Command Systems News

When China sailed one of its two active aircraft carriers, the Shandong, east of Taiwan last month as part of military drills surrounding the island, it was showcasing a capability that it has yet to master and could take years to perfect.As Beijing modernizes its military, its formidable missile forces and other naval vessels, such as cutting-edge cruisers, are posing a concern for the U.S. and its allies. But it could be more than a decade before China can mount a credible carrier threat far from its shores…

Rolls-Royce is expanding its range of mtu NautIQ ship automation systems with three new products offering different levels of intelligent crew support, autonomous control and remote command capabilities.The new products—mtu NautIQ CoPilot, mtu NautIQ CoOperate and mtu NautIQ CoDirect—are the next step in the cooperation between Rolls-Royce and autonomous control and remote-vessel command systems developer Sea Machines Robotics, which was first announced in September 2021.The most advanced intelligent pilot assist system of the new product range…

Rolls-Royce's Power Systems business unit, headquartered in Friedrichshafen, Germany, will deliver the automation solutions (in German FüSAS – Führungssystem Automation Schiffstechnik) for the four new F126 frigates for the German Navy.Damen Naval is building the four F126 class frigates together with its partners Blohm+Voss and Thales, after the partners were selected as successful bidders in 2020 following a European tender process spanning several years. The first ship is expected to be delivered to the German Navy in Hamburg in 2028.

Italian shipbuilding group Fincantieri said it has signed through one of its subsidiaries an agreement for the acquisition of a stake in Isselnord, an Italian company operating in defense-related sectors and in the main industrial branches in the civil sector, specialized in logistic support engineering, maintenance and information technologies. The agreement was signed through Fincantieri’s company Delfi, created in 2008 in joint venture with Isselnord, charged with the development of logistic support engineering and maintenance activities related to orders in the naval sector. The initial transaction is for a majority stake in the company, with full takeover to be completed within a predetermined time frame, Fincantieri said.

BAE Systems announced it has signed a contract with Bangkok Dock to assist in the licensed construction of a second 90-meter Offshore Patrol Vessel for the Royal Thai Navy. Under the agreement, BAE Systems will provide engineering support and advice during construction of the vessel in Thailand. Nigel Stewart, Commercial Director, BAE Systems’ Naval Ships business, said, “We’re looking forward to building and strengthening our relationship with Thailand’s shipbuilding industry.

Though maritime transportation is unequivocally proven as the safest and most environmentally benign means to move goods from ‘point A to point B,’ it is a given that accidents do happen. When they do, having a qualified, competent marine salvage company around can be the difference between minor incident and major tragedy. For insights on the maturation and future of marine salvage sector, MR reached out to the leadership of the American Salvage Association (ASA) for answers. What are the major missions, objectives and challenges ASA has on its top line agenda today.

A £46m contract to support and maintain a new combat system across the Royal Navy's submarine fleet awarded to BAE Systems. The Design Services Arrangement contract will ensure that the system, which is used to navigate vessels as well as gather intelligence and defend against attacks, is maintained and developed over the next decade. The Royal Navy operates three classes of submarine, totalling 10 vessels, which are used to safeguard the UK's interests around the world. Currently, different combat systems are used across the fleet.

The vessel, one of the UK's four Vanguard Class nuclear submarines, has been officially handed back to the Navy for operational use. Known as a Long Overhaul Period (Refuel), the work package was an enormous engineering task, with the submarine emerging as effectively a new boat inside. Around 2.2 million man-hours were involved in the overhaul under a £350m contract with Babcock Marine at Devonport Dockyard in Plymouth. The work that was carried out included the installation of improved strategic weapons equipment and the integration of the tactical weapons command systems.

FLAGSHIP, the pan-European maritime transport project part funded by the EU, has improved Integrated Bridge Systems with advanced functions for further integration of nautical information. Called FLAGSHIP-Bridge Support these functions provide the officer of the watch with improved navigation information. They integrate NAVTEX messages, radar and AIS targets into a single coherent display, speeding up hazard analysis, improving tracking accuracy and reducing the load on the Duty Officer.

Hamburg-based SAM Electronics, an L-3 company, has received orders to supply four NACOS 65-5 integrated navigation command systems for new cruise ships currently under construction in major European shipyards on behalf of Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises and Costa Cruises for delivery in 2011 and 2012. Ships to be equipped with the NACOS systems include Carnival Cruise Lines’ Carnival Magic being built at Fincantieri’s Monfalcone shipyard in Italy, and Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Silhouette under construction by Meyer Werft in Germany. The other two systems will be installed onboard Costa Cruises’ Costa Fascionosa and Costa Favolosa vessels, both of which are being completed by Fincantieri at its Breda shipyard.

Hamburg-based SAM Electronics, in association with its Chinese subsidiary, SAM Taihang Electronics, has been awarded a contract to supply and install NACOS 54-5 integrated navigation command systems featuring radar-controlled trackpilots, Ecdis and other sensors aboard ten 31,000-dwt multi-purpose heavy lift vessels under construction by Huanghai Shipbuilding of Rongcheng for delivery to Columbia Shipmanagement between 2009 and 2012. Under the contract for ships that will be operated by Austral Asia Line (AAL) on its South East Asia and Australasian routes, SAM Electronics will additionally supply compass systems as well as GMDSS and satellite communications equipment together with associated consoles.

