Navigation Network News

Kimberly Lutz and America’s Watershed Initiative (AWI) are making every effort to sustain the Mississippi River for generations to come.The Mississippi River is one of the world’s largest river systems and is arguably America’s most critical waterway. Flowing over 2,350 miles, spanning, at points, up to eleven miles, and discharging approximately 593,003 cubic feet of water per second into the Gulf of Mexico, the Mighty Mississippi is awe inspiring in terms of its natural characteristics as well as its commercial impact on both the American and global economies.

The global pandemic news has been horrific and certainly an historic moment in domestic and worldwide shipping. For many businesses, the action was simple; hang the “closed” sign, furlough or layoff staff and wait for the approval to re-open. Or not, depending how long the virus will linger and continue to cause hundreds or thousands of deaths and rising numbers of cases. Make no mistake, there will be many businesses associated with our industry that will not return. The damages will be far beyond bars and restaurant businesses.

Towage operator KOTUG said it has acquired a fifth infield support vessels (ISVs) in Australia and East Timor, furthering its investment in offshore support. The new vessel, Coral Knight, will be bare boat chartered exclusively to Australian Maritime Systems Limited (AMS) to provide emergency towage services and maintain aids to the navigation network at the Great Barrier Reef for AMSA (Australian Maritime Safety Authority). KOTUG said it acquired the Coral Knight with a view to further expand its offshore support services in the Australian region.

In February 2016, Fiji suffered the devastating effects of Tropical Cyclone Winston. The cyclone caused significant damage to the infrastructure of Fiji, including to a number of maritime aids to navigation and lighthouse sites. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has worked closely with the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF) to install new navigation buoys and assess the damage to lighthouses in Fiji’s network. Two new low-maintenance polyethylene buoys with self-contained LED lights were installed a fortnight ago, in the waters of Levuka Passage. A third buoy will be installed, following a detailed bathymetric survey by the Fiji Hydrographic Service to identify a suitable location.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has awarded two substantial new contracts to Brisbane-based company Australian Maritime Systems Limited to provide emergency towage services in Far North Queensland as well as to maintain its aids to navigation network. AMSA Chief Executive Officer Graham Peachey said the Level 1 emergency capability operates out of Cairns and provides a dedicated 24/7 vessel and crew to provide emergency towage and first strike emergency response on behalf of AMSA.

While the Integrated Bridge increasingly plays a bigger role in various shipbuilding programs, in many cases the degree of integration can be limited and does not allows a fully functional integration of different navigation systems or further ship systems on the bridge. In tandem there has been an increasing demand for higher level integrated bridge systems, which was reasonably driven by more sophisticated and safety-sensitive vessels such as cruise ships, specialized vessels and few oil tankers.

The third meeting of the Navigation Safety Advisory Group (NSAG) recently met to consider safety of navigation concerns in Australian waters. (NSAG is the peak consultative body for matters relating to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority's (AMSA) responsibilities for the safety of navigation in Australian waters). The meeting attracted 24 navigation practitioners and representatives from the Australian Hydrographic Service, port and state marine authorities, industry peak bodies, shipping companies and marine pilots.

Raytheon Anschuetz Singapore Pte Ltd. has been awarded a contract about the supply of an Integrated Bridge and Navigation System to a new Platform Supply Ship (PSV) built at Nam Cheong Dockyard of Malaysia. The delivery will take place Q3 2012. The 79 meters long, DNV classed vessel will be equipped with a Raytheon Anschütz Integrated Bridge System, projected and supplied by Raytheon Anschuetz Singapore. Jan Lötzsch, Managing Director of Raytheon Anschuetz Singapore, says: “At Raytheon Anschuetz Singapore we have built up excellence in tailoring solutions to the particular needs of Asian shipbuilding, from standard navigation systems to advanced configurations.

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has been selected to supply the bridge navigation systems for two new superyachts under construction by Italian yachtbuilder Perini Navi at its shipyards in Viareggio and La Spezia. The orders for the integrated bridge systems were awarded to Northrop Grumman’s Sperry Marine business unit through Telemar Yachting, Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine’s authorized sales and service representative for the yacht market in Italy. Telemar Yachting is responsible for designing, installing, integrating and commissioning the bridge electronics for the two yachts. The yachts are the 183.7-ft aluminum ketch SY Melek…