Radar Business News

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…

Navico Holding AS, parent company to the Simrad brand and Consilium AB, has acquired Consilium’s radar business. As part of the transaction, Navico takes over all operations of the radar business in Italy, including research and development, product management and manufacturing. “The professional marine market is a strategic priority for our growth ambitions,” said Leif Ottosson, president & CEO of Navico Holding AS. Navico and Consilium have also entered into a sales and distribution agreement.

Image ... Integrity ... impossible? In case you haven’t noticed, the marine industry has been engaged in a systematic metamorphosis of sorts, with a good deal of energy and resources dedicated lately towards the dubious achievement of crafting a “good public image.” From inland operators concerned with local communities to oceangoing ships adhering to international statutes, the forum and the jury range widely in size and makeup, but the judge — “public” opinion — is always the same, and the verdict of “good image” or “bad image” can go a long way in ultimately determining a company’s long-term success. Industry leaders traveling the well-worn conference circuit have increasingly addressed the need for the marine business to essentially clean-up its collective act.

Northrop Grumman Corporation's Sperry Marine business unit announced that its Decca BridgeMaster E marine radars have been type accepted by QinetiQ for display of Automatic Identification System (AIS) data in accordance with the technical provisions of the International Maritime Organization Circular SN/Circ. 217. "The BridgeMaster E is one of the first marine radars to be type accepted for display of AIS data," said John Robinson, who heads Sperry Marine's radar business group. "The ability to display AIS data on the radar screen significantly enhances situational awareness for the navigator by providing real-time information on target ships’ position movements and identity," said Robinson.