Navigational Technology News

Maritime and offshore service provider OSM Maritime Group will act as Ocean Infinity's newbuild site supervision partner, for six robotic offshore vessels being built for Ocean Infinity in Norway, for its Armada Fleet.Four vessels will have a length of 21 meters and tow vessels of 36 meters. The robotic vessels, being built at GMV shipyard in Norway will be equipped with state-of-the-art sensors and pioneering navigational technology that allows information to be gathered from the shallowest and deepest waters.

UK classification society Lloyd’s Register (LR) has joined with ST Engineering Electronics (STEE), Mitsui & Co., and Smart City Solutions to develop the world’s largest autonomous vessels.The partners will collaborate on the ‘Development of Ocean-going Autonomous Navigation System on a Marine Asset’, the MoU forms the foundation of the MPA-funded ‘World’s Largest Ocean-Going Autonomous Vessel Programme’, which was also announced today.“LR’s involvement in this project builds on the capability and experience already gained from our partnership in other industry-leading and world first autonomous projects,” said Andy McKeran, LR Commercial Director Marine & Offshore.“However…

The new generation of Glass Cockpit expands Volvo Penta’s collaboration with Garmin for an advanced monitoring and control system that makes boating easier. And its clever application, which is now available for all sized boats, is being unveiled at the Miami Boat Show. Volvo Penta has taken boating to a new level of intelligent design with its upgraded Glass Cockpit system. Glass Cockpit seamlessly encompasses the latest navigational technology from Garmin and Volvo Penta’s Electronic Vessel Control system (EVC) to provide a state-of-the-art platform for the driver. The award-winning all-in-one application was first launched in 2013…

Transas was founded in 1990, by a group of former navigators and engineers, who at that time envisioned ways in which computers could revolutionize maritime safety, communications and security. In the ensuing 25 years Transas has pioneered navigational technology across a wide sector, developing into a true “household name” in the global maritime industry. In 1995, Transas also entered the highly competitive simulation market, and today there are more than 13,000 vessels sailing with Transas navigation systems, and more than 5,500 simulators installed, globally.

Elmer A. Sperry casts a long shadow over the history of modern naval, nautical and aeronautical technology, one few people know much about, but should, for a man crowned both the “father of modern navigational technology” and “the father of automatic feedback and control systems,” as well as a pioneer of rocket and missile technology. “It is safe to say that no one American has contributed so much to our naval technical progress,” eulogized Charles Francis Adams III, Secretary of the Navy from 1929-1933, on the death of engineering genius Elmer Ambrose Sperry, June 16, 1930, at 69.

The General Lighthouse Authorities of the U.K. and Ireland (GLAs) are cooperating with The Internavigation Research and Technical Center in the Russian Federation to achieve compatibility in advanced navigation technologies. The common goal is to improve shipping safety across hazardous new high Arctic routes, which are playing an increasingly important role in international trade. The U.K./Russia cooperation refers specifically to the development of interoperable resilient position…

A number of newly built state-of-the art vessels came into service within the Seaway in 2012, boasting sharp increases in fuel efficiency and reductions in emission levels. “These new vessels, part of a billion dollar fleet renewal effort by domestic and ocean carriers, combined with our marketing efforts which have recorded 10.6 million tonnes in new business over the past five years, underscore the Seaway’s future potential”, added Terence Bowles, President and CEO of the St Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC).

Tonnage Exceeds Forecast as Grain Heads to Overseas Markets. The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) announced today that tonnage increased by 4% to 38.9 million tonnes during the 2012 navigation season, exceeding the SLSMC’s original forecast by 300,000 tonnes thanks in part to a late season surge in grain movements. Strong performance within a number of core markets contributed to an overall gain of 1.4 million tonnes for the year, when compared to the Seaway’s 2011 result of 37.5 million tonnes.

Department of Transportation Secures New Training Vessel for U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced that the Department’s Maritime Administration has secured a new training vessel for the U. S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, NY. In an agreement with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Academy will receive a space shuttle solid rocket booster recovery ship, the MV Liberty Star, which will provide a hands-on learning environment on which midshipmen can train using modern navigational technology…

According to cbsnews.com, Melting sea ice has drawn more cruise ship tourists to Canada's Arctic waters, but an Arctic security expert warns that centuries-old navigation charts still in use today could threaten the safety of such vessels and their passengers. Ships still rely on some maritime charts that date back to the voyages of the British Arctic explorer Sir John Franklin in the 1800s, said Rob Huebert, a political science professor at the University of Calgary. Navigational technology was limited in Franklin's time, Huebert said, leading to vague or inaccurate chart measurements. In August 1996, the Hanseatic cruise ship ran aground near Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, as it was carrying tourists in the Northwest Passage. No one was injured in that incident.

McAsphalt Industries Ltd. and Upper Lakes Group Inc. have recently announced a joint venture for the formation of McAsphalt Marine Transportation Limited. The company will construct and operate a new ATB unit for the carriage of heavy oils and asphalt products serving the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence River and East Coast. A synergy between the two parent companies combine the long experience of an asphalt producer, supplier and marketing team, with a respected marine transportation and ship management group. A new barge called the Norman McLeod is currently under construction at the Jinling Shipyard in China with expected delivery to Canada in late June 2001. Fraser Marine and Industrial of Port Colborne will perform completion of outfitting, with operational status ready for fall 200.

A commissioning ceremony for the Pacific Northwest’s third and newest Marine Protector Class Cutter is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Friday, at Coast Guard Group Port Angeles, in Port Angeles, Wash. The Coast Guard Cutter Wahoo, an 87-ft. patrol boat, will assume the primary missions of search and rescue, law enforcement, and homeland security in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound. It is equipped with advanced state-of-the-art navigational technology, a fast small boat rear-launch system, and 25-knot capacity. U.S. Senator Patty Murray, who was instrumental in bringing the cutter Wahoo to Puget Sound, will be the keynote speaker. Coast Guard Senior Chief Petty Officer Thomas J. Johnson is assuming the position of Officer in Charge of the Wahoo.

Montco Offshore is the beneficiary of the latest innovative newbuild from the Bollinger Shipyards stable. The companies are touting the new L/B Myrtle, a 137.5 ft. unit, as a giant leap forward in the evolution of liftboats. The unit is outfitted with 245-ft. legs and the self-propelled floating platform has the ability to work in water depths to 180 ft. with a 15-ft. air gap while lifting a total of 850 KIPS of variable load. The feature that separates this liftboat from others, however, is that it is equipped with a bowthruster and controllable pitch (CP) propellers for greater maneuverability and pinpoint positioning of the huge legs with oversized pads on the ocean bottom.