Human Engineering News

Images of remotely piloted aircraft soaring over a naval fleet might seem like an ultramodern picture. But unmanned aircraft are nothing new to the Fleet Air Arm, which has provided remotely piloted targets for gunnery practice since 1953. This started with the jet-powered Jindivik pilotless aircraft being used as a target, then for target towing before retirement in 1998. Sea Sparrow missiles were tested by firing at Kalkara aircraft, the Jindivik’s successor. Navy now has a different generation of remotely piloted aircraft in mind with fixed and rotary-wing maritime tactical unmanned air systems undergoing evaluation. The first of these is the ScanEagle…

China's Hong Kong Nicaragua Development (HKND) Co. said it is delaying the start of construction on a controversial $50 billion inter-ocean canal across Nicaragua until late 2016. HKND has obtained approval for environmental studies of the canal earlier this month. But on Wednesday, a company statement said that the construction will start toward the end of 2016. While the Hong Kong-based developer did not give a reason for the delay, it said in a statement that “the current design was being fine tuned,” and construction locks and excavations would start toward the end of 2016. The 172-mile canal project, dubbed the largest ever human engineering endeavor, was being funded by Wang Jing, the CEO of HKND Group.

Lloyd's Register (LR) unveils a refreshed brand identity, with the introduction of a new logo that celebrates the culture of innovation built over the company’s 253-year history. LR explains that the organisation has undergone significant change and growth over recent years, having grown to a £1-billion-turnover service provider with over 9,000 employees worldwide and undertaken the acquisitions of ODS, Human Engineering, ModuSpec, Scandpower and West Engineering. The group has also restructured to create the Lloyd’s Register Foundation as the organisation’s parent entity…

I read with great dismay, the article that appeared in your magazine’s February 2013 issue, entitled “THE ARTICULATED TUG BARGE (ATB) QUANDRY”. noun, plural quandaries : a state of perplexity or uncertainty, especially as to what to do; dilemma. There is no dilemma involving AT/B’s present in the coastwise or ocean transportation marketplace. AT/B’s are indeed increasingly supplanting ships in the Jones Act coastal trade. It is a trend that is slowly beginning to spread to coastwise transport in other regions of the world as well.

Lloyd’s Register EMEA has been awarded the global contract to provide Maersk FPSOs with a comprehensive suite of technical services to assure the reliable operation of its fleet of floating oil and gas production units which serves some of the world's biggest offshore fields. The multi-year agreement will require the combined expertise of the energy and marine teams at Lloyd's Register to deliver a suite of technical services -- including integrity and inspection management, classification, verification and engineering support -- to help ensure safe and sustainable operations. There is an option to extend beyond the original contract period.

Lloyd’s Register seeks to enhance its human factors technical services business with the acquisition of Human Engineering Limited, a supplier of ergonomics and human factors technical services worldwide.  The signing took place on July 23, 2008 in London, between Lloyd’s Register Transportation Commercial Director, Rod Evans, and Human Engineering’s Managing Director, James Amende. Human Engineering is an independent company that has been providing human factors, risk management and design services since 1995.  The move adds 60 employees over four offices worldwide to the Lloyd’s Register's Group.

OSI Geospatial Inc. signed a teaming agreement with the Marine Systems division of L-3 Communications Corporation to pursue opportunities in the worldwide naval market. Under the terms of the agreement, the companies will jointly market and sell products including integrated bridge systems, navigation systems, homeland security systems, geospatial applications, command and control systems, and related training and human engineering applications.

The National Transportation Safety Board have determined that the failure of a Coast Guard coxswain to operate a patrol boat at a safe speed in a restricted area caused the collision between the patrol boat and the small passenger vessel Bayside Blaster in Biscayne Bay, Florida. The Board also found that contributing to the accident was the lack of adequate Coast Guard oversight of nonstandard boat operations. On January 12, 2002, the 24-foot Coast Guard patrol boat CG242513, with two crewmembers on board, was on a routine recreational boating safety and manatee-zone patrol in Biscayne Bay, Florida, when it collided with the small passenger vessel Bayside Blaster, carrying 2 crewmembers and 53 passengers. Both Coast Guard crewmembers were ejected from their boat.