Martek Marine News

Martek Marine has announced the addition of the Marine Anti Drone System (MADS), the world’s first marinized anti-drone detection system, to its impressive portfolio. MADS provides the latest technology to combat the increasing threat of unmanned aerial systems.Martek Marine is a leader in manufacturing and supplying marine equipment. Their extensive and wide-ranging portfolio includes gas and water ingress detection equipment, emissions monitoring systems and potable water test kits.MADS identifies drones within a range of five kilometers…

Commercial shipping is waking up to the growing threat that drones pose to the safety & security of vessels. Terrorist use of drones deploying explosives is already well documented and the potential for a drone to deliver an explosive charge through the deck of an oil/gas tanker or on a passenger ship with potentially catastrophic results is a stark reality. Vessels in port, at anchor or on coastal transits are potential ‘sitting ducks’ and currently powerless to know if/when they’re going to be attacked, let alone be in a position to defend against the threat. The International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code) code Part A para 1.3.3 mandates requirements…

Aerial drones have made major advances in endurance, range and payload capacity over recent years while prices have continually plummeted, leading to a proliferation of drones expected to reach 12 million by 2020.This trend, some believe, means aerial drones will pose an even greater threat to the safety and security of commercial shipping vessels.To help combat this emerging threat, U.K. based Martek Marine has developed a maritime drone detection and defeat system called D-FENCE.As terrorist use of drones deploying explosives is well documented…

Maritime industry technology specialists Martek Marine say it is setting the bar high when it comes to offshore gas safety. The company has developed a first-of-its-kind gas sampling system for a new moored floating production unit, which forms part of the Jangkrik Complex gas fields development in Indonesia. The system has been developed to dramatically improve offshore crew safety through the use of advanced gas sampling technology. The worst offshore disaster in history, the Piper disaster on July 6…

According to the latest statistics, over 25 percent of people will experience a mental health problem at some point in their lives and for those working offshore, this figure is significantly and potentially dangerously higher. What’s more, the problem’s growing. So, what’s causing the rise of mental health problems within our industry and why are seafarers more likely to suffer from these issues than those working on land? Most importantly, what can be done to solve the problem and establish a happier, healthier and safer workforce on the 51,000+ merchant ships that sail our seas?

Martek Marine (Martek) has appointed drone specialist Martin Appel as UAS Technical Manager, joining the rapidly expanding number of drone and aviation experts that make up the company’s UAS Division.   The appointment of Appel follows the assignment of highly-acclaimed aviation expert Paul Forster as Head of UAS Operations. Both Appel and Forster joining the team is pivotal to Martek’s strategy, which will help to cement them as leaders in Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and achieve the company’s mission to, ‘Change the world using drones.’

Martek Marine announced the official appointment of highly-acclaimed aviation expert Paul Forster as their Head of UAV Operations. Paul brings over 30 years’ unparalleled aviation experience to Martek, in both high-profile operational and leadership roles. The drone industry is booming and Martek are the driving force behind the most disruptive and talked about Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology that's taking the market by storm! The appointment of Paul fulfils a crucial element of Martek’s strategy, which will help to cement them as world leaders in Unmanned Aerial Services (UAS). Paul started his astonishing career as a flight instructor and professional pilot…

Martek Marine (Martek) has been awarded a two-year Remotely Piloted Aircraft Services (RPAS) contract from the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA). The services offered will fulfil part of the world’s largest ever maritime drone contract. Part of a five-year EMSA strategy of improving coastguard monitoring and surveillance of maritime activity valued at €67 million, the service provision from Martek not only includes the RPAS, commonly known as drones, but also the pilots, long-range antennae, mission control vehicles and ground crew.

Martek Marine, the global maritime technology innovator, is leading calls to make the shipping industry safer for seafarers to mark European Shipping Week, taking place in Brussels this week. To encourage shipping companies to invest in improved healthcare for crew members, the company has pledged to donate $100 to charity for every life saved through the use of its revolutionary telemedicine offering iVital. The world’s first telemedicine service available without a large upfront capital investment, iVital works by providing crews with a live connection to an onshore doctor, who can provide potentially lifesaving medical advice. The…

Global maritime technology innovator Martek Marine said it has been included on a framework contract by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) for remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) services in the maritime environment. EMSA was established for the purpose of ensuring a high, uniform and effective level of maritime safety and prevention of pollution by ships. Due to the recent entering into force of the new limits for sulphur content of marine fuels since January 1, 2015…

Martek Marine and its brand Fastcalgas have announced the opening of a new distribution warehouse in Brazil. The hub based in Sao Paolo, Brazil is the eighth warehouse opened by Martek to better service their growing customer base with delivery to Brazilian ports and to the wider South American network of ports.    Fastcalgas is a calibration gas supply service designed specifically to remove the inefficiencies in the buying process, saving both time and money.  Martek said it has the largest global stocks of calibration gas in the world with warehouses in Singapore, Shanghai, Suez, Rotterdam, Dubai, U.K., U.S. and now Brazil.        The new 121 offering enables ships to purchase in one order, two year’s supply of calibration gas with one delivery to each ship.

U.K.-based ECDIS manufacturer Martek Marine Ltd. has partnered with German ECDIS training supplier Safebridge GmbH and the ECDIS Training Consortium to deliver ‘Type Specific’ ECDIS training for crew members on-board vessels without internet access. The VTK (vessel training kit) for on-board computer based training without the need for internet connection will allow crew members to carry out their Type Specific Training without the pressure, cost or unreliability of internet connections whilst at sea. Steve Coulson, Business Development Director at Martek Marine commented, “Training is one of the most important elements of successful and due diligent ECDIS implementation.

