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Marine Electronics Industry News

18 Mar 2019

Navico Mourns Passing of Darrell Lowrance

Darrell J. Lowrance: 1938-2019 (Photo: Navico)

Navico, parent company to the Lowrance, Simrad, B&G and C-MAP brands, announced today the passing of Darrell J. Lowrance, founder of its Lowrance brand.Darrell served as President and CEO of Lowrance Electronics from 1964 to 2006, and was responsible for many breakthroughs in marine electronics. In addition to the first recreational sonar product for anglers – the Fish-Lo-K-Tor (also known as the “Little Green Box”) – he led the development of the first graph recorder, the first integrated sonar/GPS unit, and many others.

14 Dec 2017

BIMCO, CIRM Propose Software Maintenance Standard for Shipping

BIMCO and the international association for the marine electronics industry, CIRM (Comité International Radio-Maritime), have sent the industry’s first proposal for an industry-wide standard for software maintenance to the IMO for consideration. Without an industry-standard, BIMCO sees an increasing risk of severe incidents on ships, delays and costs to shipowners and cyber security problems. "We hope the entire industry will adopt these standards, to make ships safer, to prevent cyber security problems and to save money," says Angus Frew, Secretary General and CEO at BIMCO. "The industry has been living in a world of hardware. But software has been integrated into most physical equipment on the vessels…

02 Sep 2016

MN100: Beier Integrated Systems

Photo: Beier Integrated Systems

Beier’s integrated engineering department and installation team specializes in retrofit projects, providing custom-designed systems for clients, reducing vessel downtime, and achieving the highest level of performance on the open water. Beier Radio, LLC and its subsidiaries (Beier Integrated Systems, Sentinel & The Marine Training Institute), together with its combined 70 employees, are committed to total customer satisfaction by delivering quality products and services to the marine industry in a timely fashion.

12 Jul 2016

Navico Under New Ownership

Leif Ottosson (Photo: Navico)

Navico – a provider of marine electronics and parent company to the Lowrance, Simrad, B&G and GoFree brands – announced that Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking Division and Altor Fund IV have partnered and signed an agreement to acquire Navico from the Altor 2003 Fund. Navico is an innovative force within the recreational and commercial marine electronics market and has a rich history of investment in research and development. In the last two years, the company developed such technologies as the HALOTM Pulse Compression Radar technology…

16 Mar 2016

Digital Marine Acquires Jeppesen's Marine Division

Digital Marine Solutions announced today it has signed a purchase agreement to acquire the marine division of Jeppesen, subject to regulatory approval. Under the terms of the agreement, the former Jeppesen Marine will operate as a separate entity with its own dedicated resources and will trade under the C-MAP brand name. Jeppesen will remain as part of The Boeing Company. Digital Marine Solutions is owned by the Altor 2003 Fund, which is part of the Nordic based Altor family of private equity funds. This strategic acquisition leverages Altor’s experience in the Marine industry, where it also is the majority owner of the Navico house of marine brands.

04 Aug 2015

FURUNO of Japan Increases Investment in ENL

Photo courtesy of ENL

ENL Group and FURUNO Electric Co. Ltd of Japan have announced that FURUNO has increased its investment into the New Zealand company to a total of 29.5%. The new level of investment is an increase from the initial 10% announced in July 2014. ENL, founded in 1945, has an impressive and unbroken 70-year history in the marine electronics industry. The company has also represented FURUNO in the New Zealand market for over 50 years. ENL manufactures WASSP, their award winning multibeam sonar system…

06 Mar 2015

Rushton Gregory Inks Gemeco Marketing Deal

Rushton Gregory Communications announced today the latest addition to its industry-leading client roster, Gemeco Marine. Based in Lake City, South Carolina, Gemeco has over 30 years of experience serving the marine electronics industry as experts in the selection, placement and technical support for marine transducers as well as adept knowledge of NMEA networking and components. Gemeco also offers an array of marine accessories including underwater lighting, antennas, electrical and wiring accessories, hard-to-find and specialty marine connectors, a broad range of installation and diagnostic tools, and more. Under the terms of the partnership…

02 Mar 2015

Elcome Enters Sales, Service Deal with JRC

Image: JRC

Elcome International has signed a distribution agreement with Japan Radio Company (JRC) and its technology partner Alphatron Marine. Under the agreement, the Dubai-based company will take on responsibility for sales and service of JRC and Alphatron Marine products in the Middle East, India and Sri Lanka. Elcome will also carry out annual performance tests for JRC Voyage Data Recorders and Simplified Voyage Data Recorders. JRC is providing training for Elcome engineers at its Center of Excellence in Rotterdam, as well as at Elcome’s headquarters in Dubai.

