Safety Tool News

Tech File: New Motor for Anchor, Mooring Winches

BEN Buchele introduced a robust, low-maintenance three-phase asynchronous motor whose stable grey cast iron design is touted to withstand the harshest environmental conditions: salt water, salty air and extreme temperatures from -31 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit (-35 to 50 degrees Celsius). Depending on the requirements, the motor can be designed without a fan, with its own fan or with a forced cooling fan for the operating modes S1 (continuous operation), S2 or S3 (both short-time…

FarSounder 3D Sonar for NACOS Platinum

FarSounder, a developer of 3D forward looking sonar systems for navigation and obstacle avoidance, announced it has entered an integration partnership with Wärtsilä SAM Electronics. The partnership will see 3D sonar data from FarSounder’s navigation systems visualized and controlled directly from all NACOS MULTIPILOT workstations. The unique forward-looking capabilities of FarSounder's navigation products add a new dimension of situational awareness to the NACOS Platinum Series.

CEACT Allows Operators to REACT

How updated electronic navigation practices improve safety and efficiency – and optimize cargo movement – on US inland waterways. It was a cold winter night. Heavy gusts and snow did not allow safe navigation and forced the ships on the upper Mississippi to secure alongside the few remaining jetties. Safety is the key issue for all river transport companies but at the same time efficiency and timely delivery of valuable goods is of utmost importance. It was 1999 and an American navigation pioneer – Greg Dunkle – had realized the potential of electronic chart systems.

Marine Cybersecurity: Is Your Ship Safe? Are You Sure?

On February 12, 2013, President Obama issued Executive Order 13636 – Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity. Citing repeated electronic intrusions into critical infrastructure, the document states that it is the policy of the United States Government to increase the volume, timeliness, and quality of cyber threat information shared with U.S. private sector entities so that these entities may better protect and defend themselves against cyber threats. It directs the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS)…

Autronica Launches New Gas Detection System

Autronica Fire and Security AS debuted its new gas safety system for liquid and chemical tankers at Nor-Shipping 2013. The new AutroSafe Maritime Gas Panel Solution introduces a number of new features that support more flexible installation, improved maintenance and troubleshooting in addition to more reliable, accurate and user-friendly data from Autronica and third party sensors, the manufacturer said. Designed to meet all current regulations for gas detection systems, the AutroSafe Maritime Gas Panel Solution is a safety tool that alerts tanker crews to the accidental escape of hazardous gases from cargo storage tanks. It is based on the gas detection technology and principles developed by Omicron and Autronica Fire and Security since December 2008…

Offshore Wind Farm Vessel Motion Monitoring Trials

Strainstall Marine undertake vessel motion monitoring trial on an offshore wind farm transfer vessel off the UK East Coast. The company's new Vessel Motion Monitoring System™ (VMMS™) provides accurate motion monitoring for wind turbine transfer vessels to improve safety during transfer operations, as well as impact load measurement combined with a data logging capability. An accurate motion monitoring system can increase the operational window considerably during critical personnel and equipment transfer manoeuvres by allowing the user to monitor all motion parameters…

Strainstall Undertakes Transfer VMMS Trial

New Vessel Motion Monitoring System (VMMS) – developed by James Fisher group company Strainstall Marine – provides accurate motion and impact load monitoring with a  data logging capability; Increases safety and operational efficiency during  personnel and equipment transfer manoeuvres involving offshore wind farm  support vessels; MMS is now undergoing trials on board Tidal Transit’s ‘Eden Rose’ during normal operations off the UK’s east coast. Strainstall’s VMMS  product significantly…

New Offshore Wind Safety Product Completes First Testing

New offshore wind safety product Vessel Motion Monitoring System (VMMS) achieves excellent results in first tests. Vessel Motion Monitoring System (VMMS) developed to provide accurate motion monitoring, improves safety during vessel transfer operations. Offers real time impact load measurement combined with additional data logging capability to support health and safety analysis and investigations. Successful testing has been carried out by Submarine Technology Ltd (STL). James Fisher and Sons plc group companies Fendercare and Strainstall Marine have received excellent results following work with sub-sea and offshore development experts Submarine Technology Ltd (STL) to test and validate their new Vessel Motion Monitoring System (VMMS).

VMMS Achieves Excellent Results in First Tests

New offshore wind safety product Vessel Motion Monitoring System (VMMS) achieves excellent results in first tests. Vessel Motion Monitoring System (VMMS) developed to provide accurate motion monitoring, improves safety during vessel transfer operations. Offers real time impact load measurement combined with additional data logging capability to support health and safety analysis and investigations. Successful testing has been carried out by Submarine Technology Ltd (STL). James Fisher and Sons plc group companies Fendercare and Strainstall Marine have received excellent results following work with sub-sea and offshore development experts Submarine Technology Ltd (STL) to test and validate their new Vessel Motion Monitoring System (VMMS).

Safe Transfer of Wind Farm Personnel

James Fisher and Sons plc announces the launch of two new exciting products to assist in the safe transfer of personnel during offshore wind farm operations. Fendercare Marine and Strainstall, members of James Fisher and Sons plc, in conjunction with Maritime International have launched two new products – the Eco-Fender range and the Vessel Motion Monitoring System, both specifically targeted  to assist in the safe transfer of personnel during offshore wind farm operations. Fendercare in conjunction with Strainstall…

Nautical Charts – NOAA Testing QR Code Effectiveness

OceanGrafix, the exclusive provider of NOAA print-on-demand (POD) nautical charts for U.S. waters, announce that QR codes are now available on eight NOAA charts for the Tampa Bay, Fla., area. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) added the QR codes in an effort to test their effectiveness in providing valuable and timely information to mariners. Quick Response Codes, or QR codes, are two-dimensional bar codes that can be scanned by a smart phone to direct users to digital content online. In this instance, boaters can scan the QR codes on select NOAA nautical charts to access real-time data sites for important information such as tides, currents, and marine weather.

NTSB Unveils Revises Safety List

recommendations list. the Board in May. maximize effectiveness of the list as a safety tool. administrations and the US Coast Guard. next fall. progress. acceptable response and timely progress. With A Team) to address all of the open recommendations. to implement needed safety improvements. recommendations, and progress continues. April 1, 2003.

AWO: AIS Expansion Needs Careful Consideration

Mandatory carriage of automatic identification systems (AIS) throughout the country, as it is currently envisioned by the Coast Guard, will not result in increased safety or security, AWO told the agency in comments filed on December 31, 2003. The Coast Guard was soliciting comments on whether and how to expand AIS carriage requirements beyond the nine Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) zones to other waterways. While AWO has been a long-time proponent of the AIS concept as a navigational safety tool, AWO has questions about the technical aspects of AIS and its implementation, as well as the potential negative impact on safety when AIS is required for some types of vessels while not for others.

Navigational Safety Program Starts Sea Trials

The QinetiQ Platform Support Services Group is to fit ORPHEUS, a new navigational safety tool, to a Royal Navy frigate. ORPHEUS will be installed on HMS Northumberland in August for year-long trials after demonstrations onboard a sistership, HMS Marlborough, proved a veritable success. QinetiQ will then install the system to two more Type 23 frigates, HMS Somerset and Montrose, later in the year. ORPHEUS, an acronym for Onboard Risk Performance Hazard Evaluation System, is a dedicated and flexible operator guidance system that provides clear and concise information on how a ship will perform in a variety of heavy weather scenarios. Taking thee years to develop, it displays measured motions, predictions of motions at alternative speeds, and heading combinations alongside operating limits.