NEWS JULY 11 BEGIN Maritime security G8 summit addresses maritime security Hutchison, PSA and P&O Port Holdings to collaborate in port security in US European Union announces requirements for automatic identification systems Ship shore communications Leica Geosystems restructures its marine navigation division Nauticast offers AIS Jotron to introduce new AIS system STN Atlas develops remote diagnostic and servicing system Globe Wireless produces computer training system for onboard ships NewsLink adds additions from Netherlands, Spain, Romania and Yugoslavia Thuraya offers e-mail service McMurdo parent acquires ICS Electronics Alaska Tanker Company to install Digitrace e-mail service Knut Reed resigns as Xantic CEO Software and e-business 75 per cent Netherlands shipbuilders use e-commerce - survey Shipbuilding IT ICCAS conference program online MarineProvider signs up MyTravel Sun Cruises Ship Analytics upgrades simulator in Taiwan University Maersk Sealand provides online chat help KMSS to supply inland waterway simulator in Netherlands Transas installs "Z-Drive" simulator in California Tribon signs 5 year agreement with Californian shipyard Tribon establishes user groups Transas installs first VTMS simulator in Russia Maritime security G8 summit addresses maritime security http://www.g8.gc.ca/kan_docs/tranterror-e.asp, The G8 summit, with leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, UK, US and European Union, has addressed issues of maritime security at its recent meeting in Alberta, Canada, June 26-27. The G8 is the only international group with any real clout to implement and enforce regulation. Agreements made relevant to the maritime industry are as follows: To work towards agreement by June 2003 on minimum standards for issuance of seafarers identity documents, for adoption at the International Labour Organisation To work "expeditiously" to develop and implement an improved global container security regime to identify and examine high risk containers and ensure their in-transit integrity To develop pilot projects that model an integrated container security regime To implement "expeditiously, by 2005 wherever possible" common standards for electronic customs reporting To begin work "expeditiously" within the G8 and World Customs Organisation to require advance electronic information about containers, including their location and transit, as early as possible in the trade chain. To support the acceleration of the date of installation of automatic identification systems (AIS) on certain ships to December 2004 The support the requirement of mandatory ship security plans and ship security officers onboard ships by July 2004 To support mandatory port facility security plans and port facility security assessments. G8 will review progress every six months, and G8 experts will promote "policy coherence and co-ordination" within the International Maritime Organisation, World Customs Organisation and International Labour Organisation. The Government of the Russian Federation, alone, reserved the right to extend the time frame for installation of AIS on "certain ships" and development of port facility security plans and assessments to the year 2006. Hutchison, PSA and P&O Port Holdings to collaborate in port security in US http://www.savi.com The world's three largest seaport operations, Hutchison Port Holdings, PSA Port Holdings and P&O Port Holdings, together representing over 70 per cent of the world's container traffic, have announced plans to collaborate in developing a security system for containers entering US ports. The technology, described as "automated tracking detection and security technology," is based on the work completed by US technology company SAVI for the US Department of Defence. It is called "Total Asset Visibility" and builds on Savi's "Universal Data Appliance Protocol" which allows data collection devices such as GPS receivers and radio tags to input data. There will be a database system to register individuals, authorise roles, and capture container tracking and security through the supply chain, passing data to the US Customs and other US government agencies, enabling them to identify high risk containers. Infrastructure will include electronic seals, sensor devices and web-based software. Working with shippers, carriers, service providers, US terminal operators and non-US terminal operators, containers will be tracked and automatically authenticated from the point of manufacturing, through the port of loading and port of discharge. The initiative, dubbed "Smart and Secure Tradelanes" (SST), builds on existing infrastructure and technology, so it can start straight away, with the idea that new technologies can be absorbed as they emerge. "Lots of studies are planned or have been conducted over the past 10 months, and still we do not have an answer for supply chain security," comments General John Coburn. "The ports and shippers are demanding realistic solutions that can be tested today and adapted and built upon in the future." Hutchison manages 30 ports in Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas, accounting for 45 per cent of total import container traffic to US ports. PSA handles 25 per cent of the world's container transhipment volumes and operates 13 container terminals including Singapore, Antwerp, Incheon, Venice and Brunei. P&O Ports operators 21 