Ice Navigation System Selected for Magne Viking
Rutter Inc. announced that Viking Ice Consultancy selected the sigma S6 Ice Navigator system for installation on the Magne Viking, the first vessel to comply with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Polar Code approved by DNV GL.
Rutter’s sigma S6 Ice Navigator system enables vessels operating in ice to differentiate between open water, ice pans, open water leads in ice fields and the ice ridges that impact operations in ice zones. Its high resolution image processing provides enhanced ice imaging for detection and tracking. In open water the sigma S6 Ice Navigator system has the ability to detect small bergy bits and growlers that can damage a vessel or platform.
There are two sigma S6 Ice Navigator systems installed on the Magne Viking: one is installed in a standard configuration on the bridge proving real-time high-resolution data imagery and target detection for navigational safety, while the second system interfaces with Viking’s Ice Management System, COPD.
Additionally, in December 2015 Viking performed a non-assisted voyage transiting the Northern Sea Route with its icebreaker, Tor Viking, which also has a sigma S6 Ice Navigator on board. SAR imagery from multiple commercial providers was used in combination with the sigma S6 Ice Navigator system. Andreas Kjøl, Project Director at Viking Ice stated, “We obtained very good experiences with the sigma S6 Ice Navigator and actively used its data to assist in identifying the lightest ice to reduce fuel consumption.”
The sigma S6 system operates across a wide range of sea states, weather, and daylight or nighttime conditions,” said Fraser Edison, Rutter Inc. President & CEO, “and improves crucial situational awareness for real time route planning and decision making in ice operations.”
Rutter said sigma S6 Ice Navigator’s installation base includes many of the world’s ice breaker fleets, tankers, research vessels, bulk carriers and coast guard vessels from countries operating in Arctic and subarctic regions. sigma S6 Ice Navigator systems have also been selected by oil and gas companies as part of their ice defense and ice management solutions to increase the safety and operational time of offshore platforms, drill ships and support vessels.