Bridge Officers News

FORCE Technology has expanded its engineering design and testing services portfolio to provide remote access to high fidelity maritime navigation simulation for the purpose of testing planned port and harbor construction projects. The new SimFlex Cloud for engineering studies unlocks time and cost savings during the planning and design phase of maritime infrastructure projects as proposed developments can be evaluated in real-time and under highly realistic conditions without…

Witherbys publications will be made available on NAVTOR’s NavStation digital chart table software for the very first time after a new agreement.NavStation, which is designed to seamlessly gathers voyage data and information on a single platform, will now offer the Witherby Connect portfolio of highly respected publications covering everything from passage planning and operational training, through to fleet security and ballast water management. The extensive digital library can now be instantly accessed through NavStation’s e-Publication Reader module.

Swiss-based ABB said it has been awarded a contract from Guangzhou Shipyard International to supply electric, digital and connected solutions for two new vessels the Chinese shipyard is building for British operator P&O Ferries.The hybrid propulsion solution, using electric power from 8.8MWh batteries and diesel generators, will cut fuel consumption on P&O Ferries’ Dover-Calais route by 40%, ABB said. The batteries will provide full power for harbor maneuvering and stay in port…

Kongsberg Maritime reported that its K-CAT (KONGSBERG Competence Assessment Tool) is receiving positive reports from the global oil & gas fleet supplier Siem Offshore, consolidating a deal between the two companies worth in the region of $68,000 (700,000NOK).A digital tool which enables personnel assessments to be carried out online, K-CAT’s abilities range from pre-employment evaluation through to crew competence verification. It is available via all computers and smart devices with an internet connection, and can also be configured in offline mode.

The maritime software, services and data analysis provider NAPA has announced the signing of a new contract with the northernmost year-round ferry, Wasaline, for its newbuilding Aurora Botnia.When it launches in 2021 the Aurora Botnia will be the world’s first LNG/LBG battery ship with pods under the vehicle deck, as well as the world’s most environmentally friendly RoPax vessel.Under the agreement, NAPA will provide Wasaline with its industry benchmark software applications, NAPA Emergency Computer, which delivers unmatched integrated emergency decision support, and NAPA Loading Computer, which optimizes vessel load while minimizing stress and safety risk.NAPA Loading Computer and NAPA Emergency Computer have been approved by all major classification societies.Peter Ståhlberg…

NAVTOR and ScanReach signed an agreement that that is intended to supply shipowners with a connected, comprehensive and real-time view of vessel and fleet operations.The collaboration will connect an onboard wireless IoT platform to a secure channel for sharing data between ship and shore, with the goal to deliver a seamless stream of information running from onboard sensors to land-based facilities, and back, enabling optimal decision-making, 24/7.“Both ScanReach and NAVTOR share the vision of utilizing technology to enable smarter shipping…

Oceaneering International announced Monday that it has taken delivery of a newbuild subsea construction support vessel, Ocean Evolution, built by BAE Systems in the US.The US-flagged, Jones Act-compliant multi-service vessel (MSV) has completed sea trials and received all necessary ABS and U.S. Coast Guard certifications and is currently in Port Fourchon, La., completing final outfitting and preparing for project work scheduled to begin in June.Oceaneering said the vessel is designed…

The the international shipping associations representing shipowners Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO) adopted a Sea Traffic Management (STM) Clause-clause for standard contracts.STM Clause is the nine industry actors launched a new common governance initiative, the first shore centre outside a project joined the STM community. "We received positive response from many of the around 200 active test ships and most of the 500 bridge officers who manned the simulator bridges during the STM test scenarios.," said a press note."On top of this we have arranged a successful STM Validation Project Final conference at IMO, London with 350 participants and two new STM implementation projects are up and running…

Your marine pilot of the future, here today.At this year’s SMM trade event in Hamburg, Germany, industrial digital technology specialist ABB introduced what could be the future of dynamic positioning, not just for traditional DP users, but also for the full spectrum of navigation tasks. ABB Ability Marine Pilot Control is a next-generation dynamic positioning (DP) system that simplifies ship maneuvering with an intuitive touch screen-based user interface and enables safer, more efficient ship operations.With its user-centric design, ABB Ability Marine Pilot Control reduces the workload on automating navigational tasks and allows bridge officers to focus holistically on the overall control and positioning of the ship.

ABB said its new dynamic positioning (DP) system unveiled at the maritime trade fair SMM sets out to simplify ship maneuvering, enable safer, more efficient ship operations and even help to pave the way toward autonomous shipping.With its user-centric design and intuitive touchscreen-based user interface, ABB Ability Marine Pilot Control reduces the workload on automating navigational tasks and allows bridge officers to focus holistically on the overall control and positioning of the ship, ABB explained.

When it comes to training bridge officers, simulator training is the standard, with over 86 percent of companies using simulators for this purpose, according to the Maritime Training Insights Database (MarTID) 2018 Training Practices Report.The MarTID report found that a smaller proportion, around 60 percent total, use simulators for training engineering officers.Investment into simulation training will only increase in years to come. Of the companies that currently make use of simulation training…

Hatteland Display, a global provider of display and computer solutions for naval and professional maritime applications will show its new 20 inch XRD (Xtreme Rugged Marine Display) during Sea-Air-Space 2018. Hatteland Display’s latest tested and approved naval displays join a suite of established innovations on its booth, including the unique Series X 55” Ultra High Definition Tactical Table and 32" Series X Multi Vision Display, both of which feature high quality 4K resolution, large format panels capable of displaying data from diverse sensors and systems at the same time.

