Software Upgrades News

Turkish specialized ship manager Chemfleet has confirmed it would equip three more ships with an in-service Berg Propulsion upgrade after verifying 10% fuel savings with chemical tanker trials.According to Chemfleet, an in-service Berg Propulsion upgrade to control systems onboard the tanker YM Miranda yielded fuel savings of around 10%.Trials following the installation of Berg MPC800M control system onboard the 12,933 dwt IMO II chemical tanker have persuaded Chemfleet to upgrade three additional 6…

Applied Satellite Technology (AST) Ltd announced it is now offering Intelsat’s FlexMaritime service, a reliable, secure, high-speed global connectivity solution. Designed specifically for global commercial maritime trade routes, the service also supports multiple antenna sizes and new service options to meet the growing global bandwidth needs of fishing, leisure and workboats.Intelsat FlexMaritime leverages Intelsat’s global fleet of multi-layered, high-throughput satellites (HTS)…

Royal Wagenborg renewed and extended Castor Marine’s Global Ku VSAT connection for multiple years.Since 1898 the Dutch family-owned shipping company has been crossing the oceans, evolving to a fleet operator with about 200 vessels. Besides the extension of 52 Global Ku VSAT contracts, Castor Marine will equip an additional 15 Wagenborg vessels, currently on 4G, with VSAT. For more than eight years the company has provided VSAT, Iridium, Inmarsat FBB, and IT services to the Wagenborg fleet.

At a time when the world has become more aware than ever before about the vital importance of the world’s ocean shipping fleet, which carried supplies, merchandise and much needed personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic, an increased risk from a different threat, cyberattacks, presents a set of new challenges. According to Israeli cybersecurity specialist Naval Dome, since February 2020, there has been a 400% increase in attempted hacks on the maritime realm…

Norwegian based ballast water treatment system (BWTS) manufacturer Optimarin announced an agreement with U.S.-based Lee Engineering Supply Company to warehouse critical spare parts and plans to expand its global service network.According to Optimarin CEO, Leiv Kallestad, the agreement represents a step in the company’s efforts to provide after-sale service to owners operating in the Gulf of Mexico. “By warehousing critical spare parts at Lee Engineering’s facilities in Louisiana, we can make sure our customers have rapid access to both spare parts and service, if required,” he says.

Since the founding in 2016, cyber defence company Naval Dome has won awards for its Endpoint cyber defense system and achieved the highest level of security certification from classification society DNV GL, helping to protect merchant ships, cruise ships and yachts from cyber-attack.In 2019, Naval Dome optimized Endpoint with a “Dashboard” App, providing maritime users with  a clear picture of the cyber status of all critical systems on board the ship, designed to allow users…

Totem Plus signed a license agreement with Naval Dome for use of its cyber security software across a range of its automation and navigation solutions. Under the agreement, Totem Plus is licensed to integrate the Naval Dome software with the hard drives across several hundred systems in the Totem Plus portfolio, providing the highest level of cyber protection at the system build stage, prior to shipment to end-users. The Totem Plus systems leave the factory fully cyber protected…

The SENER engineering and technology group has upgraded its FORAN System with important new enhancements following its Shipyard 4.0 Digitalization Strategy, which have been incorporated into the System in the latest FORAN Build, launched to the market in October 2017. The industry is demanding more technological capacity and integration, and this new FORAN release incorporates relevant improvements in the different design packages. The surface ship model, managed as a collection of NURBS patches, is now internally represented by a shell in accordance with the new geometrical kernel of FORAN.

Delgado’s Simulator Suite is comprised of three interactive Full Mission Bridge simulators. Simulators are used for Wheelhouse Proficiency Management classes to provide scenarios on navigating waterways on different types of vessels. Simulators can be programmed to run three vessels at the same time, so that students in all three wheel houses can communicate and interact with each other. Both conventional and Z-Drive controls can be used in the training. In the past 12 months…

Canadian ship owners and the St. Lawrence Seaway have spent an estimated $160 million on repair and infrastructure projects this winter, boosting the economic fortunes of communities throughout the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence and east coast, according to the Chamber of Marine Commerce. Canadian ship owners have invested an estimated $70 million to maintain and upgrade their vessels during the winter months — an annual exercise that keeps their vessels in tip-top shape to safely and efficiently deliver goods for North American businesses. The St.

DNV GL has awarded a type approval certificate with EU Wheelmark for Danelec Marine DM700 and DM800 G2 ECDIS models. The type approval signifies that the products meet all applicable technical requirements, including the new IEC 61174 Ed. 4, IHO-52 and IHO S-64 performance standards. “We are offering an easy pathway for shipowners to be in full compliance with the new ECDIS standards when they enter into force in August,” said Hans Ottosen, CEO of Danelec Marine. “All new Danelec Marine DM700 and DM800 G2 ECDIS models meet the new standard, and we are providing free upgrades for installed legacy DM800 ECDIS products. Ottosen noted that Danelec also provides free-of-charge update retraining for navigators already holding a type-specific certificate on previous versions of the Danelec ECDIS…

Tideworks Technology Inc., a full-service provider of comprehensive terminal management and planning software solutions, today announced that Crowley Maritime has gone live with Tideworks’ terminal operating system (TOS) under CitadelMC, the newly branded SaaS model by Tideworks, at its Port Everglades Terminal in Florida. This marks the first Crowley terminal to go live with Tideworks’ TOS in a series of scheduled deployments. Crowley’s terminals in Jacksonville, Florida and San Juan, Puerto Rico are expected to go live in the first half of 2017. “As the largest marine terminal operator at Port Everglades, it’s important that we operate as efficiently as possible so we can effectively handle the growing volumes of container traffic…

Danelec Marine has launched a program to provide free upgrades of shipboard Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS) to the latest technology meeting new ECDIS standards. The Danish marine electronics company is currently replacing the first-generation Danelec DM800 ECDIS products with new DM800 ECDIS G2 hardware and V2 software. The Danelec DM800 ECDIS G2 platform has been designed to enable the ship’s crew to upgrade to the V3 software, which will be fully compliant with the new IEC61174 Ed. 4, IHO 52 and IHO 64 standards. Danelec Marine also offers a free-of-charge update training for navigators already holding a type-specific certificate on previous versions of DM800 ECDIS.