14 Oct 2014

Furuno Makes Clean Sweep of NMEA Awards

Over the past 43 years, Furuno has received the honor of being the most recognized company in the marine electronics field by the National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA). This year, Furuno won four more NMEA awards at the prestigious 2014 NMEA Convention in Sanibel, FL, bringing Furuno’s NMEA Award all-time total to an amazing 212 wins. For the ninth consecutive year, Furuno received the highly coveted Manufacturer of the Year - Support award. Furuno continues to be the sole recipient of this award, since its introduction on the ballot in 2005. “Bringing fresh, new products to the market is certainly an important part of business,” stated Jim Atteridge, President of Furuno USA, “but offering excellent customer service is the cornerstone of Furuno’s success.

16 Jul 2014

FURUNO and Electronic Navigation Join Forces

Electronic Navigation Ltd (ENL), New Zealand’s largest marine electronics company and the developer of the WASSP sonar, and FURUNO Electric Co., Ltd of Japan, a manufacturer in the global marine electronics industry, are joining forces. In a joint announcement ENL and FURUNO have announced that FURUNO will take an initial 10% shareholding in ENL and its wholly owned subsidiary WASSP Ltd. This investment reflects not only ENL’s and FURUNO’s near 50-year relationship with ENL representing…

19 Jun 2014

Shipdex Course Held at Korean Maritime University

From left: Marco Vatteroni, SpecTec’s ILS Manager and Shipdex Manager, and Yung-Ho Yu, Professor at KMU and Technical Director of MEIPA.

The Korean Maritime University (KMU) and the Korean Marine Electronics Industry Promotion Association  (MEIPA) received a one day technical seminar about Shipdex and  the process of importing Shipdex data into SpecTec’s  Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS), AMOS. This seminar was held at  KMU in Busan on May 30 thanks  to Yung-Ho Yu, Professor at KMU and Technical Director of MEIPA; Marco Vatteroni,  SpecTec’s  ILS Manager and Shipdex Manager; and Ben Fan, SpecTec’s Sales Director in Asia.

10 Oct 2013

FURUNO Collects Three NMEA Awards

Furuno, a  manufacturer of marine electronics, won three more National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) awards at the prestigious 2013 NMEA Convention in San Diego, Calif. These three awards had Furuno once again leading the total number of awards captured by any one manufacturer this year, as well as bringing Furuno’s NMEA Award all-time total to an incredible 208, since NMEA started presenting awards in 1971. Furuno once again received the Manufacturer of the Year - Support award, making this the eighth year in a row. Furuno remains the sole recipient of this award, since its introduction on the ballot in 2005. “With 2013 marking Furuno USA’s 35th year in business…

05 Oct 2012

NMEA Names KVHI's TracPhone V3 'Best Communication Product'

The National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) recognizes KHVI for its TracPhone V3, the world's smallest maritime VSAT antenna. The KVH TracPhone V3 is designed to work with KVH's mini-VSAT Broadband satellite network which KVH built to provide customers with an  alternative to the Inmarsat service. Due to the mini-VSAT Broadband network's unique spread spectrum technology (similar to that used in the new high-powered 3G and 4G networks on land), KVH was able to develop the TracPhone V3, a system similar in size and cost to Inmarsat FleetBroadband equipment, but offering service up to ten times faster at broadband speeds of up to 2 Mbps, with airtime rates 1/10th the cost of Inmarsat.

04 Apr 2012

Lilaas Sets Service and Distribution Deals in Asia

Terje Akerholt (Photo: Lilaas).

Marine and offshore controls specialist Lilaas AS has reached its first direct service and distribution agreements in Asia, as part of its strategic plan to support increasing demand for its levers and joysticks. The company, which develops and manufactures all its products in the heart of Norway’s marine electronics industry, in Horten, has come to a service partnership and agency agreement with Z-Power Automation, Singapore, and a separate distribution deal with Shanghai EJH Group, Shanghai.

21 Oct 2011

LightSquared Outlines Plan to Avoid GPS Interference

Marine electronics industry still has major concerns. An official of LightSquared, the company that has been under fire for its plan to offer mobile satellite services that could seriously interfere with Global Positioning System (GPS) signals, told a gathering at the 2011 NMEA International Marine Electronics Conference & Expo that solutions were in the works to prevent disruptions from occurring. “Our integrated network will bring great benefits to wireless users nationwide, but at the same time we’re committed to ensuring this service doesn’t interfere with any GPS devices.

