EUROPORT MAIN HEAD Europort 2003 Europort, the international maritime trade exhibition to be held in Amsterdam in 18-22 November, will have 530 exhibitors representing over 750 suppliers, with 54 per cent of suppliers from outside the Netherlands. Here is a review of the products on display related to maritime software, satcoms and electronics. SUBHEAD Xantic Xantic will present its Fleet 33, 55 and 77 services, including the potential of Fleet 77 MPDS always on. It will demonstrate AMOS Connect, its messaging system which combines telex, fax, e-0mail and interoffice communication, running over the Inmarsat Fleet services. It will demonstrate a new feature on AMOS Maintenance and Purchase, the shipboard maintenance management package, which enables the system to integrate with handheld computers being used by shipboard engineers. SUBHEAD MAXSEA Mixes will present version 10 of its PC-based navigation system. The new system has a simplified user interface and can also be used to display all AIS data. MaxSea can also be integrated with radar so that it displays radar targets on an electronic chart. There are alarms to warn if you come near land, buoys or special security zones, go off course or lose a positioning signal. It displays the vessel's drift vector. MaxSea also provides world weather data with forecasts of up to 15 days. Customers include Bergen Shipping, Nor-Cargo, Seatrans, Marphocean and the Kuwait and Tunisian Navy. MaxSea has recently won the tender to equip the 22 new boats of the French Coast Guards. SUBHEAD Alphatron Maritime electronics distributor Alphatron Marine will display equipment from their main partners including JRC, Yokogawa, Skanti, Orbit, SG Brown, Kelvin Hughes, Navysat, Zenitel. Alphatron Marine is also putting on display its own product line called Alphaline. Started as river equipment only, in 1998 the Alphaline extended its portfolio to deep sea and workboat navigation like autopilots, ECDIS, conning screens and control panels. The Alphachart ECDIS system is fully type approved. A new development of Alphatron is the Alphaconn conning system. Alphaconn can be configured at the owners preference as the software is an exclusive, fully in house Alphatron product. Orders for Alphaconn have been received so far for four container feeders, the new TESO-ferry currently under construction at Damen Shipyard and a 56 meter mega yacht. It will demonstrate the Orbit deep sea satellite television system. Its in-house engineering department designs and pre-installs complete ship distribution systems for TV and radio. These systems can also be used for Internet access at sea, although only work when you are under the limited satellite coverage area. JRC will display a new range of radar equipment on the Alphatron stand with a roller ball control and flat screen (TFT). JRC will also display its AIS system. It will display its Inmarsat Fleet antenna using the mechanical construction of an Inmarsat B. Alphatron will demonstrate its simplified voyage data recorder, expected to be required carriage on all vessels around 2007 to 2008. SUBHEAD Radio Holland In co-operation with Furuno, Radio Holland will launch a series of Furuno black box deep-sea radars. It will demonstrate the AVECS ship management system, including tools for parts management, stock control, maintenance control, document management, emergency control, crew management, payroll, cargo manning and planning, dangerous goods, It will present Stein Sohn shipboard automation equipment, for monitoring and controlling technical systems onboard ships. It will show its VISTA ALARM system, an integrated system for alarm, monitoring and controlling ships. It will demonstrate its airtime services through its subsidiary brand Radio Holland Connect, covering Fleet 33, 55 and 77. It will demonstrate the Sea Tel 4003 broadband at sea Ku band maritime VSAT system. Following the management buyout in June 2002, Radio Holland has established new branches in China, Canada and Curacao. There will be a computer network with a mock up captain's cabin, engine control room, ship's office, crew communication corner, shore office and simulated bridge console, showing how the different computer applications can network together. This includes the Rydex maritime e-mail system, Transas electronic charts, Datamation conning display, Seacos loading software, Stein Sohn engine room automation software and the AVECS ship management system. Also on display will be Ship@Sight, a shipboard security alarm system sending the data to the internet. The shipowner can log onto www.radioholland.nl and find out where his ships are. There will be a DVD server, enabling seafarers to watch the same DVD movie in several locations on the ship at the same time. The DVDs and CDs can be saved on the server. IMAGES 1. File, vista alarm.zip contains Screenshots of Stein Sohn Vista Alarm System. Select for example Steam.bmp. 2 Picture 'Screenshot Crewmaster'= screenshot of AVECS Ship Management Screens 3. Sea Tel VSAT 4003. 