container terminals and 84 ports. Solution provides include Savi Technology, which built the "Total Asset Visibility" radio tag tracking system for the US Department of Defense; Sandler Travis, an international trade law and consulting firm; Qualcomm, a mobile fleet management company, and Parsons Brinckerhoff, the largest transport and infrastructure engineering firm in the world. Funding comes from the three port operators, who are very keen to ensure that the increase in security can occur without any decrease in efficiency at the port. "The Port Authority of Singapore is participating in this project to ensure that we remain on the leading edge of information technologies that can improve the speed, efficiency and security of port operations for the world' s carriers and shippers," said Ng Chee Keong, group president for PSA Corporation Ltd. "The stakes are too high not to take immediate action in using the latest technologies to protect the safety and security of the world's sea ports, through which 90 percent of word's freight moves every day," said John nMeredith, group managing director of Hutchison Port Holdings, a subsidiary of Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. "P&O Ports is pleased to be a key participant in this innovative project, which will undoubtedly help to bring about new standards for supply chain security," said Ned Holmes, Chairman of P&O North America, Inc. and formerly Commissioner of the Port of Houston Authority. "The Port of Seattle welcomes the SST initiative." Said Mic Dinsmore, Executive Director, Port of Seattle. "As one of the primary Pacific gateways into the US, the Port of Seattle must take a leadership role in establishing systems that ensure the safety and security of ocean cargo. European Union announces requirements for automatic identification systems http://europa.eu.int/scadplus/leg/en/lvb/l24243.htm Meanwhile, the European Union has reached its own agreements on requirements for automatic identification systems. The stated ambition is to establish a monitoring, control and information system for shipping, to enhance safety and efficiency of traffic and prevent pollution by ships. The directive covers ships of over 300gt, except for warships, recreational craft, fishing vessels under 45 metres and ships used for non-commercial public service. Ships must notify their arrival prior to entry into European Community ports. Ships entering the "area of competence" of a coastal station with a mandatory reporting system approved by IMO must participate in it. Ships entering the "area of competence" of a vessel traffic service must comply with any IMO-approved ship routing systems, and must use the vessel traffic services. Any ship calling at a port in the Community must be fitted with an Automatic Identification System to IMO standards. Any ship calling at a port must be fitted with a voyage data recorder. Shippers are under obligations to ensure that accurate detailed information about the cargo is sent to the shipmaster and this corresponds to any dangerous goods onboard. Various information about the ship and cargo must be notified to the authorities of the port of departure, if in the European Community. Member states must co-operate to ensure interoperability of their national information systems to exchange information about them. "Appropriate" measures must be taken for ships posing a hazard to shipping, with a view to preventing or reducing their risk to safety or the environment. Co-operation must be arranged between the European Commission and Member States with a view to future development of the European monitoring, control and information system for maritime traffic, covering development of links between coastal stations and port authorities and extension of the coverage of the European monitoring system. Efforts must be made to improve management of information about shipping, one of the tasks of the European Maritime Safety Agency. Ship shore communications Leica Geosystems restructures its marine navigation division http://www.mx-marine.com Maritime navigation electronics company Leica Geosystems has reorganised its marine GPS business unit, with a new branding MX-Marine, focussing high seas commercial marine business; The label MX refers to "Magnavox," a leader in satellite navigation systems for 40 years; Leica acquired Magnavox's GPS business in 1994. All of Leica's GPS, DGPS and AIS receivers will now be sold under the MX-Marine brand, as well as the DGPS beacon infrastructure business. A new website has been posted at www.mx-marine.com, which will eventually provide manuals, technical drawings and marketing materials for dealers, along with order placing and tracking. Nauticast offers AIS http://www.nauticast.com Austrian AIS manufacturer Nauticast is promising BSH-approved vessel automatic identification systems. The AIS systems are not yet type approved but the approval process with BSH is currently well underway, the company says. Nauticast is a start-up business with just 10 employees, owned by venture capital and management, established to capitalise on the expected market for AIS systems. The manufacturing of the units is outsourced to Siemens, which currently has manufacturing capability of 1000 units per month, although this can be increased as market demands. Siemens also provides global service and support. The AIS unit is size 