01 Jun 2011

Northrop Grumman Maintenance Contract, Peter Döhle Ships

Northrop Grumman Corporation’s (NYSE: NOC) Sperry Marine business unit has been awarded a one-year contract by Peter Döhle Schiffahrts-KG (PDS-KG) and HAMMONIA Reederei (a joint venture between PDS-KG, HCI Capital AG and GE Transportation Finance, Inc.) to provide worldwide service and maintenance for more than 135 ships. Under the contract, Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine will be responsible for all shipboard service, support and maintenance of the ships’ navigation and communication equipment, including repairs, spares management and required annual inspections and certifications.

11 Feb 2011

Harley Joins SI-Tex Sales, New England

 Photo courtesy Strike Zone Communications

SI-Tex announced that marine electronics industry veteran Chris Harley has joined its team of sales professionals, representing the company’s full line of sounders, autopilots, radar, chart plotters, AIS and more to Marine Electronics Dealers across the New England Region. Harley brings with him a wealth of related experience — both in the marine electronics industry and the unique aspects of the New England market. While Harley maintains his own highly successful marine rep firm (C.

17 Aug 2010

Si-Tex Expands its Americas HQ, Long Island Facility

Roughly one year after re-launching Si-Tex Marine Electronics, industry veterans Allen Schneider and Ted Bodtmann have announced the Long Island, N.Y.-based company is expanding its headquarters.  By taking over a facility adjacent to its original offices, Si-Tex will be able to consolidate its sales and technical service operations at one location. Schneider, Vice President/Sales for Si-Tex said Si-Tex has also continued to expand its line with new products, such as the new EC-Series multifunction navigation system, SP36 autopilot, SVS-650 6.5” sounder and CVS-1420 1kw 10.4” sounder.  More new products are in the works for Fall 2010 and 2011, said Schneider. www.si-tex.com

25 Jun 2010

NMEA Board of Directors Changes

Photo courtesy McNabb Marketing Resources, Inc.

The National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) has announced changes in the NMEA Board of Directors. David Gratton, a dealer director and a partner in Martek of Palm Beach, Fla., has been appointed to the position of Vice Chairman of the NMEA. He replaces Jim Vander Hey, who is leaving the position to pursue a business venture outside of the marine electronics industry. "Jim has been a very active member of the NMEA and has made a number of major contributions to the NMEA.

06 Jun 2002

NMEA Announces Annual Meeting Schedule

The National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) will hold its annual convention on Tuesday, October 22 through Sunday, October 27, 2002 at the beautiful Sanibel Harbour Resort and Spa in Ft. Myers, Fla. The convention will feature a variety of the marine electronics industry’s top speakers. The exposition will feature new product introductions from over 45 of the leading electronics manufacturers from the United States and around the world. Along with traditional annual meetings, Larry Anderson, chairman of the NMEA standards committee, will conduct a dealers-only training session on the NMEA 2000. Insurance guru Ian Greenway will hold an insurance workshop regarding longshore and harbor workers.

07 Jan 2002

Sperry Marine Name Revived

Corporate consolidations have, in the last 10 years, effectively consumed a number of "household" brand names as efforts were made to streamline the acquirer's letterhead. In a reversal, of sorts, Northrop Grumman Corporation gave a rebirth to a well-respected name in the marine business, saying that its marine systems business unit has been renamed Sperry Marine, effective immediately. Formerly Litton Marine, this commercial and defense-related marine electronics business was acquired by Northrop Grumman in its purchase of Litton Industries Inc., last year. Sperry Marine remains a business unit of the Baltimore, Md.-based Electronic Systems sector of Northrop Grumman.

11 Dec 2001

C-Map Wins NMEA Product Excellence Award

C-MAP won the National Marine Electronics Association Award for best vector charts for the third straight year. C-MAP was also honored by the NMEA in 1994 and 1995 for a total of five awards in eight years. Ken Cirillo, vice president and general manager for C-MAP U.S.A. accepted this year’s award at the 2001 NMEA convention, which was recently held in Sanibel, Fla. Winners in various product categories from around the world are selected by a cross section of the marine electronics industry, including dealers, manufacturer’s reps and certified marine electronics technicians. C-MAPNT vector-based charts provide electronic charting for a variety of applications, such as sailing, bluewater sport fishing, commercial fishing, even cruising inland lakes and waterways.

25 Mar 2010

NMEA Agreement with South Korea's MEIPA

The National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) and the Marine Electronics Industry Promotion Association (MEIPA) of South Korea have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will insure the adoption of NMEA standards, training and product certification throughout South Korea, the number one shipbuilding nation in the world. The MOU sets a framework for NMEA and MEIPA to work together to develop courses and materials for the South Korean market, including a suite of marine electronics installer education qualifications based on the current NMEA Installation Standard. This educational program will upgrade the competency of the installer in South Korea. NMEA has trained more than 1,000 technicians in the U.S. using this system.