ISF launches seafarer management software http://www.itenergy.net UK maritime software company IT Energy has launched a shipboard software package, Watchkeeper 2.0, to help shipboard staff check their hours worked is in compliance with ILO (International Labour Organisation) work hour limits. The software also produces the records of seafarers hours worked, as required by Port State Control around the world, and checks the hours are in compliance with other work hour regulations including STCW 95 and OPA 90. The software is also available in a network version, so seafarers can input their working hours on different computers and view other people's working hours. If there was a contravention to the working hours, seafarers can input comments as to why. The software costs GBP 150 per user. Michael Papageorge from IT energy says that the system has already been purchased by "several hundred companies", with BP, in particular being a big user, with the system across their whole fleet. "BP tried to develop a system of their own then they heard about ours," he says. The system can be used to manage schedules onboard ships, based around each seafarer's role; seafarers can type in their role and download the schedule. Color Line uses ENCs on all vessels http://www.colorline.com Color Line of Norway is planning to remove paper charts from all 10 of its vessels, relying totally on electronic charts, Primar Stavanger reports. Color Line has been gradually installing ECDIS and ENCs on its vessels over the past few years. “Since the coverage of electronic charts approved by both flag states and the IMO is available, it’s a matter of course for us to use ENCs on type-approved navigation systems to improve navigational safety and efficiency,” says Color Line superintendent Alfred Stensønes. Mr Stensønes says he believes that electronic charts boost safety of navigation, since they represent the highest quality and accuracy available in the market. However he stresses that captains and navigators must be properly trained and familiarised with the systems before paper charts are removed. Primar Stavanager and IC-ENC make friends http://www.primar-stavanger.com Efforts are underway between electronic chart distribution organizations Primar Stavanger and IC-ENC to repair their tortured relationship, making it easier for vessels to use charts sourced through both Primar Stavanger and IC-ENC on the same vessel. The chief executive of the Norwegian Hydrographic Office, Frode Klepsvik, the head of the UK Hydrographic Office, Dr Wyn Williams, and the president of the International Hydrographic Bureau, VAdm Alexandros Maratos, signed a letter of intent, vaguely saying it would mean “users of ENC data from both RENCs will for the first time have access to a variety of seamless and reliable ENC services.” “It is an important step forward for digital charting and exactly the kind of collaboration which will not only provide a platform for real progress and development but it will also provide the mariner with choice, and accessible, seamless services for official navigational data,” said VAdm Alexandros Maratos. “We live in a digital age where people can get in their cars and satellite navigation systems will not only plot a route but provide real-time information on how to avoid traffic jams, says Dr Williams, Operator of IC-ENC and Chief Executive of UKHO. “It’s absurd to expect those same drivers to then board their ship and unroll paper charts.” “The benefits that technology can bring to navigation are considerable and it is imperative that IC-ENC and PRIMAR-Stavanger lead the way in providing choice and solutions to the teething problems that digital navigation has been experiencing.” “Both RENCs have been looking for some time at finding ways to improve services and promote development in this field”, says Frode Klepsvik, “The two RENCs working in cooperation is an excellent leap forward, which, in line with the WEND principles as articulated by the IHO, will ensure cohesive, accessible services for the mariner.” Primar Stavanger said that the discussion was about encrypting ENCs in the S63 format, the encryption system used and developed by Primar but now become a IHO standard. If both Primar Stavanager and IC-ENC are sending out charts in the same format, this should be easier for the shipboard ECDIS system to understand. “The two RENCs will work with everyone involved in the IHO S63 standard to ensure wide and rapid take-up of this data protection scheme as well as the delivery of integrated, user-friendly navigation services to mariners. They will soon start delivering additional services to support these initiatives,” Primar Stavanger said. Some of the Primar Stavanger distributors will be allowed to encrypt raw ENC data themselves into S-63 format and generate permit files. This means that the encryption keys and authorization to use ENCs can be supplied by the chart distributor rather than the hydrographic office. To date many hydrographic offices had insisted that they have complete control over the distribution, at the expense of ease of use of the chart files onboard ships; most chart suppliers have more incentive and expertise than hydrographic offices do to make sure the systems work well onboard. Primar Stavanger is planning to set up a joint discussion forum for the two RENCs so that important technical information can easily be shared between them. The two sides are also planning to exchange information when testing validation software, as well as the details they enter into their individual error databases. In a separate development, IC-ENC attended the second meeting of the S63 eXtended working group, hosted by the International Hydrographic Bureau, which aims to make ENCs work better onboard ship, finding better ways to package them together and improve tne encryption system. A new industry standard for “ECDIS passport” has been developed: this is a data file any shipboard ECDIS system can generate, which provides information about the ECDIS owner, so the chart supplier can make sure they get the right data and they do not give data to someone not authorized to received it / not paying for it. Lloyds Register fuel cell research http://www.lr.org Lloyd's Register has a number of projects to explore the use of fuel cells onboard ships to replace shipboard power sources. Fuel cells generate electricity onboard from the reaction between hydrogren and oxygen. Oxygen comes from the air but hydrogen is more tricky - its not practical to store hydrogen onboard the ship so there needs to be a way to make it out of the ship fuel. Other problems are doing something about the salt in the air going into fuel cells, and the rocking of the ship, also doing something about the long start-up times. The European Commission recently funded a two year project exploring fuel cell technology for ships.