Telephone System News

The Coast Guard Research and Development Center (RDC) teamed up with Coast Guard Cutter Campbell’s crew this summer to evaluate five technologies as part of the RDC’s annual Arctic Technology Evaluation. The Campbell crew conducted the evaluations during their two-month deployment supporting joint Arctic operations off Greenland’s western coast, returning to their Kittery, Maine, homeport on Sept. 29, 2020.“Testing various technologies by cutter crews for operation in cold and Arctic environments provides highlights on what works and what may need improvement…

With the advent of ever faster, stronger maritime communication links and the influx of the next maritime generation, the first “internet native” generation, a proliferation of shipboard tools are under development that promise to change the very means in which floating assets are built and maintained. Imtech Marine is convinced that accelerated uptake of remote diagnostics and preventive maintenance for shipboard equipment will be built on performance gains that are straightforward and tangible.

L-3 SAM Electronics announced today that it has completed the supply and installation of extensive drive equipment, as well as automation, navigation and positioning systems, on board the Heavy-Lift Jack-Up Vessel (HLJV) Vidar, which is operated by HOCHTIEF Infrastructure GmbH for construction and service support of offshore wind farms. The Vidar is the latest in a series of recently completed offshore turnkey projects undertaken by L-3 SAM Electronics on behalf of leading operators in the world’s offshore industry.

Imtech Marine has been awarded a second Advanced Support Agreement from Jack-Up Barge for 24/7 remote monitoring and maintenance of the systems installed by Imtech Marine on board the newbuild, self-elevating platform JB-118. This follows an earlier and similar contract for the JB-117, where Imtech Marine completed equipment installation in 2012 and subsequently started remote monitoring. The JB-118 was built near Hong Kong in Shenzhen. Imtech Marine presents a live & operational remote control room at the Europort exhibition, hall 1, stand 1124.

Simon Møkster Shipping’s fleet of 23 offshore supply and specialist vessels is now fully connected to the Microsoft Lync platform through Sealink, Marlink’s customized VSAT service. Sealink has enabled the established Norwegian offshore vessel operator to roll-out Microsoft’s standardized business collaboration and communication platform across its organization on land and at sea, resulting in operational benefits in addition to substantial savings in the cost of crew calling.

UK based Buzz Marine, the suppliers of HubbaX mobile broadband for maritime applications, has developed a new system for its mini dome to allow automatic switch from a vessel’s VSAT communications system to its land-based mobile system on which the HubbaX operates. The changeover is delivered through an intelligent ‘switchbox’ which prefers the 3G signal, when no 3G signal is available VSAT connection continues. With the signal strength benefits of the HubbaX (up to four times more powerful and more stable than a mobile phone) connection can be achieved up to 20 miles offshore…

SAM Electronics of Hamburg, an L-3 company, has been awarded a major contract for supply and installation of a comprehensive IT network and associated equipment aboard Pieter Schelte, the €1.3 billion dynamically-positioned platform installation-decommissioning and pipelay vessel being built by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering in South Korea on behalf of Swiss-based Allseas Group SA. Expected to begin worldwide service in 2014, and with a length of 382m and width of 117m, Pieter Schelte will be the world’s largest vessel of its type. It will have a topside lift capacity of 48,000 tons, a jack lift capability of 25,000 tons and a pipelay tension proficiency of 2,000 tons, effectively doubling the capability of the world’s current largest pipelay vessel, Allseas’ Solitaire.

Alphatron Marine introduces the Alphaconnect Hybrid, a type-approved on board Telephone System (PABX) with integrated IP facilities. The new Alphaconnect 48/128 hybrid uses well known Alphaconnect technology in combination with cable saving IP technology to provide internal marine communications. A dedicated app is available, to allow a smartphone to integrate with the communication system on board.

Imtech Marine (Radio Holland Netherlands) has been awarded an extensive contract from Jack-Up Barge for the communication and IT systems for its newbuild, self-elevating platform JB-118. This follows a similar contract for the JB-117, which Imtech Marine successfully completed earlier this year. Additionally, Jack-Up Barge and Imtech Marine have concluded an Advanced Support Agreement for the vessels, which includes 24/7 remote Monitoring & Maintenance and covers all of the systems onboard.

