Admiralty Information Overlay News

Kelvin Hughes has introduced its latest Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) designed for commercial ships as well as naval and coastguard patrol vessels. Available as a standalone ECDIS or as part of a truly multifunction bridge display network with multiple operator positions, the new ECDIS is type approved to meet the latest International Hydrographic Office (IHO) and International Maritime Organization (IMO) standards. It offers an optional mil-spec processor with advanced LED display hardware in a fully integrated, easy to install and retrofit, console package.

Danelec Marine is rolling out its new DM700 series Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) for marine navigation at the SMM maritime trade fair in Hamburg, Germany, held from September 6-9. The DM700 ECDIS provides a basic ECDIS solution that fully complies with the new IEC and IHO performance standards which will be mandatory in all ECDIS ship installations beginning August 2017. Danelec Marine introduced its new-generation DM800 ECDIS in 2015. With the addition of the new DM700…

The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) ADMIRALTY Information Overlay (AIO) is now available on Danelec Marine DM800 G2 Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS). AIO allows subscribers using the ADMIRALTY Vector Chart Service (AVCS) to view the latest temporary and preliminary notices to mariners as overlays on the ECDIS screen, as an aid to route planning and navigation. The AIO is displayed as a single layer on top of the basic Electronic Navigation Chart display. “AIO helps bridge crews identify areas of possible uncertainty and risk at the crucial planning stage,” said Thomas Mellor, UKHO head of OEM technical support and digital standards.

The U.K. Hydrographic Office (UKHO) has worked with Kongsberg Maritime to ensure the latest K-Bridge ECDIS and K-Nav ECDIS software includes AIO, making additional chart information available to the mariner when using its Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) models. In the past, navigators have relied on the ADMIRALTY T&P NMs to manually update their paper charts. AIO is a free service included with the ADMIRALTY Vector Chart Service (AVCS). The overlay contains worldwide ADMIRALTY Temporary and Preliminary Notices to Mariners (T&P NMs) to be used in conjunction with ENCs.

Danelec Marine announced the introduction of its new Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) platform for marine navigation, shown for the first time at the Nor-Shipping 2015 maritime trade fair in Oslo, Norway, this week. Danelec said its new ECDIS platform incorporates new Linux-based application software, an intuitive easy-to-learn user interface, industry-leading cartography solutions, ruggedized low-power LED display monitors and Danelec’s exclusive SoftWare Advanced Protection (SWAP) technology for shipboard service. The new system is designed around a custom-built computer running on Linux, which is more stable, robust and secure than Windows-based PCs. The computer has been designed, tested and built for the marine environment.

Global Navigation Solutions (GNS) reported that operators Briese Schiffahrt has chosen to install its Voyager navigation software on Germany’s newest research vessel, RV Sonne.    Sonne will carry the GNS Voyager Package 3, which provides the crew with route planning capability, inventory management and automatic updating of paper and digital charts, as well as ordering and cataloguing, together with a free AVCS and Admiralty Information Overlay (AIO) viewer.   Sonne was launched by Chancellor Merkel on July 11, 2014 and replaces a vessel of the same name, which was in service for 44 years.

The majority of ships in the global tanker fleet have yet to adopt ECDIS, according to data published for the first time by the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO). The SOLAS regulations on the mandatory carriage of ECDIS will come into force from July 1, 2015 for all tankers over 3,000 gross metric tons, apart from permitted exemptions. Over 8,500 tankers will be required to comply with these rules and, with less than 10 months to go, the UKHO can reveal that 58% of these ships do not yet use an ENC service.

Northrop Grumman Corporation announced that its latest VisionMaster FT (VMFT) software now includes ADMIRALTY Information Overlay (AIO) as an integral element of its Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) based navigation system making additional chart information available to ship’s navigators. In the past, navigators have relied on the ADMIRALTY Temporary and Preliminary Notices to Mariners (T&P NMs) to manually update their paper charts. AIO is a free service included with the ADMIRALTY Vector Chart Service (AVCS).

ECDIS manufacturer Transas Marine was awarded a contract for the supply of Dual ECDIS to ULTRAGAS, an ULTRANAV company and owner and operator of highly specialized vessels for transportation of Liquefied Petroleum Gases (LPG) and petro-chemical gases with years of experience in this demanding segment of shipping. As a part of the contract, ULTRAGAS has ordered Dual Navi-Sailor ECDIS Multifunction Display (MFD) sets with Radar overlay for installation on board of five additional vessels.

With chart and nautical publication management highlighted as one of the most common reasons for deficiency detentions by Port State Control (PSC), ship operators are calling for new and effective navigation solutions. The features of Thomas Gunn’s new Voyager 4 digital chart management system provides ship owners and managers with the tools to ensure that Safety of Navigation standards on board meet PSC and vetting inspection requirements. New Voyager is a complete British Admiralty…

The updated version of the globally renowned voyage planning software Navi-Planner 4000 received additional functions, boosting versatility and convenience. The Transas Navi-Planner 4000 software is recognized as one of the ECDIS market’s most powerful charts and data management tools, and also boasts a set of databases, applications and services intended for every step of voyage planning. In addition to working with the Transas Admiralty Data Service (TADS), the new version of the Transas Navi-Planner is now optimized to handle ADMIRALTY Vector Chart Service (AVCS) charts and permits.

Advanced technology enriches our lives in many different ways and it also relatively and closely affects the maritime industry. Since the IMO (International Maritime Organization)’s announcements about the regulations of ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display and Information System), the challenges in marine software development have become more competitive and dynamic. “Every development project starts with questions such as 'what,' 'why' and 'how.' At Jargoon we aim to provide high quality solutions to our clients, with the most innovative features and functions.