200 x 60 x 280mm. It can interface with a PC, notebook computer, radar, ECDIS and voyage data recorder. It is already accredited for the Danube River Information System (DoRIS). Jotron to introduce new AIS system http://www.jotron.no Norwegian maritime electronics company Jotron is launching a new UHF radio and AIS system at the forthcoming SMM exhibition. The transceiver is fully waterproof with an illuminated keyboard and backlit display. It will also launch an automatic identification system. STN Atlas develops remote diagnostic and servicing system http://www.stn-atlas.com German maritime electronics company STN Atlas is developing a remote diagnostic and servicing function for its NACOS integrated navigation systems. This will enable people to dial into the bridge system from shore, using a PC, the internet and Inmarsat -B. No special software will be needed, only Internet Explorer. The shipboard bridge system has a special processor on it, which can generate data in HTML format so it can be perused over internet explorer. Users on shore will be able to peruse sensor and configuration data and error logs. The system will be extended to offer uploading of configuration data and downloading of radar images. The system will undergo trials from October this year onboard Swedish icebreaker Frej, in collaboration with the Swedish Maritime Administration, the Danish Maritime Institute, Lloydıs Register of Shipping and others as part of the EU-funded ATOMOS IV project (Advance Techniques to Optimise Maritime Operation Service - Intelligent Vessel). Globe Wireless produces computer training system for onboard ships http://www.globewireless.com Maritime communications company Globe Wireless has launched a computer-based video training system to run onboard ship, showing seafarers how to use its e-mail and data communication system. The training is in a number of different languages; there are subtitles, so people can use it if they don't have speakers on their computers. In particular, it explains how users can reduce the cost of their communication. The system was developed together with Capt Pradeep Chawlo of Anglo Eastern Ship Management. NewsLink adds additions from Netherlands, Spain, Romania and Yugoslavia http://www.newslinkservices.com Newslink, the daily electronic seafarer newspaper, has added additions from Holland, Spain, Romania and Yugoslavia. It has also appointed Alexandra Rapessi as marketing and sales manager in Piraeus, Greece. Thuraya offers e-mail service http://www.thuraya.com Maritime communications company Thuraya is now enabling its users to send e-mails from their satellite phones, without taking out any special internet connection or subscription. No activation is required; sending e-mail is similar to sending a short text message. Thuraya has launched the first anniversary of its commercial services. It has just introduced terrestrial service in Saudi Arabia, Mauritania and Niger, reporting that particularly good markets are Pakistan, Algeria and Nigeria. McMurdo parent acquires ICS Electronics http://www.mcmurdo.co.uk ICS Electronics, a maritime communications company based in the UK, has been acquired by Chemring Group, parent of electronics company McMurdo. ICS manufacturers radio and satellite communication systems, weather fax systems and coast radio stations. This product range complements the marine safety products made by McMurdo, including satellite distress beacons, search and rescue transponders. Alaska Tanker Company to install Digitrace e-mail service http://www.marinepress.com Alaska Tanker Company, US West Coast oil carrier, has decided to install Digitrace, the e-mail Notices to Mariners service, on all of its 10 vessels. Alaska Tanker Company has also decided to buy the physical charts and publications from Marine Press of Canada. Knut Reed resigns as Xantic CEO http://www.xantic.net Knut Reed has resigned as CEO of maritime communications and software company Xantic, moving back to his family in Norway. "This has not been an easy decision to take but after three years of only seeing my family during short weekends, I want and need to return to a normal lifestyle, close to my wife and children," he says. Ronald Spithout takes the role of interim CEO. Software and e-business 75 per cent Netherlands shipbuilders use e-commerce - survey http://www.seaquipment.com A survey of Dutch shipbuilders and suppliers by shipbuilding e-commerce company www.seaquipment.com found that 75 per cent of the companies use the internet for "supporting acquisition processes," whilst 50 per cent of Dutch shipyards use the internet for purchasing, communicating with 35 per cent of suppliers. About 30 per cent of participants said that they would like to put their actual transaction over the internet; 85 per cent wanted to see technical data, graphical data and purchase data on the web, although only 35 per cent of companies said they were willing to present this data on the internet. 