Electronics Navigation News

The November edition of Marine News magazine highlighted the most notable newbuilds delivered in 2022. From sturdy and nimble workboats, to the first new Jones Act laker in a generation, each vessel on display showcases the industry’s engineering prowess and technological ingenuity, with the focus on improving efficiency in operations. The maritime industry has no shortage of challenges to overcome, and each of Marine News’ top vessels will, in one way or another, aid efforts to tackle them.Mark W.

You know if Elon Musk was to attend a plenary session of the IMO, he could be forgiven if he thought he was watching a reenactment of the Charles Dickens book Hard Times, with Mr. Gradgrind the Headmaster. What a sad reflection of our industry. Imagine instead! Imagine a world where logistics companies and cargo owners drive ship design, innovation and demand the level of quality in ship management. Where maritime assets are operated in a global ecosystem of tracking, monitoring and safety. Imagine a world where ships are operated in a “ship as a service” or “system of systems” infrastructure. Where we have replaced the current fragmented IoT and applications model. This is a world where consolidation has removed many of the industry’s historical middlemen.

In support of the Vine Trusts’ latest project in the Peruvian Amazon, Ships Electronic Services (SES) will provide and install a comprehensive navigation and communications system aboard the Trusts’ new medical ship MV Forth Hope. Built by David Abels in Bristol the 35 meter vessel has been fitted out to the Trusts’ specification by Babcock International Group in Rosyth and will now be completed with a sophisticated electronics navigation and communication system developed by SES for her departure in the first half of July.

Marine electronics, navigation and communication systems supplier Voyager Maritime Alliance Group (VMAG) said it has recruited Robert Glassman as a Senior Technical Sales Engineer as it expands its portfolio to provide turnkey marine technology for refits and new builds. Glassman graduated from Palm Beach Community College, joined the Coast Guard and retired after 20+ years as a Mustang Lieutenant. During his military service, he was instrumental in many drug and migrant interdictions…

GoFree – the provider of digital content and services, and part of the Navico family of marine electronics brands including Lowrance, Simrad Yachting and B&G – announced today the release of six updated mapping products for use in both inland and coastal U.S. waters. Greatly improved for 2015, Lake Insight® and Nautic Insight® cartography packages are each available in three versions: PRO, HD East and HD West. Delivering high-quality maps for the lower 48 United States including the Great Lakes, GoFree’s Lake Insight v15 now features an updated database of 9,000 lakes with depth contours, including 2,300 detailed charts with contours at 1- to 3-foot intervals.

Celebrity Cruises’ new cruiseliner, Celebrity Reflection, has been equipped with an extensive range of navigation, automation and entertainment systems from SAM Electronics and its associate L-3 companies. Built by Meyer Werft in Germany at a reported cost of $750m, the 315m 126,000-gt vessel was formally named in Miami last December. Bridge equipment includes a SAM NACOS 65-5 integrated navigation command assembly comprising five S and X-band radars serially linked to a similar number of Multipilot 1100 workstations for combined display of ARPA radar, Ecdis and conning functions as well as integrated operation of automatic steering control.

Arguably the best equipped and most environmentally sound maritime campus in the country, Mass. Maritime also finds itself (not by accident) at the leading edge of a fundamental change in how maritime academies deliver education in a changing marketplace. At the heart of that effort is a comprehensive workboat simulation and training program. Clinging tightly to its maritime roots and firmly anchored in the crystal clear waters that surround its picturesque campus, the Massachusetts Maritime Academy last month sent the largest graduating class in its 212-year history out into the workplace. Not all of today’s graduates aspire to go to sea…

Offshore Marine Contractors to implement MarineCFO Enterprise Software. MarineCFO Inc., a provider of Marine Software including On-Vessel, Marine Operations, Personnel, Fleet Maintenance and Financial Management Software Solutions to the Marine Transportation Industry, announced today that Offshore Marine Contractors, Inc. has chosen to implement the full MarineCFO Enterprise software suite. Offshore Marine Contractors, Inc. (OMC) provides lift-boats to the offshore oil and gas industry. OMC offers 175ft Class lift-boats, 200ft class lift-boats and will take delivery of its first 215ft Class lift-boat in June of this year. All OMC vessels are equipped with modern lifting equipment, electronics, navigation, propulsion, as well as experienced and caring employees.

Three new shallow-draught 49,000-dwt tankers ordered by AHL Shipping of San Antonio, Texas for subsequent long-term charter to Shell Trading (US) in 2009-2010 are to be equipped with SAM Electronics’ navigation, communication and propulsion systems as part of a single-source vendor contract obtained by parent organisation, L-3 Communications of New York. Associate L-3 companies, L-3 of Westwood, Oklahoma and Valmarine of Norway are also to supply equipment, with Valmarine due to deliver its Damatic DNA series of integrated automation systems (IAS). The IAS covers complete control and monitoring of machinery systems. Power management is also integrated to the IAS while a mode change system enhances safe and easy transition between two sailing modes.

MetalCraft Marine Inc., of Kingston, Ontario, is nearing completion of its second Hydrographic Survey Craft for the Canadian Government's Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), Canadian Hydrographic Service. The 30 x 10.3 ft. vessel will carry three transducers, the largest being a state of the art 332 mm Multi-beam Transducer by Kongsberg-Simrad, Model EM-3000. The total Multi-beam system is worth approximately three times the value of the vessel, which was sold for $129,000. The Canadian Hydrographic Service, Central and Arctic Regions is responsible for updating and validating Canadian navigational charts for all inland and Arctic waters, including the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway.