Software Upgrade News

Thousands of containers have been lost by ships in heavy weather conditions over recent months, impacting the ocean environment and adding a large extra cost expense for shipping companies.Among many factors leading to the problem is heavy rolling and pitching of the ship that causes containers to lose their stability and fall overboard. Marine electronics company JRC said its navigational radar JMR-7200/9200 includes a Wave Analysis function made available through a software upgrade.The JRC Radar Wave Analysis function is developed to measure wave height, direction and length.

Remote monitoring and reporting platforms provider Reygar says it is working with offshore renewables services company CWind to develop a new communication safety feature within its BareFLEET fleet monitoring system.In an effort to simplify communications between the bridge and shore team while the vessel is in transit, the companies have partnered to test and deploy an upgrade to BareFLEET that alerts the master to record their presence on the bridge at regular intervals. BridgeWatch…

Cobham SATCOM has announced the launch of its latest software upgrade for SAILOR 4300 L-Band, the first terminal in Cobham’s portfolio of Iridium Certus Connected range solutions. The unveiling of software solution 1.05 follows the delivery of more than 2,000 SAILOR 4300 terminals within the first year of service and enables users to upgrade to the new Iridium Certus 700, which offers data speeds of up to 704 kbps. Launched in 2018, SAILOR 4300 L-Band is a highly reliable link to the low-latency…

The maritime industry is becoming more connected – at sea, on land and in between. This trend has given rise to a cyber-enabled fleet that continues to adopt greater levels of automation and operational complexity. For the end user, the benefits of modern shipping are multiple. For the ship owner or operator, however, every incremental advance of technology creates new entry points for risk. In this hyper-connected era, defending against the introduction of new risks as technology changes demands a recommitment to systems engineering and…

Saga Shipholding has completed the installation of Optimarin Ballast Systems (OBS) throughout its entire fleet of 32 advanced open hatch cargo vessels. In doing so, Saga has become the world’s first shipowner to fit ballast water treatment (BWT) systems that are USCG compliant throughout a fleet of this magnitude. Saga originally chose BWT specialist Optimarin as its supplier of choice in 2011, installing its first system, on-board Saga Future in 2012. Since that point it has rolled the UV-based and environmentally friendly treatment units out across its fleet…

As part of the ongoing Blue Star Delos Renewable Energy Innovation Project, Eco Marine Power (EMP) stated that the Aquarius Management & Automation System (MAS) installed on Blue Star Delos has been updated with new fuel oil consumption (FOC) and emissions monitoring software. This updated software combined with the Aquarius MAS hardware allows for fuel consumption data from all flow meters on the ship to be displayed and logged in real-time. In addition CO2, NOx and SOx emissions are calculated based on the fuel type being used. Data is logged every minute and via a connection to a dedicated GPS unit, the ships location and speed is displayed and logged. A trip-meter is also available so that fuel consumption can be monitored for a specific time period or voyage.

B&G, the world’s leading sailing navigation and instrument specialist has upgraded its latest software for the full range of Zeus2 and Vulcan chartplotters. The new software upgrade enhances B&G chartplotters, allowing users to wirelessly download high-resolution weather information using PredictWind* GRIB files to store meteorological forecasts. This new functionality helps in trip planning or developing strategy for top-level competition. PredictWind is recognized as the leading global supplier of weather data for inshore and offshore sailing, with forecasts ranging from low-bandwidth offshore route planning to specialized, highly detailed local area forecasts of 1km resolution.

Vesper Marine, a manufacturer of marine safety products, announced a free upgrade for its flagship AIS Class B transponder, the WatchMate Vision, streamlining usability, while adding new safety features and enhancements to the user experience. Preinstalled on all new units, the update is also available at no charge for existing owners. “When we first launched the WatchMate Vision, we raised the bar for boater safety,” said Jeff Robbins, CEO, Vesper Marine. “Today it is the premier AIS safety instrument on the planet.

The U.S. Navy has ordered 56 AN/USC-61(C) Digital Modular Radios (DMRs) and related equipment from General Dynamics. The newly built DMR radios will be capable of using the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) waveform, the digital dial tone needed to make voice calls to the U.S. Department of Defense's next generation, narrowband MUOS satellite communications system. The four-channel radios form the foundation of the Navy's network communications aboard submarines, surface ships and on-shore locations. This order, valued at over $29 million, exercises option five on a contract awarded to General Dynamics in 2010. "DMR is an extremely versatile radio and we continue to update its capabilities to ensure that Navy communications networks have the most advanced and secure technologies…

AVEVA announced new productivity enhancements in the latest release of AVEVA Electrical and AVEVA Instrumentation, feature-rich software applications for electrical and instrumentation engineering and design in plant and marine projects. New functionality also includes offering best-in-class cable routing capabilities based on AVEVA Everything3D (AVEVA E3D) as well as delivering greater flexibility to the way in which distributed engineering teams can configure and control projects.

Ahrenkiel Steamship has chosen to implement DNV GL’s ShipManager software on its entire fleet of 60 vessels. The implementation of ShipManager on the entire fleet of 60 vessels, including containerships and bulk carriers, is scheduled to start this year. The implementation will be carried out by a project team consisting of experts from both DNV GL and Ahrenkiel Steamship. The shipping group Ahrenkiel Steamship was formed this year after the merger of the Christian F. Ahrenkiel Group with a joint venture established by the MPC Group…

Lowrance, a world-leading brand in fishing electronics since 1957— announced today its all-new Outboard Pilot for use with the Lowrance High Definition System (HDS) series. This easy-to-use autopilot system allows fingertip steering of the outboard engine— giving anglers an “extra hand,” so they can focus more on their fishing activity. Featuring integrated control froman HDS Gen2 orHDS Gen2 Touch, the Outboard Pilotcan be installed withhydraulic— or cable-steered outboard systems – all with commands coming directly from the HDS display. Designed for single outboard set-ups on boats 30 feet or less in length, the Lowrance Outboard Pilot can steer to a selected heading…

A powerful new software upgrade is available for the Simrad AP70 and AP80 Autopilots. The upgrade is currently available as a free download and installed on all new systems sold. Continuing to build upon a legacy of state-of-the-art, high-performance autopilots, the Simrad AP80 and AP70 with RTM 2.0 software offer the most feature-packed and reliable solutions on the market. Adding the professional grade functionality that captains need, RTM 2.0 includes upgrades to system operation and greatly expands the overall feature set of both the AP70 and AP80. The RTM updates feature Quick Command and Quick Dodge enhanced manual steering. The…

Applied Weather Technology, Inc. (AWT), a StormGeo company, today announced a partnership with KVH Industries, Inc. to deliver AWT’s BVS high-resolution weather data via the KVH IP-MobileCast WEATHERlink service. AWT’s BVS 7 weather forecasts and ocean data will be delivered to vessels at sea via KVH IP-MobileCast, a service utilizing multicasting technology for a low fixed monthly fee. The data will be updated up to four times per day to help ships optimize voyage planning and safety. The BVS 7 voyage optimization system provides on-board and around-the-clock weather-routing information. KVH’s IP-MobileCast content delivery service will provide captains access to BVS 7’s global…

KVH says it plans to offer affordable delivery of AWT’s global weather data to subscribing vessels over the mini-VSAT Broadband network. KVH Industries explains that it has become the WEATHERlink launch partner for KVH’s IP-MobileCast content delivery service. KVH will use IP-MobileCast multicasting technology, to deliver AWT’s high-resolution weather and ocean data to ships at sea for a low fixed monthly fee. AWT is a marine industry leader in weather forecasting and ship routing. The AWT data, which includes forecasts with wind, wave, visibility, and currents with tidal stream data, will be updated up to four times per day to help ships optimize voyage planning and safety.

