Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine News

Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine has announced the launch of NAVIGAT 2500 and 3500, its next generation high accuracy, maintenance-free Fiber Optic Gyro (FOG) compasses.Suitable for all types of vessels, the NAVIGAT family of compasses provide heading measurement in all kinds of dynamic conditions with compatibility to Sperry Marine CompassNet, the first networked heading management system.NAVIGAT 2500 and NAVIGAT 3500 are based on solid-state technology with no moving parts, offering compact size and low weight.

Navies operate on a spectrum between deterrence and defense, to include offensive operation, support of foreign policy, and power projection to civil affair and humanitarian assistance and disaster response. Many have constabulary responsibilities, and it could be argued that, with the exception of the largest navies, most are more like a coast guard than a military force in their normal responsibilities.Every Navy is different. Yes, they all share similar challenges of acquisition…

Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine has released a major upgrade to its VisionMaster FT bridge software. VMFT11 includes several key updates that support safety of navigation, including enhanced bridge alert management, an improved user interface and secure data exchange onboard ship and between ship and shore.A key driver behind the VMFT11 software update is to decrease the mariner’s workload in alert management, by reducing the number of high priority radar and ECDIS alerts, so that…

Lerwick Port Authority have inaugurated a new Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) which utilises the latest technology to improve the handling of ship movements at the busy Shetland port. Transas, a world-leader in providing harmonised integrated solutions to the maritime industry, has installed the system across four sites covering the port area – port control in the main building and three remote stations, at Rova Head north of Lerwick and Maryfield and Kirkabister, on the island of Bressay, monitoring the northern approaches, inner harbour and southern approaches, respectively. Fibre and microwave links supply data back to port control. The completion was marked on Friday 19 August, 2016 with invitations extended to port users to view the new system.

Transas signed a contract with Lerwick Port Authority to install a new Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) to cover Lerwick Harbour, in Shetland. The new Transas system is required to replace Lerwick Harbour’s existing system. Lerwick is a major commercial port in Britain, strategically situated at the crossroads of the North Sea and North-East Atlantic. Handling more than 5,000 vessel arrivals, totalling over 12,000,000 gross tonnes, annually, the deep-water port’s users include fishing, oil and gas support, cargo, sailing, ferries and cruises. The new VMS will be based on the high-end Navi-Harbour software solution from Transas. Hardware equipment scope consists of Class A AIS Transponders…

Northrop Grumman Corporation's Sperry Marine business unit has been selected to design and supply gyrocompass navigation systems for 12  Kingston Class coastal defence vessels for the Royal Canadian Navy, as a subcontractor to SNC-Lavalin Defence Programs Inc. The contract will include Dual NAVIGAT X MK1 gyrocompass systems, NAVITWIN IV Heading Management Systems and a complete suite of Heading Repeaters. Installation will start in June 2015 and extend through early 2017. Six of the vessels being upgraded are based in Esquimalt…

WR Systems Ltd. has announced Mark Mahoney as the new Director of Domestic Maritime Business. Mahoney comes to WR from Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine, where he spent almost 25 years honing his technical maritime expertise in a variety of roles, including  marketing, contracts and compliance. His most recent position was Service Manager for the Americas region.

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) is among the sponsors of  the Jubilee Sailing Trust (JST), a registered charity whose mission is to promote the integration of people of all physical abilities, including injured and recovering servicemen and women, through the challenge and adventure of tall ship sailing. As part of its sponsorship, Northrop Grumman's Sperry Marine business unit replaced the navigational electronics on the Lord Nelson, one of JST's two tall ships. This update included the main gyro compass system originally fitted in 1985. Since the JST was established in 1978, they have welcomed more than 40,000 people on board, of whom 15,000 have had a disability and 5,500 have been wheelchair users.

