Computer Equipment News

In November 2019, the Office of Coast Survey (OCS), part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), announced the start of a five-year program to “sunset” all raster and paper nautical charts.NOAA has produced electronic navigational charts (ENCs) since 1993. In the 2019 notice, NOAA writes that “ENC sales increased 425% since 2008, while sales of paper charts are now half of 2008 levels.”For NOAA and mariners, a focus on electronic charts and publications promises many advantages. With a singular focus, NOAA can use its resources more efficiently.

Harvey Gulf International Marine’s parent, HGIM Corp., has announced the appointment of a new Board of Directors to serve following the company’s emergence from Chapter 11 proceedings.The seven member Board includes two current members remaining on the Board and five new members, each with expertise in individual areas particularly suited to support the company’s operation and development and collectively, creating a leadership platform that will enable Harvey Gulf to adjust and thrive in an ever-changing market. Shane Guidry. Mr. Guidry remains the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer for HGIM Corp. Mr. Guidry is the third generation in his family to lead Harvey Gulf. Mr.

For centuries, mariners have relied on paper maps to navigate the world’s oceans and waterways. Today, the computer technology used on board literally controls the vessel. Along with computers, KVM technology enters ships across the world. German manufacturers Guntermann & Drunck GmbH (G&D) were already working on KVM solutions before this technology had a name. The company was founded by Udo Guntermann and Martin Drunck in 1985. Maritime Reporter & Engineering News asked CEO Roland Ollek how a medium-sized German company has managed it to become part of numerous prestigious shipping projects.

Children’s arts celebration was organized by Gazprom Transgaz Ufa together with the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare of Bashkortostan and the Kultprosvet communications agency. The event demonstrated how friendship helped to bring people together, how kindness pushed the boundaries of human limitations in any area of activity. For several months the festival organizing committee had been receiving the applications from young performers eager to take part in the contest. The expert jury which consisted of cultural professionals, including a popular singer and composer Dmitry Malikov, selected 15 bright and ingenious performances in different nominations: vocal, choreography, instrumental performance and magic. The children got a chance to show their talents at the Congress Hall stage.

Special fields of application such as maritime environments pose extreme working conditions for IT devices. A challenge faced by KVM manufacturer Guntermann & Drunck who optimized their products for the use in maritime applications: ship bridges, control rooms, offshore platforms and control of waterways – compliant with IEC 60945. Strong winds, salty air, waves and vibrations are just some of the strains IT equipment is exposed to when used on water. When the next harbor is many sea miles away, any IT component must be as robust and reliable as possible.

A little more than two years after laying the foundation stone, Eni has opened its new Green Data Center in Ferrera Erbognone (Pavia). The building will host Eni’s central computer processing systems, both for information management and seismic simulation processing (High Performance Computing). “Let's give energy a new energy” is the philosophy which underlies Eni’s decision to make the project available to universities and research centers - an open model to ensure that Eni’s investment may be a prototype of excellence, innovative and sustainable.

Disaster preparedness and recovery plans have taken on new aspects and urgency since September 11. For many who didn't have disaster recovery plans, they have been inspired to create them. Now operations managers of maritime companies who are responsible for their communications and smooth functioning of office systems must also consider more possible threats. Is your company prepared to continue operating if forced to evacuate your offices due to an anthrax exposure? What if your office, vessels, or people were directly affected by violent terrorist attacks? What happens if your suppliers are unable to provide you communications links, phone lines, or power? Your plan should consider all of these catastrophes and more.

Effective January 1, 2002, Xantic MPC (former SpecTec MPC) was sold to the management backed by a group of investors. The new owners are: Øystein Moan, CEO Visma ASA, former owner of the SpecTec Group, former CEO of the Cinet Group and chairman of the SpecTec Group; Tore Bjerkan, CFO Visma ASA; Thomas Falck; Partner Four Seasons Venture AS, former CEO of the SpecTec Group and former chairman of Xantic MPC; Allen Amos, Sales Director CCT; Tore Kirkedam, Managing Director CCT . Xantic BV decided to sell the hardware division as part of a strategy to focus more on its core business, airtime and software. The new owners will continue operations, focusing on development, production and sale of specialized, class approved computer equipment.