The IP-MobileCast content delivery service developed by KVH Industries, Inc., for its mini-VSAT Broadband satellite network is now live, constituting a maritime industry first that will enable seafarers in the middle of the ocean to have affordable access to daily digital newspapers, television news, sports updates, music, new-release blockbuster movies and TV programs via a multicasting service. KVH  recently completed successful beta testing of IP-MobileCast, and is making the…

OSI Maritime Systems (OSI) announced the signing of a contract to integrate its flagship software, ECPINS-W Sub, into the U.K. Royal Navy’s T45 Destroyer Integrated Bridge System (IBS). Under the terms of this contract, OSI will provide software engineering activity to fully integrate ECPINS into the existing IBS system architecture. OSI supplies the Royal Navy with its advanced NATO WECDIS STANAG 4564 certified ECPINS-W Sub software across all operational ships, submarines, shore headquarters, and training establishments.

InstAlertTM, the new safety enhancing software upgrade for Raymarine’s TH Series handheld thermal cameras, automatically highlights in red the ‘hottest’ objects visible. Using the new InstAlert mode means that a person in the water now stands out in bright red against a black and white background; a quick and easy spot in an emergency situation. Available as software upgrade file 03.13.00.dfu, the new InstAlertTM detection palette can be added to the feature profile of both new and existing TH Series products and offers four pre-set levels to optimize the image contrast for maximum target definition. Making pictures from heat, not light, the rugged and affordable TH series cameras show objects, even ice, through the thermal energy they emit.

U.K. based Marine Software Ltd has delivered a Marine Planned Maintenance (MPM) upgrade to 2 Tallink-Silja vessels. The upgrade has been supplied to Tallink-Silja, for installation on-board their Swedish flagged vessels "Silja Symphony" and "Galaxy". Project "Systemtillsyn" is a way for the Swedish transport agency to devolve a large portion of their survey responsibility to the crews on Swedish flagged vessels. The Swedish Transport Agency has a survey guide book (THB) which…

Globe Wireless is a leading player in providing communications, operational and IT solutions to the maritime industry. Earlier this summer at Posidonia 2012 in Athens the company announced that it would launches its latest software release, R6 for Globe iFusion in  July 2012; a free upgrade to all existing users. While software enhancements and upgrades are commonplace across the IT community, this one is significant for a number of reasons, according to Mark Witsaman, CTO, Globe Wireless. “This particular one (software upgrade) is a pretty big leap,” said Witsaman.

FarSounder Launches Next Generation FarSounder-500 and FarSounder-1000. FarSounder announced the introduction today of their new generation Navigation Sonars. This official launch has been planned to showcase the technology at the 2012 Monaco Yacht Show which opens this Wednesday in Port Hercules, Principality of Monaco. The newly launched 3D forward looking obstacle avoidance sonars are the FarSounder-500 and FarSounder-1000. These systems feature longer detection ranges, in-water target tracking for improved image stability and chart overlay of sonar targets. The FarSounder-500 is capable of detecting targets out to 500 meters whereas the FarSounder-1000 is capable of detecting targets out to 1000 meters. Development of these new products has been in process over the last several years.

The new models will have longer detection ranges, in-water tracking for improved image stability, and chart overlay of sonar targets. Over the past few years, the FarSounder team has been developing the next generation of its navigation sonars. These improvements include both a complete redesign of the Transducer Module electronics and cutting edge sonar signal processing. FarSounder adds that since January 2012, all of the Transducer Modules shipped have had the newest…

Alfa Laval introduced the EPC 60 Retrofit, a new upgrade kit intended to enhance older control systems of previous generations of Alfa Laval centrifugal separators with the modern EPC 60 control unit. The retrofit kit provides a viable alternative for owners of 30-year-old Alfa Laval centrifuges to modernize the entire separation system with a marine-approved PLC system with modular I/O cards. Upgrading an aging control system delivers significant financial gains in the form of improved system reliability, a secure spare parts supply and more uptime.