Northrop Grumman Corporation has renewed its service agreement with U.K.-based Carisbrooke Shipping Limited. The contract will cover spares and labor for navigation systems, communication equipment and voyage data recorders onboard the 23 vessels, which include 6,000-, 8,000- and 12,500- Dead Weight Tonnage bulkers. Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine has supplied gyro compasses, autopilots, speed logs, radar and Electronic Chart Display Information Systems (ECDIS) to these vessels. "This contract furthers the relationships between Carisbrooke and Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine," said John Fletcher, global service manager, Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine.

These heater kits will enable Marine Navigation Radar Turning Units to be operated in temperatures down below -55 degrees Celsius, in addition to keeping the S-Band and X-Band sensors in the turning units free from ice. Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine has designed them to be attached in the field at or after installation, and they are compatible with all VisionMaster FT (VMFT) radar sensors. "Ships operating in the Arctic environments are exposed to a number of unique risks and we recognize the need to ensure that our equipment is capable of functioning effectively under the challenges of polar operations," said Jeanne Usher, managing director, Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine.

Northrop Grumman Corporation has been awarded a contract by Peter Dohle Schiffahrts-KG to supply the Integrated Bridge Systems, including navigation, voyage data recorders and radio systems, to seven new bulk carrier ships. Northrop Grumman's Sperry Marine business unit will supply the equipment to Jiangsu Hantong Shipyard in Nantong, Jiangsu, China. The full Integrated Bridge System package will include VisionMaster FT Radars, VisionMaster FT ECDIS, Magnetic Compass System, Echosounder…

Northrop Grumman Corporation is introducing the VisionMaster FT Electronic Chart Display and Information System-E (ECDIS-E), a new cost-effective navigation solution for commercial tankers, container ships, bulk carries and passenger ferries including retrofit installations. Based on the Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine VisionMaster FT platform, the new ECDIS-E combines an optimized feature set with easy to install hardware. The system meets International Maritime Organization requirements for certain classes of vessels operating internationally to be equipped with ECDIS for paperless navigation. "This new design not only meets mandatory safety requirements, but brings new technology to the user," said Alan Dix, managing director, Sperry Marine.

Northrop Grumman Corporation introduce the VisionMaster FT Electronic Chart Display and Information System-E (ECDIS-E), a new cost-effective navigation solution for commercial tankers, container ships, bulk carries and passenger ferries including retrofit installations. Based on the Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine VisionMaster FT platform, the new ECDIS-E combines an optimized feature set with easy to install hardware. The system meets International Maritime Organization requirements for certain classes of vessels operating internationally to be equipped with ECDIS for paperless navigation. "This new design not only meets mandatory safety requirements, but brings new technology to the user," said Alan Dix, managing director, Sperry Marine.

Northrop Grumman Corporation has supplied the final batch of Platform Management System (PMS) hardware for the Royal Navy's Astute-class series' boat 5 submarine. Under a performance partnering arrangement, Northrop Grumman's Sperry Marine business unit supplied the PMS to BAE Systems Maritime–Submarines for installation on Astute Boat 5, Anson, at its shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness, U.K. The PMS equipment controls and monitors the submarine's platform machinery and onboard systems. The PMS is expected to reduce life cycle costs and minimize program risk for the U.K. Ministry of Defence.

Northrop Grumman Corporation will highlight its capabilities in command, control, communications, computers, intelligence (C4I), border security, unmanned ground systems, cyber security as well as navigation and maritime systems at the Defence & Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition in London. DSEI is the world's largest fully integrated defence and security event specialising in air, naval, land and unmanned systems and brings together international exhibitors from more than 50 countries. The exhibition takes place at ExCel in London from 10– 13 Sept. 2013. Northrop Grumman will be exhibiting in the South Hall at stand number S5-310.

Northrop Grumman Corporation has completed an integrated bridge system retrofit for several RoPax ferries operated by Stena Line. Northrop Grumman's Sperry Marine business unit provided a fully networked suite of scalable navigation products  from the VisionMaster FT  series, used to form the core of a ship's integrated bridge. The Stena Superfast VII and Stena Superfast VIII vessels were upgraded with VisionMaster FT navigation radars, a voyage data recorder, and an electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS) that provides full control on both bridge wings.