American ports will not be ordered to close between the end of 1999 and the beginning of the year 2000 because of millennium-related computer failure fears, the U.S. Coast Guard said last week. However, the Coast Guard said it would take steps to assess the ability of individual vessels to operate safely and impose restrictions where there were concerns that computer equipment might fail because of the Y2K date changeover. The shipping industry has been asked by the UN maritime agency the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to work through a preparedness checklist.

The advent of increasingly advanced technology used onboard boats, rigs and ships, and the computers and software designed to make them work, has resulted in the demand for a new breed of ruggedization. While rugged computer equipment has been used for years in many industries, including maritime, the very nature of the marine business demands performance above and beyond conditions found anywhere else on earth. Panasonic — in an attempt to answer the calls for rugged technological capability onboard boats, rigs and ships — offers its Toughbook series of portable computers, designed to meet most any technological need while beating the elements. Panasonic recently unveiled the newest version of its Toughbook ruggedized notebook PC, a unit that incorporates the Intel Pentium II 333MHz CPU.

The Maritime Exchange for the Delaware River and Bay, a non- profit trade association representing port businesses in the tri-state region, announced yesterday the completion of a major Maritime Domain Awareness electronic reporting program. Known as eNOA/D On-Line, the electronic Notice of Arrival/Departure system serves as a link between vessels destined for the United States and the Department of Homeland Security and provides vessel operators with a user-friendly mechanism to comply with new Customs and Border Protection regulations which went into effect Monday. In April, Customs published a rule that requires all air and ocean carriers to transmit detailed crew and passenger information electronically…

The Maritime Exchange for the Delaware River and Bay recently completed a major Maritime Domain Awareness electronic reporting program. Known as eNOA/D On-Line, the electronic Notice of Arrival/Departure system serves as a link between vessels destined for the U.S. and the Department of Homeland Security and provides vessel operators with a mechanism to comply with new Customs and Border Protection regulations which recently went into effect. In April, Customs published a rule that requires all air and ocean carriers to transmit detailed crew and passenger information electronically. In order to incorporate the new functionality into Maritime On-Line…

In commemoration of the Panama Canal’s 88th Anniversary on August 15th, Panama President Mireya Moscoso inaugurated a modern Simulator Center with three state-of-the-art simulators that will be used for training Canal maritime personnel. President Moscoso was joined by Canal Administrator Alberto Alemán Zubieta, members of the Cabinet Council members, local and international guests of the maritime sector, and Panama Canal Authority (ACP) officials. The new Center includes the latest technological advances in maritime training and is valued at $1.8 million. The equipment for the center includes a 360- degree visual simulator; a 150-degree simulator and a third auxiliary tugboat simulator that reproduces the systems installed in the floating units of the Transit Resources Division.

Bid4Assets, Inc., a full-service asset disposition and advisory services company, announced that it will auction a research vessel for the state of Georgia. The online auction will be held through Sept. 27 on the Bid4Assets Web site, http://www.bid4assets.com. Bidding begins at $90,000. Bid4Assets has been working with the state of Georgia to sell their surplus and retired assets since July 2000, conducting auction sales of construction equipment, highway patrol cars and computer equipment. The research vessel Blue Fin is owned by the university system of Georgia and operated by the Skidaway Institute of Oceanography. The 72-foot boat was built in 1972, and is located in Savannah, Ga.

Marine interior contractor James P. Colie & Associates has completed installation of its Internet Cafes for Royal Caribbean cruise vessels, the most recent on the Legend of the Seas, which was scheduled for a December 1, 1999 completion. Dubbed Royal Caribbean Online, the new areas boast IBM computer equipment providing passengers with Internet access while cruising. James P. Colie staff installed wallpaper, carpeting, owner-supplied equipment and new custom-built cabinetry in the 600 - 1,200 sq. ft. rooms containing six to 10 terminals each. The company also refurbished the main dining room and purser's desk onboard Royal Princess during a drydock in the fall of 1999 at Baltimore Marine Industries.