top news in maritime information technoloy this week subscriber version - full text SHIP SHORE COMMUNICATIONS Telenor upgrades satellite earth stations in Norway, Connecticut and California MariNet website established about shipboard web services ELECTRONICS TOTEM Plus voyage data recorder receives DNV type approval KMSS Propulsion control systems on 25 ships in China and South Korea Lilley and Gillie acquires Walker Marine Simrad opens sales and service facility in Falmouth, UK Xenex launches shipboard flat panel displays range Sperry Marine supplies bridge equipment for NATO research ship AND Group appointed UK distributor for Raytheon Marine Furuno AIS type approved by BSH SOFTWARE Transas to supply vessel traffic systems for Namibian Ports Authority Transas VTS contract in Port of Caen-Ouistreham, France Tribon.com to co-operate with Spanish Association of Marine Auxiliary Industries CONTAINERS Savi and Par Logistics work together on container seal and tracking application ship shore communications __ Telenor upgrades satellite earth stations in Norway, Connecticut and California http://www.telenor.com Inmarsat land earth station operator Telenor has upgraded its land earth stations in Eik (Norway), Santa Paula (California) and Southbury (Connecticut). It has installed high speed data communications equipment to accommodate the rise in demand for mobile high speed data services. It has installed Lucent equipment to make broadband networking easier for customers using telephone switching protocol SS7. It has also built a new 16m antenna in Norway to operate on Inmarsat's existing and promised 4th generation satellites. __ MariNet website established about shipboard web services http://www.marinet.no MariNet, an initiative to explore web based system for the maritime industry supported by the Norwegian Shipowners Association, Leif Höegh, Wilh. Wilhelmsen, Iver Ships and others, has erected a website at marinet.no. The website features MariNet's guidelines for XML Webservices projects, information about maritime satellite communications services, and most usefully powerpoint presentations from recent MariNet workshops exploring how a web based system for managing a docking could be developed. __ electronics __ TOTEM Plus voyage data recorder receives DNV type approval http://www.totemplus.com Israeli voyage data recorder manufacturer Totem Plus has received type approval for its voyage data recorder from Det Norske Veritas (DNV). Approval was also given separately to the protective memory capsule. Totem's voyage data recorder does not mix audio channels together but records 8 channels separately, compressing the data using MP3 file format. It comes standard with 2 Gb memory enough for 12 hours continuous recording. The system has already been installed on a number of new builds from Stocznia Gdynia and Samsung shipyards and several retrofits on old passenger ships, the company says. __ KMSS Propulsion control systems on 25 ships in China and South Korea http://www.kmss.no Kongsberg Maritime Ship Systems has won contracts to supply its AutoChief Propulsion Control system for 22 ships in production in China and South Korea, in orders worth NOK 7.5m (USD 1.05m). KMSS has won these orders, it says, following a company strategic decision to focus more on South Korea and Chinese shipbuilding markets. The AutoChief Propulsion Control system allows control of the propulsion plant from different areas on the ship, including bridge, bridge wing and engine control room. __ Lilley and Gillie acquire Walker Marine http://www.walkermarine.com John Lilley and Gillie, manufacturer o marine navigational instruments, equipment and charts, as acquired the assets and brands of Thomas Walker and Co which has a complementary product range. The business will continue to trade under the brand name Walker Marine. "In the past, the two companies have worked separately to provide equipment for the same ships," says the company. "This acquisition means that we can now provide a larger package, most of it from our own manufactured items, and undertake the quality and control checks, ensuring the customer gets best value and, more importantly, an effective after sales service." __ Simrad opens sales and service facility in Falmouth, UK http://www.simrad.com Maritime electronics company Simrad UK has opened a sales and service facility in Mylor Harbour, near Falmouth, Cornwall, to serve local fishing, commercial and leisure marine communications. __ Xenex launches shipboard flat panel displays range http://www.xenex.com Xenex Navigation of Vancouver has launched a line of flat panel maritime displays, intended for charting, radar and other shipboard applications. The displays are sunlight readable with screens of 12.1, 15 and 17 inches. "Cost has become an important issue in the purchase of a marine display that meets the rising standard of safe navigation," states Xenex. __ Sperry Marine supplies bridge equipment for NATO research ship http://www.sperrymarine.com Sperry Marine has won an order to supply