U.S. Navy Responds to Increased Arctic Activity
The loss of seasonal sea ice in the Arctic will have ramifications for the U.S. Navy in terms of future missions, force structure, training and investments. To get a better handle on planning for future Arctic missions, Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Jonathan Greenert asked me to provide an unambiguous assessment of how ice coverage will change in the Arctic and how human activity in the Arctic will change in response to decreased ice coverage and other factors. To understand this challenge, let me give you a little background.
When Will New Arctic Maritime Crossroad Open?
Rear Adm. Jon White, Oceanographer & Navigator of the Navy, Director Task Force Climate Change, was tasked by the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Jonathan Greenert to provide an unambiguous assessment of how ice coverage will change in the Arctic and how human activity in the Arctic will change in response to decreased ice coverage and other factors. "The loss of seasonal sea ice in the Arctic will have ramifications for the U.S. Navy in terms of future missions, force structure, training and investments. To understand this challenge, let me give you a little background.
Haugesund Contract for Offshore Simulators
Kongsberg Maritime's simulation division has signed a new contract to deliver a range of offshore simulators to the newly founded Haugesund Simulatorcenter in Norway. The contract, which was signed on 16 June 2010 is for the 2011 delivery of a 360 degree visual offshore vessel simulator with interface to a range of specialized task simulators for team training of complex offshore operations. The offshore vessel simulator, which includes a main bridge with forward DNV class A and aft bridge configuration, is fully equipped with anchor handling and Dynamic Positioning (DP) functionalities.
Fugro-Rovtech Gets Subsea Simulator
Fugro General Robotics Limited (FGRL), supplier of subsea simulators, has delivered the first order for its next generation DeepTouch pilot training simulator to sister company Fugro-Rovtech. Fugro-Rovtech plans to use DeepTouch for the rapid evaluation of subsea intervention engineering designs as well as for pilot training. “Fugro-Rovtech have a skilled engineering department and they will use DeepTouch not only for pilot training, but for engineering allowing them to do early trials of difficult engineering situations…
GRL launches ROVolution 4.0
General Robotics Limited (GRL), introduced Version 4.0 of it ROVolution ROV pilot training and mission planning simulator that uses real-time dynamic and hydrodynamic modelling to give pilots a highly realistic experience of subsea operations. ROVolution now includes a comprehensive Pilot Training Metrics module to improve the measurability and consistency of pilot training and assessment. An instructor can use the built-in tools to give him an objective measure of key pilot competencies like the time taken to complete a task…
Fugro Buys Two More GRL Simulators
General Robotics Limited (GRL) won an order for two additional ROVolution simulators from Fugro, which together with Fugro’s existing ROVolution simulator will be used to train ROV pilots on both the new Fugro-built advanced work class ROV, the FCV 3000, and a typical Fugro-owned intermediate class ROV, the Seaeye Tiger. The simulators will be delivered in the summer of 2007 and be sited in Aberdeen, Singapore and Macae (Brazil) to service these operating areas, where they will further extend the Fugro ROV pilot training program. The new simulators have been configured to model both the FCV 3000 ROV (equipped with a RigMaster grabber arm and Titan 4 manipulator) and the Seaeye Tiger ROV. Fugro’s existing ROVolution simulator is being upgraded to the same specification.
GRL Launches DeepView and DeepLive
General Robotics Limited (GRL) is launching DeepView 2.0 its subsea visualisation software, and DeepLive a real-time data capture module. DeepView 2.0 is an advanced visualisation and animation tool for creating subsea scenarios that allow multiple concurrent views of an operation with full data recording and replay in 3D. DeepView 2.0 is equipped with an easy-to-use operator interface that simplifies the creation of complex underwater representations. The new interface enables the easy generation of scenarios by using ‘drag and drop’ to add components in the subsea model, and as an object oriented system the specific properties of different objects can be immediately viewed. DeepView includes a library of standard structures and components.
Fleet Privatizations Expected Soon For Lithuanian Companies
Following are financial details of a planned fleet privatization in Lithuania. JSC Klaipeda Transport Fleet (KTF) is one of the largest Lithuanian shipping companies, whose principal activities are transportation of refrigerated cargo by sea and lease of sea transport vessels. The authorized capital of the company as of December 31, 2001 amounted to about $38.3 million. KTF owns and operates 16 small- and medium-sized cargo reefers. The main cargo handled by the company includes frozen fish, meat, chicken, butter, fruits and vegetables. The capacity of KTF's vessels is from 85,000 to 470,000 cu. ft., the average capacity - 189,000 cu. ft. The total capacity of the fleet is 85,664 cu. m. According to this class of vessels, the company's fleet is the fourth largest fleet in the world.
