Ship Electronics News

Kohler Marine, manufacturer of diesel and gasoline marine generators for a wide range of pleasure and commercial craft applications, announced its participation in the Hermione-Lafayette Voyage 2015. This historic voyage includes an Atlantic crossing as well as a tour of the eastern United States by an authentic reproduction of the Hermione, the 18th century frigate that carried the Marquis de Lafayette to America in 1780 with news that France was sending more than 5,000 troops to help fight the British. The modern-day Hermione – at 185 ft. tall, 216 ft. long and carrying a crew of 75 – was built to exacting specifications over a 17-year period in Rochefort, France. She departed Port des Barques in April and made landfall at Yorktown, Virginia on June 5, 2015.

Germany-based Raytheon Anschuetz with Italian provider Seastema, to deliver Integrated Bridge & Navigation Systems (IBNS) for two Italian Coast Guard military patrol vessels. The vessels are currently being built at Fincantieri's Castellammare di Stabia (Naples) shipyard. Delivery of the IBNS will be the first military application under a teaming agreement between Raytheon Anschuetz and Seastema. Together, the companies will provide Italy's Coast Guard patrol vessels with the latest generation IBNS, fully integrated with Seastema's SEAS-Navy ship automation system.

Raytheon Anschütz has developed an innovative system solution for OPV’s, smaller Naval and Coast Guard vessels. At Euronaval, the Synapsis Command Bridge is launched as a combination of commercial-off-the-shelf navigation with Command & Control capabilities to a new, homogeneous bridge system. The Synapsis Command Bridge aims to provide a solution that not only includes the Synapsis Integrated Navigation capabilities but also transfers enhanced Command & Control (C2) capabilities from the Raytheon Anschütz’ SmartBlue surveillance system to a new sea-based application.

Expanding the Suezmax fleet and greater involvement in carrying oil products are among the ambitions being pursued by theTeekay Tanker Services (TTS) business unit of Teekay. "At the same time, we're working to expand our strong Aframax position," said TTS Vice President Peder Farmen, who heads the product transport sector of TTS from the group's Norwegian office in Stavanger. Teekay's conventional shipping operations in Norway have further diversified the company's fleet, the majority of which is comprised of Aframax vessels. Since Teekay's acquisitions of Bona Shipholding in 1999, Ugland Nordic Shipping in 2001 and Navion in 2002, Teekay has established itself as a leading tanker operator in the North Sea and Atlantic, in addition to the Pacific.

Khalid Hashim, managing director of Precious Shipping Plc, says his hands are tied. Thailand's largest shipping line, specializing in bulk shipping, mainly of commodities such as rice and sugar, is unwilling to increase its equity in a market it says undervalues its shares. And it is unable to seek more debt from a Thai banking system badly burned during the Asian financial crisis of 1997/98. So much cash flow goes on servicing debt it assumed before the crisis that it can scarcely afford to replace its 35 ships as they age. "If we don't expand the business, if we don't take any steps to get out of the restructuring cash flow trap that we're in..., then in four years' time we'll be debt-free but down to 17 ships," Hashim said.