxForce.net
Contact:  Tom Marinucci / 215.875.2740
          thomas.marinucci@phillyshipyard.com

LINUXFORCE WINS AKER PHILADELPHIA SHIPYARD CONTRACT
Technology Firm to provide Debian GNU/Linux Technical Support and Services

Aker Philadelphia Shipyard, formerly known as Kvaerner Philadelphia
Shipyard, and LinuxForce, a leading technology services provider
specializing in the development, implementation, management and support
of Linux-based systems, have signed a long-term services agreement
wherein LinuxForce will monitor and maintain a number of GNU/Linux
systems for Aker.

LinuxForce was chosen for its expertise with the Debian GNU/Linux operating
system, its success in delivering similar outsourced systems administration
solutions for other organizations in the Greater Philadelphia Region
including The Franklin Institute Science Museum and Independence Blue
Cross, and its leadership role in the Philadelphia Linux community.

Most of the Aker systems covered under this agreement run the Debian
GNU/Linux operating system, the leading community-developed distribution
of Linux (a Linux distribution is the packaging of the Linux Kernel,
the GNU/Linux OS and other software to make Linux easy to install,
configure, and use).  Aker's Debian systems will be managed under
LinuxForce's flagship product, Remote Responder(SM).

Remote Responder(SM) is the leading outsourced systems management solution
for Debian GNU/Linux systems.  LinuxForce is also tasked with managing
several commercially-developed Linux systems including a Red Hat system
running an Oracle database and a legacy Solaris system.

CJ Fearnley, President and CEO of LinuxForce said, "It is gratifying that
Aker has recognized LinuxForce's capabilities in providing a commercial
service in support of the Debian GNU/Linux operating system."  Fearnley
continued, "Like LinuxForce, Aker recognizes that Debian provides the
highest level of quality and support among Linux distributions."

Michel Boeckx, Aker's Chief Technology Officer, said, "We have been using
Debian for many years and it has provided an extraordinary level of quality
and support to Aker's IT staff to resolve the problems that inevitably
occur in computing operations."

Fearnley added, "Debian's policy is a primary reason that it is one of
the few operating systems for which upgrading across major releases does
not require a full system reinstall."

Steinar Nerbovik, Aker's Vice President of Design and Engineering,
said, "From the business perspective, Debian's chief strength is that
it can be maintained very inexpensively.  Aker is very impressed with
the cost savings that we are realizing as a result of our partnership
with LinuxForce."

Nerbovik continued, "LinuxForce's long and active involvement in the
Philadelphia Linux User's Group, http://phillylinux.org, means LinuxForce
has access to a large Linux talent pool in the Delaware valley."

Fearnley explained, "The broad-based, community-developed policy element in
Debian's quality control infrastructure is one of the main reasons for
Debian's strong reputation for stability and interoperability."

About LinuxForce, Inc.
LinuxForce(SM) is a leading technology services provider specializing in
the development, implementation, management and support of Linux-based
systems, with a particular expertise in Debian GNU/Linux.  LinuxForce,
based in Philadelphia, is a private company that was founded in 1996 to
serve corporate, academic and non-profit clients.

LinuxForce's leadership and track record of delivering positive business
results have made it the "go-to" firm for companies wanting to:
 -- migrate to Linux from proprietary operating systems,
 -- migrate from commercial Linux distributions to the more stable, secure
    and flexible Debian platform,
 -- support open source applications, and
 -- outsource the administration of their Linux-based systems.

Current clients include: American Red Cross (Camden County Chapter),
Chester County InterLink, Cyber Incident Detection and Data Analysis
Center, The Franklin Institute Science Museum, 1-800-FLORALS Flowers
Online, The Constitutional Walking Tour, Aker Philadelphia Shipyard, and
the University of the Arts.  For more information visit www.LinuxForce.net
or call 610-734-1900.

About Aker Philadelphia Shipyard, Inc.
Aker Philadelphia Shipyard, Inc., formerly known as Kvaerner Philadelphia
Shipyard, Inc., is the shipbuilding subsidiary of newly-established
Aker American Shipping. In conjunction with affiliated subsidiaries, the
state-of-the-art shipyard located on the site of the former Philadelphia
Navy Yard is embarking on a project to build, own, and lease 10 product
tankers for the U.S. Jones Act market. Aker American Shipping and Aker
Philadelphia Shipyard, Inc. are members of the Norwegian-based Aker family
of global companies, industry leaders in the fields of shipbuilding,
fishery, and technology-based solutions for customers in oil, gas,
energy, and process industries.  Visit www.phillyshipyard.com for
additional information.

About Debian GNU/Linux
Debian GNU/Linux is the leading non-commercial distribution of the
GNU/Linux operating system.  Debian is comprised of a volunteer network
of more than 1,000 developers and other contributors worldwide. Debian's
dedication to Free Software, its non-profit nature, and its open
development model makes it unique among GNU/Linux distributions.
For more information refer to www.debian.org.

-- 
CJ Fearnley                 |   LinuxForce Inc.
cjf@LinuxForce.net          |   Chief Technology Officer
http://www.LinuxForce.net   |   Software & Web Solutions / Systems Management

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