German Shipbuilder Uses Leica Geosystems
According to a report from Manufacturingtalk.com, the surveying team at Meyer Werft, a shipbuilder based in Northern Germany, uses instruments only from Leica Geosystems to ensure high accuracy is maintained at all points of manufacture. New ships are put together from more than 60 individual sections called blocks, which can weigh up to 800 tonnes each. Consistent measurements are crucial because correcting mistakes is virtually impossible. (Source: Manufacturingtalk.com)
AIS: The Future is Now
The IMO deadline for fitting new ships with Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) is less than one year away. After July 1, 2002, all newbuilds over 300 grt must be equipped with an approved AIS transponder system. Leica Geosystems, one of the pioneering companies in AIS technology, recently published a 28-page book ("A Complete Guide to Automatic Identification Systems") that is loaded with useful information on AIS technology, how it works, international standards and carriage requirements. At the Norshipping exhibition in Oslo, Leica unveiled the first fully integrated GPS/DGPS/AIS shipboard system meeting all IMO, IEC and ITU equipment specifications. The following extracts are reprinted with permission from Leica Geosystems. What is AIS?
Leica and NovAtel Will Develop Technologies For GPS
Leica Geosystems and NovAtel Inc. have entered an agreement to develop new technologies for global positioning systems (GPS). This is particularly relevant for equipment that will be based on the new upcoming Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). In the mid-eighties Leica Geosystems was one of the first companies to develop and market GPS surveying systems. NovAtel, founded in 1978, also has the reputation of being one of the most successful innovators of advanced concepts in GPS technologies. These include significant contributions to the development of Satellite Based Augmentation Systems (SBAS) such as WAAS, MSAS and EGNOS.
118-ft. Yacht Designed to Travel to 70 Knots
Three Vericor Power Systems' TF50 marine aeroderivative gas turbines have been selected to power the 118 Wallypower high-speed yacht being built by Intermarine Shipyard, Sarzana, Italy for Wally Yacht. This is Wally Yacht's first foray into high-speed power yachts, and the company's initial application of gas turbines. Wally Yacht, based in Monte Carlo, Monaco, is a world-renowned designer of high-speed sailing and power yachts. The 118-ft. yacht will feature three TF50 gas turbines in a Combined Diesel Or Gas (CODOG) turbine configuration. Two TF50s will be used as side or "wing" engines, with one small auxiliary diesel engine connected to each wing engine. The diesels will provide for very slow maneuvering only.
AIS: When & Where? Here & Now!
The events of September 11, 2001 will continue to have lingering effects on the world indefinitely. The most visible remnant in the maritime world is the drastically heightened sense of safety and security, as officials in countries around the globe seek to secure their borders from the threat of attack — either direct or covert — via ship. Many of the issues currently on the legislative fast track were already in the works pre-September 11. False crew documentation, enhanced vessel tracking and beefed-up harbor controls were much-discussed topic in previous years. As is the case more often than not, though, a disaster of some proportion is inevitably the impetus in moving from discussion to action.
Leica Appoints J. Janson As New Rep
Leica Geosystems Inc. has announced the appointment of J. Janson Company as sales representative for the Northeastern United States and Eastern Canada. The territory will extend from Maine to the Carolinas and will include Ontario and Quebec. J. Janson Company will be responsible for selling Leica's MX400, MX412, MX480, MK40 and beacon receivers. Joe Janson, president of J. Janson Company, has over 18 years experience in the marine electronics industry. The company specializes in the sale and application of high seas and recreational marine electronics. J. Janson Company is headquartered in Newport, Rhode Island and can be reached at (800) 466-5693. They also have an additional office in Stevensville, Maryland. That office can be reached at (410) 604-3176.
Leica Geosystems Receives Order To Install AIS
Leica Geosystems has won an order from Princess Cruises to install an Automatic Identification System (AIS) on the luxury cruise ship Grand Princess. The Grand Princess will be fitted with a Leica MX 420 integrated DGPS/AIS system. According to Steven Spendlove, electrical superintendent for Princess Cruises, the company intends to outfit its entire 20-ship cruise fleet with AIS if the sea trials on the Grand Princess are successful. Leica introduced the MX 420 system earlier this year to meet the pending International Maritime Organization (IMO) carriage requirements, which will come into effect on July 1, 2002. After that date, all passenger ships, and all new-construction cargo ships of 500 gross tonnage and up, must be fitted with an approved marine AIS system.
