Airmar News

Propspeed, an innovator of underwater foul-release coatings, received an endorsement from FarSounder, a pioneer in navigation and obstacle avoidance systems, which has tested the Propspeed Foulfree foul-release coating and recommends it for application by their customers, dealers and partner shipyards.“Our unique, patented technology is designed to paint a clear picture of what lies ahead underwater and along the bottom,” said Cheryl Zimmerman, CEO, FarSounder. “Marine growth on our transducers could limit the effectiveness of our products and potentially put a vessel in a hazardous situation.

The first newbuild rigid inflatable boat (RIB) built by Dongara Marine has entered into service, heralding a raft of government and RIB contracts for the Western Australian boatbuilder.The newbuild, Cape Rose, was completed at the end of last year and has been operating for Marine Rescue Shark Bay since delivery to Denham in early in 2021. It has replaced a response vessel that had serviced the Western Australia (WA) coastline for more than 20 years, both with the group and previously…

Gemeco Marine Accessories, world-leading experts in the selection, placement and technical support for marine transducers and NMEA networking products, announced today the launch of an all new web-based resource for boaters and dealers on the company website – www.gemeco.com. The newly designed website employs a simple, yet elegant interface allowing intuitive access to vital information about transducers and networking. The comprehensive resource provides access to a digital version of the company’s 585 page catalog; links to download the Gemeco iNstall toolbox application for transducer installers and the Airmar OnSite WX app that displays NMEA data on virtual gauges for mobile devices; in-depth transducer identification information; and a new expansive Tech Support database.

Gemeco Marine Accessories, world-leading experts in the selection, placement and technical support for marine transducers and NMEA networking products, announced today its partnership with non-profit organizations, the Impossible Dream and Shake-a-Leg Miami in the refit of the universally accessible 60-foot sailing catamaran, Impossible Dream. The organizations are developing the Impossible Dream as a flagship vessel to promote sailing as a way to improve the health, education, and independence of people with disabilities and disadvantaged youth, as well as their families. “Close to 20% of the American population has some form of disability,” said Peter Braffitt, general manager, Gemeco Marine Accessories.

Kvichak Marine Industries, a Vigor Company, was recently awarded a contract to design and build a 48’ all-aluminum foil assisted research catamaran for the King County Environmental Laboratory. The vessel will operate in Puget Sound, the Straits of Juan de Fuca and adjoining inland waterways. The vessel will be conducting water sampling research along with marine buoy calibration, maintenance and retrieval, tours and shoreline surveys, dive and ROV operations. This will be the thirteenth foil assisted catamaran Kvichak has built since 2000.

Offshore Systems (U.K.) Ltd, manufacturer of NMEA2000 digital monitoring and control systems for recreation and commercial vessels has appointed Gemeco Marine Accessories as its exclusive U.S. distributor. Gemeco will distribute Offshore Systems’ entire product line including tank senders, gauges, electrical system sensors and display units. Gemeco is a wholesale distributor of marine accessories to thousands of marine electronics dealers throughout the U.S. and abroad. The company, founded 35 years ago, is based in Lake City, South Carolina.

Airmar Technology Corporation, a company that designs, engineers and manufactures ultrasonic transducers and sensor technology, announced that it has acquired substantially all of the assets of Marport Deep Sea Technologies’ Commercial Fishing division, a leading developer of advanced sonar technology. Airmar will also acquire the Marport name and the web domain as a part of the transaction. The terms of the acquisition have not been disclosed. Airmar began collaborating with Marport approximately eight years ago and has a history of working together to develop products that have been commercialized. Airmar and Marport will continue to jointly develop new products in the same manner…

Si-Tex Marine Electronics now offers echosounding technology from Koden, expanding its line of FX Series sounders with the new CVS-FX2 and CVS-FX2 BB (Black Box) models. These are powerful professional-grade sounders engineered for a wide variety of commercial vessels and fishing applications, Si-Tex said. Their advanced fish-finding capabilities also make both new FX2 Series models suited for use on high-end sportfishing vessels, as well. The Koden CVS-FX2 features a large-format 15-inch color LCD display with an antireflective filter bonded directly to the screen…

Heeding the call to join “An Ocean in Common,” authors flooded the Oceans ‘13 MTS/IEEE San Diego technical program committee with a record number of abstracts in a single day. Special topics include an Ultra-deep track discussing current and prospective robotic technologies, plus a panel of scientists to consider research questions. Oceans2013 Chair Bob Wernli, and Co-Chair Kevin Hardy, developer of the unmanned landers for James Cameron’s DeepSea Challenge Expedition, will be the session conveners. “James’ intention is to be certain the door remains open to other explorers,” Hardy said.