Users of the Voyager Planning Station, developed by Global Navigation Solutions, the maritime services group, can now plot their route directly onto the official ENCs on board their vessel. Visitors to this year’s Marintec China exhibition will have the opportunity to see a demonstration of this new feature. Providing a single all inclusive back of bridge solution, Voyager Planning Station enables the navigator to passage plan using live data. A route can be plotted directly onto Voyager’s enhanced ENC display…

Totem Plus, manufacturer of Automation and Navigation systems, announced that Totem ECDIS is now compatible with the ADMIRALTY Information Overlay (AIO). Type approved by DNV, Totem ECDIS provides real-world innovation to the customer. It was the world’s first ECDIS to provide Collision Avoidance in the form of Decision Support Tools; it initiated the ‘Shift Change’ procedure to avoid ECDIS-assisted accidents; and is now also compatible with AIO, provided by the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO).

Thomas Gunn is delighted to announce that Korea Lines, the marine transportation services company, is the latest ship owner to choose new Voyager 4 for its navigation requirements. It will be upgrading four LNG gas carriers from Voyager 3 to the new Voyager 4 digital chart management system with immediate effect. When asked why Korea Lines selected Voyager 4, Mr Cho Han-Ung, Principal Superintendent, Fleet Management Team 2 explained, “We needed a navigation solution which would best serve the needs of the internationally trading vessels operating within our fleet.

Transas marks the fifth anniversary of its Transas Admiralty  Data Service (TADS) providing a comprehensive and official chart data service to the market. Transas, an ECDIS manufacturer, in conjunction with the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) launched Transas Admiralty Data Service (TADS) in 2008. TADS is based on 100% official ENC data from the UKHO converted in SENC format and optimized for use on Transas ECDIS. Since its launch, TADS has evolved into a complete set of data services required by mariners for voyage planning and navigation purposes, and today it’s far more than just official ENC data service. TADS now includes Admiralty digital publications, weather services and Admiralty  Information Overlay with T&P Notices to Mariners.

The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) has added two digital charts of the South China Sea to its ADMIRALTY Vector Chart Service (AVCS) to complete the coverage. The cover is now complete for shipping routes from Singapore to China and beyond. Jason Scholey, Senior Product Manager - Charts, commented: “We are delighted to announce the inclusion of these two charts to AVCS. This continues to ensure that our customers have the most comprehensive global maritime ENC service…

With chart and nautical publication management highlighted as one of the most common reasons for deficiency detentions by Port State Control (PSC), ship operators are calling for new and effective navigation solutions. The features of Thomas Gunn’s new Voyager 4 digital chart management system, launched this month following successful sea trials, provide ship owners and ship managers with the tools they need to ensure that Safety of Navigation standards on board meet PSC and vetting inspection requirements, the manufacturer said.

The UKHO today announced another simple way to view the most accurate and up-to-date navigational charts, with the release of SevenCs ORCA Master Electronic Chart System (ECS) compatible with the Admiralty Information Overlay. The Overlay, brings the latest navigational updates from Admiralty to an ECDIS or ECS to help make digital navigation safer, more efficient and fully compliant. Available from Admiralty, the Overlay is now compatible with both Transas and SevenCs systems. Transas was the first to announce availability via the Transas Admiralty Data Service (TADS), and the UKHO is also working with other major ECDIS manufacturers to ensure the Admiralty Information Overlay can be displayed on their systems. Further availability will be announced in the next few months.

Transas Marine has been chosen by Telaccount Overseas Ltd. as a partner for ECDIS retrofit program for Bernard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM). BSM is a global leader in quality Shipmanagement with 320 vessel under technical management and additional 300 under crewing management. According to agreement, Transas Marine will supply its Navi-Sailor ECDIS 4000 Multifunction Display system with numerous additional options, like recently launched Transas Bridge Link (firewall system) and Admiralty Information Overlay with T&P Notices. Transas Admiralty Data Service (TADS) which is an official SENC service will be supplied to the part of the fleet. Transas will provide crew training and service support.

FURUNO has announced that the new ECDIS (model names FMD-3200 and FMD-3300) will be ready for launch very shortly. The FMD-3200 (with 19” LCD) and FMD-3300 (with 23.1” LCD) deliver great enhancement in terms of user interface as well as functionality. Fully complying with the performance standard of ECDIS stipulated in IMO resolution MSC.232(82), the new ECDIS is going to be a suitable candidate designated for new installation as well as retrofit to fulfill ECDIS mandatory carriage that is phasing in from July 2012 onward.

A software update now makes the Admiralty Information overlay available on all current JRC ECDIS models. The Admiralty Information Overlay, a free service to Admiralty Vector Chart Service customers, is a simple way to view the most comprehensive and up-to-date chart information when navigating with electronic navigational charts (ENCs). The Overlay is the only service available to include worldwide Admiralty Temporary and Preliminary Notices to Mariners and new ENC Preliminary Notices to Mariners, which identify navigationally significant differences between ENCs and Admiralty paper charts. Mariners the world over rely on Admiralty updates to help them navigate safely, via the weekly ‘Notices to Mariners’ publication, which is used to manually update paper charts.

While there are countless new product, system and service launches at major trade fairs such as the recently concluded SMM in Hamburg, Germany, when a company with the stature of Furuno unveils a system, it is a show within the show. Furuno, a $1 billion business with 80% coming from the marine sector and 2500 employees globally in the marine sector, introduced its new ECDIS models FMD-3200 and FMD-3300, saying they are ready for launch during the autumn 2012. The FMD-3200, with a 19-in. LCD, and the FMD-3300, with a 23.1-in.