Don Black News

Maritime software company Q88 on Tuesday announced the launch of Q88PRO, a platform designed to provide shipowners a faster, simpler and more complete view of their fleet and the global tanker supply.The Q88PRO solution provides a view of the marketplace from a single, central access point. With Q88PRO, users can upload and access fleet data and positions and easily compare to the competitive environment. The system integrates data sources, like global fixtures, and has insightful statistics to help improve decision making.

Autonomous vessel technology developer Sea Machines Robotics announced Wednesday it has closed a new $15 million financing round with significant participation by America's largest military shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII).The Boston-based tech company said it expects the investment and associated partnership with HII will accelerate the deployment of self-piloting technologies for unmanned naval boats and ships as the defense shipbuilding and technology giant continues…

When discussing the arrival of autonomous workboats, many – especially those developing the technologies that enable them – say it’s is not a matter of if, but when. In fact, autonomous harbor tugs are already being put to the test in Singapore, where authorities hope to establish the technological infrastructure to enable fully autonomous ship operations. In the U.S., an autonomous vessel was shown to be able to respond to marine oil spills.But is autonomy really the future?

Boston-based Sea Machines Robotics announced today a new partnership with Hike Metal, a world-class manufacturer of workboats based in Ontario, Canada, to integrate Sea Machines’ SM300 autonomous vessel control system aboard commercial vessels tasked with search-and-rescue (SAR) missions.The collaboration will help develop and demonstrate the capabilities of autonomous marine technology for the purposes of increasing the productivity and safety of SAR operations. Once installed…

Boston-based developer of autonomous vessel technology, Sea Machines Robotics has hired Don Black as vice president of sales and marketing, reporting to Founder and CEO Michael G. Johnson.Effective immediately, this new position gives Black responsibility for the company’s global sales of Sea Machines autonomous-command and remote-control products for commercial workboats.He also has special oversight for supporting the development of the company’s advanced perception and navigation assistance technology for commercial ships and vessels, currently being trialed aboard an A.P. Moller-Maersk container ship. Black resides in Portsmouth…

iNavX, the benchmark marine navigation mobile application, announced today, in partnership with Fugawi and Navionics, the availability of Navionics charts in the iNavX In-App Chart Store. This is a first for the industry, and iNavX is the only independent marine navigation app to offer Navionics charts to its users. “When it comes to crucial navigation information, boaters’ decisions about what apps, electronics and charts they use can be as varied and personal as the foul weather gear they wear to keep them dry,” said Shaun Steingold, CEO, NavX Studios. “The most respected name in electronic charting and cartography is Navionics and…

Navionics, the leader in content and location-based services for the recreational boating and outdoor markets, announced today the release of Navionics+ Regions in five coverage areas throughout the U.S. and Canada. At the affordable price of $149 per region, Navionics+ Regions is a tremendous value that includes Nautical Chart, SonarChart 1foot HD bathymetry map and Community Edits, as well as easy access to daily updates for one year.With both Nautical Chart and SonarChart  preloaded, Navionics+ Regions ownershave all the best cartography available right out of the box. To keep their Navionics+ charts current, customers can up date their cartography anywhere within the coverage area.

Navionics, the leader in content and location-based services for the recreational boating and outdoor markets, announced today the latest details of its award-winning SonarChart Live. Now offering compatibility with Raymarine Dragonfly PRO and Wi-Fish systems, boaters can connect GPS chartplotters, sounders and fishfinders with their mobile devices using Wi-Fi to view an HD bathymetry map in real time while navigating. Raymarine Dragonfly PRO and Wi-Fish users can also take advantage of the unique split-screen view within the Navionics Boating app, enabling them to display both charts and DownVision sonar in the palm of their hands. SonarChart Live is also now available for use with any sounder or plotter connected to a compatible Wi-Fi router, such as Digital Yacht’s Sonar Server.

Navionics, the leader in location-based content for the recreational boating and outdoor markets, announced today the release of a new SonarCharts chart card for use with several Garmin GPS chartplotters. Featuring extraordinary bottom contour detail of up to 1 foot in the US and Canada, the new version of SonarCharts HD bathymetry map for use with several Garmin GPS chartplotters offers the most detail available anywhere, and is great for increasing awareness of shallow waters and locating fishing areas at any depth level. The SonarCharts card also includes navigational aids, providing a complete resource for all boating activities.

Navionics, provider of electronic charting and digital navigation data, named Mr. Don Black as Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing. Mr. Black will head the Navionics Teams for Sales, Marketing, Product Management and Business Development, working across all divisions. Black’s most recent position was CEO/President at SeaWave, in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, a company which developed ship to shore wireless communications. Prior to that, Black worked in leadership positions at Drew Scientific and Instrumentation Labs. Early in his career he was a sales and marketing manager for Canada Packers and Gainers Corporation, Canada. Black is a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan and studied at the Goethe Institut…

SeaWave LLC announced a definitive agreement to acquire the intellectual property and technology assets of Rydex, the Maritime Data Solutions business, headquartered in British Columbia, Canada. This transaction combines two leading suppliers of marine communications services and serves a current customer-base in excess of 2000 vessels. “Combining the collective competencies of SeaWave and Rydex will raise the level of products, service and support for both companies. Customers will be able to choose from an extensive line-up of value added products that will allow services to be tailored to the specific requirements of each customer,” said SeaWave CEO, Don Black.