The IMO have reacted quickly in response to the international emergency recently declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) over the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. In September the IMO issued an international circular ‘3484’ calling for a united response from the shipping industry to contain the virus. Specifically it calls for ship operators to define 'measures to reduce the risk of exposure' if they are likely to have ships trading to and from ports in Ebola-affected States.

Martek Marine claims that its recently launched iECDIS offers the most comprehensive chart overlay options on the market. The company explains that chart overlays are an excellent decision support tool that provide a more holistic representation of available data. They allow navigators to easily superimpose additional layers of information over a chart displayed on the ECDIS screen. These overlays include weather data, tide forecasts and ice charts and allow the navigator to quickly…

Innovative maritime electronics manufacturer, Martek Marine, releases its one-of-a-kind ECDIS offering to the market today. Named the iECDIS, Martek’s is the first model to integrate a GSM modem, offering automatic download and installation of charts, updates and notices to mariners, reducing the administrative burden associated with CD updates. The GSM modem uses a mobile network signal to keep iECDIS up to date anywhere with mobile signal, even downloading the most recent piracy warnings and weather forecasts which can be instantly overlaid on the chart display itself.

Martek Marine, manufacturer of the drinking water testing kit, Drinksafe, is advising owners to ensure that they are aware of the requirements of port state control and flag state water testing requirements in response to the Maritime Labor Convention 2006. The introduction of MLC 2006 heralded a significant step forward for the quality of drinking water for ship’s crew defining that “frequent documented inspections” be performed which is why Martek developed Drinksafe to have more tests than any other kit on the market. Martek’s Sales Director, Steve Coulson, explains that “Drinksafe contains 1,800 tests, more than any other on the market providing a comparative cost per test that is approximately 50% lower than the closest comparative test kit.

The recent announcement that the grounding of MV Danio on the Farne Islands off the Northumberland coast on March 16 was due to the ship’s Bridge Navigation Watch Alarm System (BNWAS) being switched off has been highlighted by Martek as yet another example of the need for password protection on BNWAS. Martek pointed out that the IMO’s BNWAS performance standards set out in MSC.128(75) state that “the means of selecting the Operational Mode and the duration of the Dormant Period…

Martek Marine has delivered what it describes as the most sophisticated emissions monitoring system ever built for marine use to Daewoo for the world’s largest Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU). The 173,400m3 vessel, which can also function as an LNG carrier, is due for delivery in May 2014 when it will be deployed in Brazil. The suppliers say that the system is so unique that no other company was even willing to quote for the project, but that their expertise in emissions monitoring allowed them to build and deliver the complex system. The equipment monitors (Nitrogen Oxide) NOx, Sulphur Oxide (SOx), Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Carbon (CO) and Methane (CH4); Total Hydrocarbons; Non Methane Hydrocarbons; Benzene; Nitrous Oxide (N2O) and particulates.

Martek Marine, manufacturer of the drinking water testing kit, Drinksafe, is advising owners to ensure that they are aware of the requirements of port state control and flag state water testing requirements in response to the Maritime Labor Convention 2006. The introduction of MLC 2006 heralded a significant step forward for the quality of drinking water for ship’s crew defining that “frequent documented inspections” be performed which is why Martek developed Drinksafe to have more tests than any other kit on the market. Martek’s Sales Director, Steve Coulson, explains that “Drinksafe contains 1,800 tests, more than any other on the market providing a comparative cost per test that is approximately 50% lower than the closest comparative test kit.

Martek Marine has supplied 125 Navgard Bridge Navigational Watch Alarm Systems (BNWAS) to Tidewater’s fleet on the coast of Africa, in a significant six figure contract. Martek’s Navgard was reportedly chosen because it is particularly easy to install and fully complies with the fleet’s classification society’s requirements. Martek said that its Navgard is the only system available which has type-approval from all major classification societies, an important factor for fleets using a number of different classification societies because…

Specialist marine electronics manufacturer Martek Marine is cautioning shipowners not to underestimate the amount of time required to safely and effectively implement ECDIS on board, particularly for larger fleets. Selecting the most appropriate ECDIS and ENC provider for a vessel or fleet, installing it in good time and training crew to become confident and competent navigating with it can take over twelve months. The ECDIS market is complicated and selecting a manufacturer and chart provider without fully assessing the vessel’s needs can also cause significant issues further down the line. With just two years remaining until tankers over 3…

Martek Marine reported a significant increase in marine defibrillator sales in 2013, up 475% on 2012, with over four months of the year remaining. These sales include an order of more than 100 AEDs to Swire’s entire China Navigation fleet, as Swire beat the new Maritime Labour Convention’s (MLC) August deadline to have a marine defibrillator on every vessel, with crew trained in its use. Other customers include Bernhard Schulte Management, Chemikalien Seatransport and Topaz Energy & Marine.

ETC announce that it has now partnered with SAM Electronics to provide ECDIS training for the CHARTPILOT and ECDISPILOT, complementing SAM’s successful cooperation with Safebridge for online training, and thereby expanding SAM’s ECDIS training capabilities. ETC, the ECDIS Training Consortium, is a joint venture of training partners working under the patronage and control of MSG MarineServe GmbH, a  sister company of  Safebridge, to deliver courses that implement the identical ECDIS training program, adhere to consistent quality standards and are audited externally on a regular basis. ETC will use its established worldwide network to provide conventional, face-to-face, ECDIS training to meet local needs and improve the service to its global customer base.