Meteorological Equipment News

Satellite images show China may be installing a high-frequency radar system in the Spratly Islands that could significantly boost its ability control the disputed South China Sea, a U.S. think tank reported on Monday. The Asian Maritime Transparency Initiative at Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies said the images showed that construction of facilities at Cuarteron Reef appeared nearly complete and that the artificial island now covered an area of about 52 acres (21 hectares).

Satellite images show China may be installing a high-frequency radar system in the Spratly Islands that could significantly boost its ability control the disputed South China Sea, a U.S. think tank reported on Monday. The Asian Maritime Transparency Initiative at Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies said the images showed that construction of facilities at Cuarteron Reef appeared nearly complete and that the artificial island now covered an area of about 52 acres (21 hectares). China claims most of the South China Sea, through which more than $5 trillion in global trade passes every year. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines and Taiwan have rival claims.

BMT ARGOSS (BMT), a subsidiary of BMT Group Ltd, has secured a long-term contract to provide an oil major with weather forecasting services for all its North Caspian Sea operations, both offshore and onshore. The scope of BMT’s work includes provision of all forecasting services including Metocean and aviation as well as all operational support, including maintenance of meteorological equipment on all of the installations. BMT’s working relationship with this oil major extends back to 2009, providing elements of the forecasting services package.

Raytheon Anschütz has been awarded the contract for the complete Integrated Navigation System for the third Mission Supply Vessel (MSV) Class 702 for the German Navy. The third Mission Supply Vessel (2nd Batch) will be built by the consortium ARGE, who have appointed Raytheon Anschütz as the subcontractor for the navigation systems. The K130 Corvette Project allowed Raytheon Anschütz to install an integrated bridge of the newest generation on board a German Navy vessel for the first time.

The high-speed vessel (HSV 2) Swift is moored pier-side at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek before departing for the western coast of Africa. While in Africa, Swift will take part in the Global Fleet Station (GFS), Africa Partnership Station (APS) Initiative, for the purpose of strengthening cooperative partnerships with regional maritime security. U.S. Africa Partnership Station (APS) pulled into Lome, aboard High Speed Vessel (HSV) 2 Swift Jan. 28, as the first U.S. Navy ship to visit Togo in 15 years.