Atlas Elektronik last month opened its new presentation, simulation and integration center dubbed “Atlas World.” The Managing Directors of Atlas, Dieter Rottsieper and Kai Horten, officially opened the new facility together with Ralf Nagel, Bremen’s Senator for Economic Affairs and Ports, and Captain Werner Lüders, Director of Naval Armaments and Logistics for the German Navy. The new center is designed to showcase and demonstrate the company’s products and systems from the world of naval technology.

The U.S. Coast Guard's 13th District is co- sponsoring the National Maritime Salvage Conference 2002, to be held on January 16 and 17, in Seattle, Washington. Joining the Coast Guard as event co-sponsors are: United States Navy Supervisor of Salvage and Diving, American Salvage Association, Foss Maritime, Foss Environmental, Crowley Marine Services, King County Bar Association, Titan Marine LLC, Water Quality Insurance Syndicate, Global Diving and Salvage, Canflex USA Inc., Marine Response Alliance LLC, the Law Office of Kevin Beauchamp Smith, and American Hull Insurance Syndicate. The national scope of this event will bring together maritime representatives…

The U.S. Coast Guard's 13th District is co-sponsoring the National Maritime Salvage Conference 2002, to be held on Jan. 16 and 17, in Seattle, Wash. Joining the Coast Guard as event co-sponsors are: United States Navy Supervisor of Salvage and Diving, American Salvage Association, Foss Maritime, Foss Environmental, Crowley Marine Services, King County Bar Association, Titan Marine LLC, Water Quality Insurance Syndicate, Global Diving and Salvage, Canflex USA Inc., Marine Response Alliance LLC, the Law Office of Kevin Beauchamp Smith, and American Hull Insurance Syndicate. The national scope of this event will bring together maritime representatives…

radars, Ecdis and other proprietary sensors. Worldwide sales of systems for installation aboard commercial and passenger vessels as well as retrofits now approach 750 configurations. The new commissionings include NACOS 45-4 units for six 30,000 gt product tankers being built by Trogir Brodogradiliste, Croatia for delivery to Laurin Maritime (America) Inc in 2002-4. Meanwhile, NACOS 55-4 systems are to be installed on a series of eight container newbuildings under construction at Daewoo¹s Okpo yard on behalf of Norddeutsche Reederei and Mediterranean Shipping Company for completion in 2003-4. Similar 55-4 systems have also been commissioned for two $350 m 42…

Cruise lines, perhaps more than any other segment of the shipping market, have eagerly adopted advanced integrated bridge systems to help protect not only passenger, crews and reputations, but also the more than half-billion dollar homes within which they reside. Furuno's Integrated Bridge System, dubbed Voyager has been designed to achieve total integration of bridge equipment and information in accordance with the One Man Bridge Operation (OMBO). All components come from a single source, Furuno. Complying with the latest performance standards of IMO and IEC, the ECDIS displays and ENC vector charts make for easy route planning and route monitoring.

Like other agencies, Washington State Ferries has had the elements of an emergency preparedness plan in place for several years. But the ferry system is in the process of improving the plan to make sure workers throughout the system are as well prepared as possible for natural emergencies. A big step forward has been taken with the completion of the new Emergency Management Plan (EMP) book, which details how the ferry system will react in an emergency and how it will coordinate with other agencies to provide assistance. The EMP becomes a chapter in the state Department of Transportation's overall plan for responding to emergencies. The EMP contains emergency-response procedures for ferry employees on the boats, at the terminals and in the central offices.

NSB’s worldwide fleet of 77 container vessels is to be retrofitted with STN Atlas Marine Electronics’s new Debeg 3400 Universal AIS system under a contract signed between the two companies at the recent SMM Exhibition in Hamburg. Installation of systems will commence at the beginning of next year. Approximately 80 percent of the vessels are already equipped with STN Atlas NACOS integrated navigation command systems. Newly developed by STN Atlas Marine Electronics and presently being type-approved by the German Bureau of Shipping and Hydrography (BSH), the fully autonomous Debeg 3400 transmits ship¹s own data such as position, course, speed and identification while receiving the same from other UAIS systems within VHF range.

SAM Electronics Nederland of Rotterdam, a subsidiary of Hamburg-based SAM Electronics, has been awarded a major contract for supply of NACOS 34-5 integrated navigation command systems and associated equipment for installation aboard four 17,300 dwt multipurpose carriers under construction at the Hudong Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai for delivery to Wagenborg Shipping in 2007; options to similarly equipment a further two scheduled vessels are pending. The systems, featuring integrated radar, track control and Ecdis functions, will be supplemented by provision of Debeg AIS, GPS, VDR and SSAS facilities as well as those for GMDSS communications.

Hamburg-based SAM Electronics has been commissioned to supply seven new cruise ships building in Italian and German yards with proprietary NACOS 65-5 integrated navigation command systems featuring radar-controlled track pilots, Ecdis and other sensors. Among vessels to be equipped with a bridge system will be Cunard’s 89,500-gt Queen Victoria, presently under construction at Fincantieri’s Venice yard for delivery next year; accommodating 1968 passengers, the luxury vessel will be the second largest cruiseship to be built for Cunard. Other Fincantieri-yard newbuildings due to be fitted with Series 65-5 configurations are Costa Crociere’s 112,000-gt Costa Serena, Princess Cruises’ 116,000-gt Emerald Princess and P&O Cruises’ 116,000-gt Ventura.