Tideworks Technology, Inc., a provider of full-service terminal management and planning software solutions, announced that California’s Port of Stockton will deploy Tideworks Technology’s terminal operating system (TOS) to manage its container-on-barge operation and improve overall operational efficiency. Port of Stockton’s implementation of Tideworks’ TOS is part of the M-580 Marine Highway, a federally funded project aimed at moving ocean shipping containers by barge instead of truck between Oakland and the Central Valley in California.

The Australian Maritime College (AMC) has opted to extend its Long Term Simulator Support Program (LTSSP) with Kongsberg Maritime for a further five years. The LTSSP ensures that all Kongsberg Maritime simulators installed at AMC’s sites in Launceston and Perth are up-to-date and operating optimally. Additionally, the LTSSP provides AMC the opportunity to upgrade to the new K-Sim Navigation technology platform. AMC is one of the largest maritime training organizations in the Southern Hemisphere and is highly regarded for its work in Dynamic Positioning…

With the advent of ever faster, stronger maritime communication links and the influx of the next maritime generation, the first “internet native” generation, a proliferation of shipboard tools are under development that promise to change the very means in which floating assets are built and maintained. Imtech Marine is convinced that accelerated uptake of remote diagnostics and preventive maintenance for shipboard equipment will be built on performance gains that are straightforward and tangible.

New software from GE’s Power Conversion business that enables its Dynamic Positioning (DP) systems to save significant amounts of fuel and put less wear and tear on vessel propulsion equipment is on the shortlist to win an Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) Innovation Award this year. A DP system holds a vessel in position without the aid of anchors, using only propellers, rudders and thrusters. “Energy Efficient Dynamic Positioning For Ships” was developed from a comparison of concepts through to final production code using model-based design. The new mode was entered in the Model-Based Engineering category for the IET Innovation Awards, which attracted more than 400 entries. The awards will be announced in London on November 20.

Terminal management and planning software solutions provider Tideworks Technology says that Koniambo Nickel SAS (KNS) in Koné, New Caledonia, has selected Tideworks to implement its terminal operating system (TOS) solutions for its new container operations. Established near the New Caledonia North Province county town of Koné, KNS is developing a world-class industrial complex that will help New Caledonia become one of the world's largest nickel producers. It is working to exploit a nickel deposit that is ranked one of the most important and of the best quality worldwide. The KNS project, which will go live in Q4 2013, includes deployment of Tideworks’ Spinnaker Planning Management System® and its Traffic Control™ equipment dispatch system.

The new SAILOR 6390/91 Navtex System from Cobham SATCOM is now available to order. As a black box system, with separate touchscreen user-interface, the SAILOR 6390/91 Navtex System introduces a new approach that Cobham says enhances safety and efficiency, whilst being fully GMDSS compliant as a standalone device or part of a SAILOR 6000 GMDSS Series installation. SAILOR 6390/91 Navtex follows the recently released SAILOR 6280/81 AIS System, as the second product group in a new series of 100% network integrated SAILOR products.

Danelec Marine has launched a new computer-based training (CBT) program for its second-generation DM800 ECDIS G2 products. The convenient and user-friendly CBT courseware allows students to download the training curriculum to their own computers or laptops and perform the self-study portion offline, at home or at sea. At the end of each module, the student takes a self-administered test. The student can communicate with an ECDIS instructor at any stage of the self-study portion by email or interactive chat. Upon completion of the 32-module course, the student logs onto the internet for a multiple-choice exam, followed by a live-cam interview with a certified instructor. When the student achieves a passing grade, Danelec Marine issues a certificate of completion.

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.

Tideworks Technology, Inc., a premier provider of full-service terminal management and planning software solutions, today announced that the new Barranquilla Container Terminal (BCT), located at the Port of Barranquilla, Colombia, has successfully implemented and gone live with Tideworks’ terminal operating system (TOS) solutions. BCT has deployed Tideworks’ Mainsail Terminal Management System, Forecast by Tideworks and Spinnaker Planning Management System. Tideworks will continue to provide its platinum maintenance and support services including around-the-clock technical support and all software upgrades. Additionally BCT will receive ongoing remote technical services to include system health monitoring and database and OS administration.

General Dynamics’ four-channel Digital Modular Radios (DMR) are being upgraded with high-frequency dynamic routing (HFDR) software to turn the radio’s four channels into eight virtual channels. In addition to HFDR, the new high-frequency virtual channel exploitation software expands the DMR’s communications capacity to 16 virtual channels when operating in the high frequency (HF) line-of-sight and ultra-high frequency (UHF) satellite communications frequencies. With the two new software upgrades, the U.S. Navy has four-times more capacity for secure HF communications without adding additional hardware or changing the configuration in space-constrained shipboard radio rooms.