Imtech Marine’s Advanced Support Agreements, which include 24/7 remote Monitoring & Maintenance, are raising interest among ship owners. Recently, Seaway Heavy Lifting (SHL) signed a support contract for a second crane vessel. The Imtech Marine support agreement covers all of the systems onboard, including VSAT, computers, navigation and communication equipment. The maritime transport and offshore construction services company has been a customer of Imtech Marine and Radio Holland for many years and in December 2011…

The State of North Carolina has been very good to shipbuilding companies along the Gulf Coast. In the last 10 years, nearly a dozen ferries have been built or substantially modernized in Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Texas. In just the past two years, the second largest state ferry system in the nation has built two 180-ft. car/passenger ferries and substantially renovated two additional vessels. The two new ferries are literally carbon copies of each other. "They were built from the same set of plans, so it is difficult to get two vessels any more similar than that," said Dan Noe, manager of quality assurance for the North Carolina Ferry Division.

There are several quick conclusions you can draw about passenger boat construction in the new millennium. First it is a smaller market than 10 years ago with far fewer boats being built today than a decade ago. Secondly almost all of these vessels are built on the east or west coast. There are virtually no passenger boats being built in the south. Third, the number one vessel type being built is the ferryboat and more specifically the all-passenger ferry that shuttles people at 25 knots or better. In the years between 1987 and 1993 shipyards all over the country were building 600-passenger excursion-dinner boats in great numbers as sightseeing and dining vessels on America’s great rivers, lakes and bays became increasingly popular.

Following successful sea trials, Austal’s latest cruise yacht, the 36 passenger “True North” has been handed over to its owner and operator, North Star Cruises Australia. Several high-profile promotional events for local media were held whilst the vessel was in Fremantle, including a visit from rock music legend, Sting. North Star Cruises Australia Director, Craig Howson commented “True North appears to have captured the imagination of the luxury adventure cruise market. We are thrilled with the early response of both passengers and industry alike. We are particularly thrilled with the current level of enquiry and everyone at North Star is looking forward to a very successful year”.

Two new VHF radiotelephones with integral DSC and novel message replay functions, the Debeg RT 5022 and RT 5020, have been introduced by SAM Electronics. Designed to provide simplex/semi-duplex or simplex/duplex communications respectively, both systems feature intuitive-operated menus comparable to mobile phones. Separate displays for VHF and DSC functions are viewable from all angles. Conforming to all relevant international specifications and requirements and incorporating powerful 5W loudspeakers, other system features include graphical displays with a sleep mode for secondary functions, channel scanning and an address book for up to 200 DSC locations of vessels and coastal stations.

A "boutique" luxury cruise catamaran - set to meander the islands of the French Caribbean - has been delivered by Australian ship and boat builder Austal Ships. The vessel, built for discerning French owner Rivages Crossieres, is dubbed Rivage St. Martin and embodies many of the advanced technical and aesthetic design features, which define the latest advances in passenger vessel construction and outfitting. Measuring 197 x 49 x 6.9 ft. (60 x 15 x 2.1 m), Rivage St. Martin is powered by a pair of MTU 12V 2000 M70 engines, which drive two fixed pitch propellers through ZF BW 256 gearboxes to a speed of 14.5 knots. While the vessel features a host of advanced design and equipment features…

The owner of a small inland tug company has no choice but to come in to the office every Saturday morning to update his fleet and load locations for his customers; he can't reliably update his crew with change orders as the tugs frequently travel in rural areas with no cell phone coverage. On the coast, a marine ops center frequently needs to get change orders to its vessels transiting the area. Unfortunately, the center often has to wait until the boats have moved inshore before contact can be made and new orders communicated. In this case, the fastest way between points A to point B often takes an alphabetical detour, costing time and money, negatively impacting the management of valuable marine resources. Common problems? Yes.

For the second year in a row, two communications systems and two navigation products from KVH Industries, Inc. have earned "best product" awards from The National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA). TracVision 3, a new 1999 system based upon last year's award-winning TracVision II, was voted Best Satellite Television System, and Tracphone 25 was again named Best Satellite Telephone System. The company's new Azimuth GyroTrac was named Best Gyro Compass and the Azimuth 1000 was once again voted Best Electronic Compass. TracVision 3 is unique in that it combines proprietary orientation sensor and antenna pointing technologies to deliver impressive satellite tracking performance.