A generally sound assumption to make is that many recreational boaters operating power boats and sailing vessels are not very familiar with the maritime Rules of the Road that their professional mariner counterparts understand and adhere to. The unfortunate consequence is a wide array of marine casualties and incidents from collisions, allisions, capsizings, groundings, wake damage, many unreported and countless near misses. Another safe assumption is that it’s almost certain that when a professional mariner gets involved with a recreational boater, the authorities, most notably the U.S.

Fatigue is a well known factor as a cause numerous maritime and non-maritime accidents worldwide. In fact driving while fatigued is considered just as bad as driving while under the influence. The requirements under the new Manilla amendments call for vessels and seafarers to log their work or rest hours to meet the standards set out under STCW 2010 or the MLC 2006. Anyone who has ever gone to sea however can tell you that these measures, although a step in the right direction do not necessarily mitigate fatigue anywhere near as well as the IMO and ILO lawmakers expect.

Inspired by the European program for Air Traffic Managemen, the Sea Traffic Management (STM) methodology has been developed by the Swedish Maritime Administration MonaLisa project to define a set of systems and procedures to guide and monitor maritime traffic. The STM Validation project co-financed by the European Union has made the first operational tests with the shore center manufacturers. The key to the interoperability between different systems is the robust underlying infrastructure.

Aiming to change the way mariners manage back of bridge systems, Nautisk has developed NaviPlanner, an integrated end-to-end voyage planning solution which utilizes touch-screen functionality and uses cloud technology based on the Microsoft Azure platform. Head of Nautisk’s product development and technical team Kjetil Bentsen said, “NaviPlanner is designed to make the operational task of planning and managing voyages a simpler, more effective process, from start to finish. Using compliant navigational chart data and digital publications…

The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) will offer its free ‘Living with ECDIS’ seminars in Vancouver, Canada on Tuesday, November 29 and in Houston, U.S. on Thursday, December 1. Following on from the latest ECDIS usage figures, published earlier this year by the UKHO, which revealed that 59 percent of the global SOLAS fleet is now ECDIS-ready, the UKHO’s seminar is designed to ensure that the navigational benefits of ECDIS are achieved in an efficient and compliant manner.

Driven by the SOLAS-mandated transition to ECDIS, the adoption of digital navigation is the most visible sign of how navigational practices are being transformed. Additional tools are also playing an important role in supporting bridge teams and delivering accurate navigational information to the bridge. We are now halfway through the transition period under the timetable set out in the amendments to the SOLAS Convention adopted in 2009, requiring the mandatory carriage of ECDIS for ships engaged on international voyages.

The extensive global network of Furuno service centers, subsidiaries and distributors was one of the reasons that Holland America Line (HAL) chose Furuno when it was time to retrofit their cruise ships with the very latest in a fully integrated navigation system. After considerable research in cruise ship navigation electronics, HAL selected the Furuno bridge solution and engaged Radio Holland to procure and install the equipment, starting with their first ship, the MS Westerdam. The large bridge features an impressive list of equipment including four Chart Radars (two X-Band and two S-Band), two ECDIS charting systems with Conning displays, an Autopilot, two IMO DGPS receivers, two AIS transmitters, a Track Control System to drive the Azipods and three Remote Sensor Displays.

e-NPs are official ADMIRALTY Nautical Publications in a convenient electronic format. Easy to use and update, theyaim to  bring improved efficiency, accuracy and access to information bridge crews need. e-NPs offer weekly notices to mariners added in seconds, easier access to information the mariner needs, same look as all ADMIRALTY Nautical Publications, and are approved for use by the Flag States of over three quarters of ships trading internationally. e-NPs are designed to meet SOLAS carriage requirements…

Vesper Marine will provide its Virtual Aid to Navigation technology to the French company CGG, a  geoscience company that provides geological and geophysical survey and analysis primarily to the oil and gas industry. In its ongoing quest to map the ocean’s floors, CGG survey vessels tow an array of cables in the water at a up to a 50 ft. depth, an array of cables that contain seismic energy sources, usually a series of airguns that are fired at regular intervals as the vessel moves along predetermined survey lines.

While the investigation is still fresh regarding the sinking and the tragic loss of life of the South Korean ferry Sewol, early reports point to a multitude of potential problems, including a critical breakdown among the crew. As work continues to secure the ship and recover the remaining dead onboard, Maritime Reporter & Engineering News reached out to maritime training and education experts for insights on that sector’s role in helping to reduce the risk of disaster at sea.

Next free ECDIS seminar in Hong Kong on Tuesday, February 25. The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) has published a new Nautical Publication to support the transition to ECDIS. The 'Admiralty Guide to ECDIS Implementation, Policy and Procedures (NP232)' has been designed to allow informed decision-making by any individual or organisation responsible for the introduction of ECDIS aboard ship. It is also intended to provide an onboard reference to support company procedures developed for the operation of ECDIS…