Powerful 3kW Commercial Sounder Provides Variable Frequencies From 24kHz to 240kHz; Can Transmit on Four Separate Frequencies Simultaneously. SI-TEX has introduced the new Koden CVS-FX1 12.1-inch Color LCD Echo Sounder for the North American fishing industry. This new-for-2012 system boasts a large 12.1-inch XGA color LCD display, proven digital signal processing and 3kW RMS output power, making the CVS-FX1 an ideal choice for a wide range of commercial fishing vessels. However, these are just some of this sounderʼs professional grade credentials.

Company’s CHIRP Enabling Transducers Provide High Sensitivity and Bandwidth at an Affordable Price. AIRMAR Technology Corporation has announced the introduction of their new broadband transducers that enable CHIRP technology. Some of the company’s broadband transducers are already supplied as original equipment to industry-leading manufacturers of hydrographic survey sounders and advanced commercial-fishing systems. “Airmar has successfully developed methods for increasing transducer bandwidth with minimal effect on acoustic sensitivity,” stated John Bauchat, Senior Business Development Engineer. “This is a low-cost/high-value performance enhancement to our OEMs who rely on us to help them achieve optimal system performance.

The National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) will hold its 2009 NMEA Convention & Expo Sept. 30 - Oct .2, 2009, at the Sanibel Harbour Resort in Fort Myers, Fla. “The NMEA Convention & Expo is very valuable for everyone involved in the industry, but it is really organized to serve NMEA dealers and their personnel,” said David Hayden, NMEA’s President and Executive Director. “This year’s Convention has never been more important, as we need to work together to address the current economic challenge to our industry,” he said. Featured speakers this year include Joe Hersey, Administrative Program Manager for the U.S. Coast Guard who will talk about the VHF band, and Lee Luft of the U.S.

Guiding your marine electronics business in challenging economic times is one of the themes for the upcoming National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) Convention & Expo, to be held Sept. 30 – Oct. 2, 2009, at the Sanibel Harbour Resort in Fort Myers, Florida. In addition to technical training, participants will have the opportunity to see the new product rollouts from manufacturers for 2010 during the Expo that will be open all day Thursday, October 1. A new NMEA Technology Award will be introduced at the 2009 NMEA Convention & Expo. The NMEA Technology Award winner will be selected by an independent panel of experts organized by the Boating Writers of America.

Kvichak Marine Industries recently constructed and delivered the R/V Bay Hydro II, a 54 ft foil-assisted catamaran, to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which will be based at NOAA’s facility in Solomons, MD. The contract was awarded early last year following a competitive tender process. The catamaran is fitted with a 3 ft x 7 ft moon pool cut through the main deck amidships. The moon pool is closed by a sliding structural hatch in the bottom of the tunnel and a top-mounted deck grate when not in use.

Airmar Technology announced the opening of Airmar EMEA—to better serve an increasing market for its products across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Airmar EMEA will distribute Airmar Technology’s line of transducers, NMEA sensors and accessories, WeatherStation Instruments, Compass and GPS sensors throughout the Europe, Middle East and Africa region. Airmar EMEA will be based in a new, 5,000-sq.-ft. facility in Saint-Malo, France, custom designed to meet the needs of Airmar’s customer service oriented business model. This new building has plenty of space for a full inventory of Airmar products, ensuring product selection and availability, along with same day shipping.

Ros Inc. of San Diego, Calif. recently delivered four Anchor Bolster Deployment TV Systems to R&B Falcon of Houston, Texas. The systems will be installed on the semi-submersible drilling rig MG Hulme, presently operating off Western Africa. This system incorporates video inspection equipment mounted on a deployment frame which is raised and lowered to the rig's four anchor bolster mounts located at the base of the vessel's four main columns. Engine Monitor Inc. (EMI) has introduced what is being touted as the first totally U.S.-designed and manufactured Integrated Dynamic Positioning System (I-DPS). In development for the past two years, it will reportedly be the first DPS marketed as a complete system to include steering and engine controls in a single package.