PERSONNEL DEVELOPMENT

Control System from EDI

Electronic Design, Inc. (EDI), designs and manufactures shipboard control and monitoring systems, training and simulation systems, and related products for large and small ships; both commercial and military. In 1997, EDI was chosen to participate in the U.S. Navy's Smart Ship project, and was awarded a contract to completely retrofit the hardwired Machinery Plant Control and Monitoring System (MPCMS) aboard an amphibious troop carrier (LSD 47), with a state-of-the-art, processor-based, software system using commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) technology. Smart Ship was conceived in 1996 by the Navy to evaluate its future with respect to manpower and cost. It was clear COTS technology and reduced manning were essential elements. EDI was tasked with implementing, installing and integrating a user-friendly, highly reliable, computer-based Engineering Control System (ECS) to emulate the existing hard-wired control system for the propulsion plant, electric plant and auxiliary plants. EDI designed the ECS software package using COTS software with color CRTs and Trackballs as the primary user interface. The original MPCMS was removed from the ship and replaced by 15 COTS Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) and 12 Windows NT-based workstations. The workstations and PLCs were connected via Ethernet to a fiberoptic Local Area Network (LAN). To enhance reliability, the workstations and PLCs have redudant Ethernet connections to access the LAN

USN and USCG Release National Fleet Policy

The US Navy and the US Coast Guard released the National Fleet Policy. The joint policy is intended to synchronize research and development, planning, fiscal stewardship, procurement, development of doctrine, training, and execution of operations of the two services in order to maximize effect and minimize costs. The National Fleet is composed of the physical assets and personnel of the services designed (whenever possible) around common systems and capable of supporting the full

RIB & Hi-speed Craft: CSI 2013 Conference

FRC International to host the upcoming Crew Systems Integration (CSI) conference in Poole, UK. The international conference includes over 20 presentations focussing on 9 integrated topics for the RIB and high speed craft sector. Keynote speakers include former Royal Navy Rear Admiral Chris Parry, now a noted strategic consultant and geopolitical forecaster. Human Systems Integration (HSI) is a recognised requirement for many maritime organisations

Royal Fleet Ship Deploys to Haiti

The UK sent a Royal Fleet Auxiliary supply ship loaded with aid to help with the relief operation in Haiti, International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander has announced. The ship, RFA Largs Bay, was despatched at the request of the United Nations and sailed from the UK carrying relief supplies that will be needed by the people of Haiti in the weeks and months ahead. The ship will have the capacity to carry supplies provided by the Department for International Development and

General Dynamics $7M Advanced Sub Technologies Contract

General Dynamics Electric Boat has been awarded a $7.4m contract modification by the U.S. Navy to develop advanced submarine technologies for current and future undersea platforms. Electric Boat is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD). Under this award Electric Boat will perform advanced submarine research and development studies in support of a wide range of technology areas including manufacturing, maintenance, survivability, hydrodynamics, acoustics and materials

Top Engineering Employer – Tognum Wins Again

Tognmum wins top engineering sector employer in Germany award for the fourth time Tognum has picked up the accolade ‘Top Engineering Employer’ for the fourth time running. It also won the seal of quality ‘Top Employer in Germany’ for the third time. This year, a total of 34 companies in Germany were named the most attractive engineering employers, and a total of 118 qualified for the ‘Top Employer in Germany 2012’ category.  

Indonesian Navy Selects VSTEP Bridge Simulators

For training of its Sigma Class Corvette bridge personnel, the Indonesian Navy and Ministry of Defense selected VSTEP to supply two Class A NAUTIS Full Mission Bridge (FMB) Simulators for its Kobangdikal marine training facility in Surabaya. The Indonesian Navy is currently modernizing its fleet to more effectively combat maritime crime and piracy. Beginning 2012, the Indonesian Navy added several Sigma Class Corvettes to its active fleet

UKPS Awarded Investors in People Bronze Standard Award

Forum Energy Technologies (NYSE: FET) said that its United Kingdom Personnel Service (UKPS) business unit, based in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, has been awarded the prestigious Investors in People (IIP) Bronze Standard Award. Recipients of this award are a prestigious group of leading public, private and civic organizations, ranging in size from less than ten to thousands of employees. “Receiving this award is a tremendous achievement,” said Mick Jones

US Hospital Ship Deploys to Asia

Hospital ship USNS Mercy will visit Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines & Vietnam on humanitarian mission The San Diego-based Navy hospital ship USNS Mercy is scheduled to deploy Tuesday for a four-month humanitarian mission to four Asian nations, reports San Diego 10News. Converted from an oil tanker in the mid 1980s, the Mercy first saw duty in the Persian Gulf War. Following that deployment, it left its berth at Naval Base San Diego

O&G industry body Decom North Sea acts to try to ease predicted skills shortages

Decom North Sea (DNS), the offshore oil & gas decommissioning forum, has commissioned research into the future labour and skills requirements for the growing decommissioning sector to try to alleviate predicted skills shortages in future. With more than £1billion a year of decommissioning expenditure forecast for the UK North Sea by 2015 and only 7% of projects completed to date, DNS will make its findings available to training bodies to help ensure appropriately skilled people