New Routines on the Bridge in the Digital World
Like every sector of cargo and passenger shipping, “digitalization”—where computerized processes are replacing onboard routines previously handled manually— is an ongoing trend coastwise, on the waterways and harbors. Regulatory compliance, especially with Subchapter M for towing vessels, has also driven choices of onboard equipment with digital interfaces to software and online platforms for record-keeping and for generating inputs for forms and documents.Improved performance has also shaped the capabilities of equipment in the wheelhouse and the view from the bridge.
GTMaritime Protects Onboard Cyber Security
GTMaritime has seen exceptional growth in the use of its secure, maritime optimized email software and other cyber-security solutions as vessel owners and operators step up a gear to harden onboard networks and protect their ships from digital threats. Many have been spurred into action by IMO’s decision to bring cyber-security under the remit of the ISM code from 2021.Some 5,677 vessels are now employing solutions from GTMaritime’s portfolio – an increase of more than one-third over the past year.
Namura Shipbuilding introduces ClassNK-NAPA GREEN
The fleet performance management and optimization system ClassNK-NAPA GREEN jointly developed by leading classification society ClassNK (Chairman and President: Noboru Ueda) and maritime-software, services and data analysis company NAPA has been introduced to a newbuilding by Namura Shipbuilding. The move was spearheaded by Namura Shipbuilding based on the shipowner’s acceptance. ClassNK-NAPA GREEN collects voyage data from the VDR, data logger and other onboard devices and provides high precision performance analysis through its self-learning Dynamic Performance Model. Namura Shipbuilding’s introduction of ClassNK-NAPA GREEN aims to use voyage data and performance analysis of actual voyage speed, draft and full cargo load performance to provide feedback for optimized ship design.
Iridium Debuts Global Sat Fax, Enhanced Messaging
Iridium Satellite LLC announced the launch of a new satellite fax service that will permit subscribers to send and receive faxes from any location in the world directly to and from any standard fax machine, as well as connect WiFi networks to Iridium. The Iridium fax service supports inbound and outbound faxes through the uniHub™ interface, which has been developed by On-Go, Inc. of Bethesda, Maryland, USA. UniHub is a plug-and-play solution that extends the functionality of Iridium satellite phones, to include fax and other data services such as WiFi integration. For inbound and outbound faxes, the Iridium phone is connected via uniHub to any standard fax machine or fax modem. Call setup and routing are totally automatic and transparent to the user.
