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Radio Technical Commission For Maritime Services News

01 Sep 2021

Insufficient Communication, Lack of Accurate Tow Size at Issue in Fatal Collision -NTSB

(Screenshot from the Rose Point electronic charting system display showing the Cooperative Spirit’s positions starting at 5:28 a.m. CST. Source: American River Transportation Company, LLC, annotated by Christy Spangler, NTSB)

The lack of accurate tow size information and two pilots’ insufficient radio communication led to a fatal collision between two towing vessels in the Lower Mississippi River near Destrehan, La., according to a National Transportation Safety Board Marine Accident Brief released Thursday.Marine Accident Brief 21/16 details the NTSB’s investigation of the Jan. 26, 2020, collision of the towing vessels Cooperative Spirit and RC Creppel. The RC Creppel, which capsized in the accident, had four crewmembers aboard — one was rescued and three others were never found.

23 Aug 2021

Electronic Navigational Charts: An Update and Some Issues

(Image: NOAA)

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.

02 Jul 2020

Coast Guard Discontinues Differential GPS Broadcast

(USCG file photo by Kevin Young)

On June 30, 2020 the Coast Guard switched off the last Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) signals after more than 25 years of service.With the improved accuracy and integrity of un-augmented GPS over the last several years, and with the introduction of the U.S. operated satellite-based augmentation system known as Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), the maritime community no longer has a mission requirement for DGPS. GPS now provides sufficient positional accuracy…

13 Sep 2016

NTSB Assesses USCG’s Vessel Traffic Service System

A safety study recently released by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) details 14 conclusions and 21 recommendations aimed at further reducing the risk of collisions, allisions and groundings involving vessels operating within U.S. Coast Guard Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) areas. The study, “An Assessment of the Effectiveness of the U.S. Coast Guard Vessel Traffic Service System” (NTSB/SS-16/01), focused on the performance of the Coast Guard’s VTS system, currently comprised of 12 VTS centers. NTSB said the need for the study was driven by the investigation of six major commercial vessel accidents since the Coast Guard’s…

08 Feb 2016

US Coast Guard Approves Official Electronic Charts

The U.S. Coast Guard published guidance that allows mariners to use electronic charts and publications instead of paper charts, maps and publications. Issued February 5, the Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular, NVIC 01-16 establishes uniform guidance on what is now considered equivalent to chart and publication carriage requirements. Combining the suite of electronic charts from the U.S. hydrographic authorities and the Electronic Charting System (ECS) standards published this past summer by the Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Services, the Coast Guard said it believes official electronic charts provide mariners with a substitute for the traditional official paper charts. Capt. Scott J. Smith, the chief of the U.S.

10 May 2012

Esri GPS Base Station Joins National Network

Esri recently installed a GPS base station to assist its GIS developers and to support surveyors, engineers, scientists, and those in public works and public safety in the community surrounding the Esri campus in Redlands, California. The base station, named GISA, has been accepted by the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) and incorporated into the national Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS) network. "GPS, originally designed as a US Department of Defense system, has become part of everyday life, with the technology in all types of devices from smartphones to shipping containers," said Brent Jones, Esri surveying and engineering industry manager.

21 Oct 2010

Husick Honored with NMEA Lifetime Achievement Award

Photo courtesy McNabb Marketing Resources for the NMEA

In a ceremony that mixed fond memories with humorous stories, the National Marine Electronics Association celebrated the life of Charles “Chuck” Husick, who died September 13 at the age of 77. Association President, David Hayden, presented NMEA’s Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously to Husick’s son and grandson at the October 2 banquet capping the NMEA’s 2010 International Marine Electronics Conference & Expo in Seattle, Wash. Husick was the former head of the Chris-Craft Boat Co.

07 Apr 2010

Hoffman Joins Cobham Life Support-ACR Products

Photo courtesy Beacon Technology

Christopher Hoffman joined Cobham Life Support-ACR Products as the Director of Business Development - Beacon Technology. Hoffman brings a wealth of experience in the area of satellite detectable, emergency locator beacon development to Cobham Life Support-ACR Products. As chairman for three Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Services (RTCM) committees, he is an expert on COSPAS/SARSAT systems, as well as 406 MHz emergency locator beacons. In his new position, Hoffman will oversee all marketing and development efforts relating to beacon products and technologies…

09 May 2003

Shipping Coordinating Committee Meetings

The U.S. of the Shipping Coordinating Committee. subcommittee structure. certification and watchkeeping. of the Maritime Safety Committee. (RTCM) in St. 49th session of the IMO Subcommittee on Safety of Navigation. 68 Fed. Reg.