90 per cent of the Dutch maritime industry has e-mail, and 50 per cent of people have internet access. Shipbuilding IT ICCAS conference program online http://www.iccas-conferences.com The International Conference on Computer Applications in Shipbuilding has now put the agenda online for its conference in Malo, Sweden, Sept 9-12. Highlights include presentations by Tribon, NAPA, ZuHakuWeb, ClassNK, Germanischer Lloyd, Anteon Corporation, Logimatic Software, Universe Ships, QinetiQ, Daewoo, ShipyardXchange, Marine e-Business Standards Association, Northrop Grumman, Resurgence Software, DNV Software, Finncantieri, Mitsubishi and Todd Shipyards. MarineProvider signs up MyTravel Sun Cruises http://www.marineprovider.com E-procurement company MarineProvider has extended its agreement with MyTravel Sun Cruises, signing a "multi-year" contract to use MarineProvider. The contract follows Sun Cruises using MarineProvider for four months. "After only four months of conducting our technical procurement electronically, it is very clear to us that e-procurement offers considerable benefit to strategic procurement and is the way forward for vessel management" says Mr Liam Herbert, Technical Purchaser of Sun Cruises. "Cruise vessels have a much higher procurement need than an average commercial vessel, with a lot more work involved on the purchasing side. The MarineProvider e-Procurement Solution seamlessly integrates into our back office AMOS M&P system and has certainly improved our purchasing efficiencies and the functionality of our AMOS M&P system. Ship Analytics upgrades simulator in Taiwan University http://www.shipanalytics.com Maritime simulator company Ship Analytics is upgrading the visual display on its simulator at the National Taiwan Oceanographic University, using an Evans and Sutherland image generator. The upgrade is being made to allow the system to run at higher speeds with a better display. The University will host the annual meeting of the Marine Simulation Forum in September this year, showcasing its new capability at the meeting. Maersk Sealand provides online chat help http://www.maersksealand.com Shipping line Maersk Sealand is offering 24-hour live online chat help over its website, providing assistance with using the website from a real person. If people are struggling with using the website, for example, have issues with their company firewalls in accessing the data, or would just like someone to hold their hand in getting used to the service, then the online chat can help. The support is available 24 hours a day, provided from centres in the US and India. It is accessed simply by pressing "Live Help" on the website then just entering your name, e-mail address, company and phone number. The customer representatives are able to guide the user to specific web pages; for example, if the user was struggling to work out how to see a list of his cargoes, the customer representatives can make it appear on the customer's screen. However the help is geared around showing customers how to use the website, not actually finding what they want for them. Much of the assistance given, the company says, is solving website operational issues, if a customer is unable to use the service due to the security settings on his Internet Explorer or corporate firewalls. At the end of the session, users can optionally receive a full transcript of the conversation sent by e-mail. KMSS to supply inland waterway simulator in Netherlands http://www.kmss.no Kongsberg Maritime Ship Systems (KMSS) has won a contract to supply an inland waterway simulator to NOVA College Shipping, Transport and Logistics Unit in Ijmuiden, Netherlands. This is a repeat order; KMSS has previously delivered two Polaris systems and an engine room simulator to the college. It includes 3 inland waterway cubicles. Transas installs "Z-Drive" simulator in California http://www.transas.com Maritime software company Transas has installed a Z-Drive Console, modelling a "reverse" tractor tug with Z-Drive propulsion modules, at its simulator in the California Maritime Academy (CMA). The simulator was provided by Transas USA and installed by Transas and Buffalo Computer Graphics. Tribon signs 5 year agreement with Californian shipyard http://www.tribon.com Shipbuilding software company Tribon has signed a five year agreement with the National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO), which will use the software at its San Diego shipyard, California, for design and production of naval and commercial ships. NASSCO has been using the Tribon Hull system since 1995, implementing the entire Tribon system for all hull and outfitting applications in 1997. Tribon establishes user groups http://www.tribon.com Shipbuilding software company Tribon has established user groups of shipyards, equipment and system suppliers, to continue development of design integration and e-commerce functionality of Tribon.com. The first user group will be in Europe, followed by groups in Asian countries. "We have a longstanding tradition of customer driven development," the company says. Tribon.com is currently used by 100 shipyards and 200 suppliers. Transas installs first VTMS simulator in Russia http://www.transas.com Maritime software company Transas has installed a vessel traffic management system (VTMS) training simulator complex at Makarov Maritime Academy in St Petersburg, Russia, through its Russian agent Transas Eurasia. This is the first simulator of its kind to be installed in Russia, Transas says. It includes one instructor station, two specialised work places, a full-scale navigation bridge with real control panels and a visualisation system. It can simulate 48 township models and 43 sailing areas. The simulator is based on actual VTS software used in Transas systems.