Paging News

Iridium Communications has entered into an agreement to acquire Satelles, Inc., a leader in secure satellite-based time and location services that complement and protect GPS and other GNSS-reliant systems. The service, named Satellite Time and Location (STL), is designed as an easy-to-adopt, secure solution that increases the efficiency and reliability of timing systems for digital infrastructure like 5G base stations, data centers, and other critical infrastructure and protects…

In conducting some research for our Bouchard Transportation 100th Anniversary special edition coming out in July (#BTC100), I was paging through historical volumes of Maritime Reporter & Engineering News, which date back to 1939. Pictured here is a page from the November 1944 edition seemed particularly topical and timely, as it is a short story on the commissioning of the first of four heavy duty iceabreakers for the United States Coast Guard. As the USCG plans forward for the next-generation of heavy duty icebreakers, perhaps they can use history as a guide and order four.

Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar officially launched the Coast Guard’s new state-of-the-art S92 search and rescue helicopter for the Dublin region in Weston Airport. This is the fourth Sikorsky S92 helicopter base to come into operation for the Coast Guard and means all four Coast Guard bases now have upgraded helicopters. The new S92 helicopters replace the Sikorsky S61 which was in use until recently at the Coast Guard bases in Dublin, Shannon, Sligo and Waterford.

Raytheon demonstrated the ability to communicate in real time with a submerged submarine at classified speeds and depths. This capability, which addresses one of the most significant shortfalls in submarine communications, was exhibited for the 's Royal Navy during an at-sea trial of Raytheon's Deep Siren Tactical Paging (DSTP) system. The U.K. Ministry of Defense reported that Deep Siren demonstrated "the first step toward a transformational capability that will change the way we operate submarines in the future." The evaluation, which took place during the U.K. Royal Navy's TAURUS 09 deployment, follows U.S. Navy testing conducted in 2008 that culminated with a successful military utility assessment.

With 1,860 miles of waterways, our neighbors to the north are no slouches in the maritime industry. In fact, Canadian maritime companies continue to offer technological and operational innovation. The Canadian coastline stretches out 151,492 miles, making it the second largest country in the world. Canada not only supports a thriving maritime industry, with exporting ships carrying timber, crude petroleum, natural gas and aluminum, but the country is also home to a variety of companies providing the means to allow these vessels to run smoothly and efficiently. In St. Catherine's, Ontario, Port Weller Drydocks is known for its extensive knowledge of engineering connecting the design, installation and testing aspects of inter-disciplinary projects.

Ever since the requirements set forth in the new Chapter 5 of SOLAS-74 Convention, adopted in IMO Resolution MSC.99(73) dd. December 5, 2000, came into effect, the AIS (Automatic Identification System) has been mandatory ship equipment for a major part of the world's sea fleet. On the whole, AIS systems, just like electronic chart systems (ECDIS and ECS) and other navigation aids, are intended for the improvement of safety at sea. As the AIS market is currently at the development stage, and holds quite definite prospects, we will consider the practical use of the AIS by ship handlers, as well as the practical advantages and feasibility of integrating AIS with electronic chart systems.