AVEVA Ships New Laser Model Interface
AVEVA Group plc is shipping its Laser Model Interface (LMI), a software solution that provides a direct link between AVEVA's VANTAGE Plant Design Management System (PDMS) and four of the major 3D laser scanning systems being utilized to capture as-built data for retrofit and brownfield engineering projects. The new product, which is available as a separately licensed module of PDMS 11.6 SP2, is now being launched following a year's collaboration with the market leading laser modeling vendors - BitWyse, Leica Geosystems HDS, Quantapoint, and Z+F. LMI has been built into the heart of PDMS. This enables engineers to design fully intelligent plant directly with respect to Point Cloud Data (PCD) as if they were in a dedicated PDMS application.
Marine Electronics:Thales Prepares to take the Market by Storm
Whether your philosophy is "less is more" or "bigger is better", Thales (pronounced "TAL-less") Navigation delivers both. Thales Navigation emanates from parent company Thales, a $10 billion Goliath that has astutely purchased a number of marine electronic brand name product companies, such as GPS maker Magellan and its well-known Ashtech brand, in recent years, helping to enlarge an already expansive company. It recently consolidated all of its professional GPS products, including the Ashtech brand, under the Thales Navigation brand name, a re-branding which is designed to unify Thales Navigation's professional product offering and help streamline the company's marketing communications efforts.
Nor-Shipping Roundup: Stepping Out in Oslo
The Nor-Shipping Exhibition concluded June 6, 2003. Following were some of the major announcements during the week in Oslo. Kongsberg won a contract for the control systems for four LNG tankers scheduled to be built in Japan. The ships will carry LNG from the Snohvit field to the U.S., Spain and France. Two of the ships are being built for Hoegh shipping lines at Mitsubishi Shipyards, while the other two are being built at the Mitsui and Kawasaki shipyards. Kelvin Hughes was awarded type approval for its ECDIS-based Track Control System. This is the first Approval of its type to be granted by LR and covers the integration of the company's ECDIS and Autopilot products into a system meeting the new IEC 62065 track control performance standard.
Leica Supplies GPS For P&O Nedlloyd
Leica Geosystems completed delivery of 46 marine GPS receivers for P&O Nedlloyd BV, Rotterdam, to be installed as primary navigation instruments on board their fleet of container vessels. Possible under a private labeling agreement with Leica, the order, which was made by Litton Marine, included 31 LMX400 GPS and 15 LMX406 DGPS receivers with selectable alarm output option as required by major classification societies for Watch One bridges.
Leica Gets Smart With New Antenna
Leica Geosystems has added a new product to its line - a "smart" DGPS antenna - providing accurate position and velocity inputs to a laptop, or other system. A single integrated unit, apMK31 is comprised of a 12-channel GPS receiver and two-channel beacon DGPS receiver - all sealed in low profile weatherproof fiberglass radome. Automatically receiving signals from GPS satellites and differential error correction data from marine radiobeacon broadcasts, apMK31 calculates the vessel's position within 3- 10 ft. (1-3 m) and outputs data once per second in the standard NMEA-0183 format.
Leica Unveils New Series of Laser Meters
Leica Geosystems has introduced a new series of handheld high-precision laser distance measurement tools for the marine industry. The new DISTO(tm) products from Leica provide point-and-click measurement ofdistance, area and volume, indoors or outdoors, at ranges up to 330 ft. According to Jack Wolf, vice president, consumer products DISTO is ideal for naval architects, marine engineers, marine surveyors, shipyards, boatbuilders, repair yards, marinas and other marine professionals who need fast, accurate measurements,. classic4, DISTO pro4 and DISTO pro4a. Prices start as low as $445. The DISTO lite4 is small, handy and easy to use, making it simple to measure distances, areas and volumes comfortably and quickly, even in hard-to-access places.