Northrop Grumman Corporation's Sperry Marine business unit provided a fully networked suite of scalable navigation products from the VisionMaster FT™ series, to form the core of ship's integrated bridge on several Stena Line RoPax ferries. The Stena Superfast VII and Stena Superfast VIII vessels were upgraded with VisionMaster FT™ navigation radars, a voyage data recorder, and an electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS) that provides full control on both bridge wings. Meanwhile, the Stena Europe and Stena Adventurer were outfitted with the VisionMaster FT™ ECDIS, which meets the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) regulations for paperless navigation while providing a separate…

Following an extensive Thales UK-led refurbishment and reactivation program, the Lithuanian Navy has formally accepted and commissioned two former Royal Navy minehunters into its fleet. In a ceremony at the Klaipeda naval base, LNS Skalvis and LNS Kuršis were commissioned into the fleet. Formerly the Royal Navy Hunt-class ships Dulverton and Cottesmore, the two warships are now fitted with a world-class minehunting capability from Thales, including new sonar, command and control, propulsion, degaussing, mine disposal and machinery control and surveillance systems. Thales was awarded the contract by the Disposals Services Authority (DSA) of the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MOD) to refit the two former British minehunters for delivery to the Lithuanians.

ETC announce that it has now partnered with SAM Electronics to provide ECDIS training for the CHARTPILOT and ECDISPILOT, complementing SAM’s successful cooperation with Safebridge for online training, and thereby expanding SAM’s ECDIS training capabilities. ETC, the ECDIS Training Consortium, is a joint venture of training partners working under the patronage and control of MSG MarineServe GmbH, a  sister company of  Safebridge, to deliver courses that implement the identical ECDIS training program, adhere to consistent quality standards and are audited externally on a regular basis. ETC will use its established worldwide network to provide conventional, face-to-face, ECDIS training to meet local needs and improve the service to its global customer base.

Northrop Grumman Corporation has been selected by Arklow Shipping to upgrade 12 container vessels with VisionMaster FT Electronic Chart Display & Information Systems (ECDIS). Northrop Grumman's Sperry Marine business unit will install all of the systems by the end of 2014. The VisionMaster FT ECDIS will replace existing NaviECDIS that utilises the Voyage Management System supplied by Sperry Marine. With Sperry Marine's VisionMaster FT ECDIS, these vessels not only meet the International Maritime Organization's requirements for paperless navigation…

ECDIS Ltd. have taken delivery of three new VisionMaster FT ECDIS, which have been installed in their e-Navigation Center. The ECDIS systems are made by Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine and will mean ECDIS Ltd are now able to offer Nautical Institute accredited Type Specific ECDIS Training on nine different systems. Joe Sloly, Customer Development Manager of ECDIS Ltd said, “The VisionMaster ECDIS has been in high demand for training requests over the last year so I am proud to say we can now offer the highest of standards training on the ECDIS equipment.

Safebridge, the Internet-based simulation training specialist, released its E-learning courseware for training and certification on the new ECDISPILOT Basic and Platinum models. Courseware development for Chartpilot and Multipilot models is also well advanced. “The introduction of training for a further ECDIS manufacturer means that we are now able to offer the industry an even more flexible service,” said Safebridge Managing Director Ulf Steden. He added, “Because the price of a course is the same for all ECDIS models…

Northrop Grumman Corporation has donated $5,000 toward construction of a memorial to the Navy submarine 'USS Thresher'. The company has made this donation in memory of two employees who perished when the Thresher sank in the Atlantic Ocean 50 years ago. Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine employees Kenneth R. Corcoran and Donald T. Stadtmuller were performing work on the Thresher's gyroscope when the submarine sank during deep-diving tests approximately 200 miles off New England in April 1963. All 129 military crewmen and civilian technicians onboard perished.