a suite of bridge electronics for a new coastal research vessel being built by McTay Marine for NATO Undersea Research Centre of La Spezia, Italy. The system includes X and S band radars with 18-inch high resolution flat panel displays, a compass, and data repeater. __ AND Group appointed UK distributor for Raytheon Marine http://www.and-group.com AND Group, a UK supplier of maritime navigation and communication equipment, has been appointed as sole UK distributor for Raytheon Marine products, spares and service. "We intend to take a radically new approach to both the distribution of product and the provision of spares and service," says AND. "We believe Raytheon is the strongest brand in the market, and our focus will be on further increasing brand awareness and ensuring that the end user enjoys a first class experience both at the point of purchase and any subsequent service requirements". AND is currently looking for sub-distributors for new product and spare part sales. AND Group has a flexible financing agreement available to UK shipowners and shipoperators, which can run from 1 to 5 years. New products planned from Raytheon for launch in the 2nd quarter of 2003 include a new gyrocompass with reduced maintenance and service costs, a range of IMO approved radars with flat panel displays, and a GPS gyrocompass. __ Furuno AIS type approved by BSH http://www.furuno.com Furuno's Automatic Identification System (AIS) FA-100 has been type approved and wheel mark approved by German testing agency BSH. __ software __ Transas to supply vessel traffic systems for Namibian Ports Authority http://www.transas.com Transas has received two orders from the Namibian Ports Authority (NAMPORT) to supply vessel traffic systems at two Namibian Ports, Walvis Bay and Luderitz. Transas will supply two independent port surveillance systems allowing tracking of vessels in ports and surrounding areas up to 24 nautical miles. The deal follows Transas installing VTS in Moroccan ports Jorf Lasfar, Mohammedia and Tangier. __ Transas VTS contract in Port of Caen-Ouistreham, France http://www.transas.com The Port of Caen-Ouistreham, France, has recently started operating a vessel traffic system developed by maritime software company Transas. The system has been delivered and installed jointly by Electronic Equipment, Transas's local French sales and services partner, and Transas Europe GmbH. The system includes a Kelvin Hughes X-band radar with remote control and operator software, with processing at the Harbour Master's office. The Harbour Master can use the system to track ships at up to 30 nautical miles. "The system has arrived right in time, as the winter season brings a lot of fog here in Normandy," says Phillip Auzou, the Harbour Captain. "Sometimes we have less than 50 meters of sight and the VTS helps us to survey our area of responsibility and increase the safety of harbour activities." __ Tribon.com to co-operate with Spanish Association of Marine Auxiliary Industries http://www.tribon.com Online shipbuilding parts database Tribon.com has announced a tie up with the Spanish Association of Marine Auxiliary Industries (AEDIMAR), whereby AEDIMAR members will be able to participate in Tribon.com. Tribon.com has a database of parts including 3D models, design information, pictures, technical specifications and commercial information. "We are constantly looking for ways to improve the productivity and profitability for our members," says AEDIMAR. __ containers __ Savi and Par Logistics work together on container seal and tracking application http://www.savi.com Savi Technology, a manufacturer of bolt radio seals for containers, has announced a tie-up with Par Technology Corporation, a manufacturer of container tracking systems using cellular phone communications and GPS. The two will work together to assess how well the technologies can work together in a combined system for tracking containers and ensuring that they have not been opened, between times the containers are inspected to the times they are cleared through customs. The US Department of Transportation and US Department of Defense is also involved in the project. "This kind of new technology will help to enhance the security of our nation's transportation system by enabling us to track cargo shipments," comments the US Department of Transportation. "E-Seals are just one part of our department's security-focused program that applies both technology and human capital to safeguard America's transportation system." A field test is being run with container transport from a US Defense Logistics Agency supply facility in Virginia, USA to a distribution centre in Germersheim, Germany, with transport by Lykes Lines via the ports of Norfolk and Rotterdam. The data will be gathered at a centre in New York State, from where it will be made available to customers via the internet or integrated directly into customers' information systems. __ HAVE A GREAT CHRISTMAS FROM ALL OF US AT DIGITAL SHIP 213 Marsh Wall London E14 9FJ http://www.thedigitalship.com