4. Ship@Sight screenshot SUBHEAD Raytheon Marine Raytheon Marine Products will launch its Gyro Compass 22, a successor to 20, in operation on over 5,300 ships. Raytheon says that this gyro compass is inductive, has a slip ring free power transmission, and has a high accuracy and reliability. Its Rate of Turn signal output meets IMO requirements and can be used to feed an AIS. Also on display will be GPS Compass Standard 21, intended for non-SOLAS ships of below 300 grt. If the GPS antenna is temporarily covered, the course information can be calculated using rate of turn sensors. Raytheon will also introduce a computer-based radar system, claiming to be the "first manufacturer of radars who introduces High-Performance Radar Systems based on high integrated computer technology into the market." It will also demonstrate new autopilots which work together with Raytheon ECDIS. It will demonstrate a new GMDSS radio station which runs on a table top. Raytheon Marine currently employs over 470 people and supports over 20,000 vessels. SUBHEAD France Telecom France Telecom will launch the full Inmarsat Fleet family, 33, 55 and 77. There will be videoconference over Fleet 55, demonstrating ISDN and MPDS mode. The company will demonstrate its free SkyFile software for data transmission by e-mail, fax and SMS over Inmarsat and Iridium. It will have a new service SkyFile Meteo for weather by e-mail. SUBHEAD STN Atlas IMAGE An Atlas integrated Ship Control Centre (SCC) which will be one of the main features on SAM Electronics' Europort stand. STN Atlas will demonstrate its Ship Control Centre (SCC) with all main bridge equipment operating functions including a NACOS navigation command system with radar controlled track pilot. It will show the latest results of the EU-funded EPDIS (electronic pilot display information system) project which was headed by STN Atlas. The aim is to improve safety of vessels in congested waters by integrating data from various different sources together and make 3d presentations. It will exhibit a new dual frequency sounder with integrated temperature sensor. It will show its Debeg 3270 Inmarsat Fleet satcom terminal and a new ship security alert system. It will show a generator management module for generator protection and control of shipboard computer networks. It will show systems for sending data back to shore, as developed together with Lyngsoe Marine, recently installed onboard SNCM ferry Pascal Paoli. SUBHEAD Tideland Signal Tideland Signal will demonstrate its range of aids to marine navigation, including for ports, harbours, lighthouses, inland waterways, commercial and offshore oil installations. This include fixed and rotating lanterns, buoys, racons, offshore warning systems and major navigation systems, all electrically powered and designed for use with solar generation, primary batteries, mains power or a combination. Tideland Maritime will demonstrate its capability in the supply, installation and support of VTS and AIS networks. These can be integrated with other safety and security sensors to provide reliable and affordable solutions for inland waterways, ports and coastal authorities. SUBHEAD Nauticast Nauticast Schiffsnavigationssysteme AG will be presented at Europort at the joint Stand of AMEM (Austrian Marine Equipment Manufacturers). There will be a live demonstration and Nauticast AG promises some surprising "show-effects" prepared at the stand to prove the unique functionalities of its X-Pack DS AIS Transponder. SUBHEAD ShipLoc ShipLoc will demonstrate its shipboard security alert system as approved by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB). A small discrete waterproof unit includes an Argos transmitter, a GPS receiver, a battery pack in case of main power failure and a flat antenna. The system also allows ships to be tracked in real time. In the event of a piracy or terrorist attack, the IMB is notified and the IMB can contact local coast guards and marine police to request a quick and efficient intervention. ShipLoc is operated by CLS, a subsidiary of French Space Agency CNES. www.shiploc.com SUBHEAD SES Greek maritime software house Shipmanagement Expert Systems (SES) will demonstrate a new "Smart" shipmanagement software, covering technical, purchasing and cost control software. The software runs on windows. The software can be installed in the office through standard Windows installation procedure, and on the ship can be installed by just copying the files onto the shipboard computer. The package, including training and a database, costs just $2,000 per vessel, covering both onboard and office packages. "Smart focuses on integrating the Technical and Purchasing departments of a shipping company with its vessels in accordance with the new international regulations, for effective management," says SES. "These are some of the most difficult and cost sensitive areas to manage in shipping as the current organizational level lacks integration and effectiveness." The prime target of the development effort was making a product which can be installed, implemented and operated with no training. SUBHEAD CONRAC Conrac will introduce a new shipboard flat screen display, CONRAC 6023 SD, designed for shipboard use. It can be used for ECDIS, radar or ship control display, with clear and well readable pictures independent of the light conditions. The display has ECDIS (IEC 61174), navigation (EN60945A3) and radar (EN 60936-1) approvals. There is a maximum resolution of 1600x1200 pixels (UXGA), contrast ratio of 500:1, precise convergence, sharp image reproduction, low power and emission levels as well as high magnetic field immunity. The display has a rugged design with robust seawater resistant aluminium housing treated to protect from corrosion. The enhanced shock and vibration resistance as well as extended temperature range guarantees a high lifetime in critical ambient conditions. CONRAC will also introduce CONRAC 6019 SD, a 19 inch flat screen monitor with a maximum resolution of 1280x1024 pixels (SXGA), contrast ratio of 500:1, precise convergence, sharp image reproduction, low power and emission levels as well as high magnetic field immunity. SUBHEAD Marlink Marlink will demonstrate a new self service tool for Marlink customers to more directly and effectively manage their communications accounts. SUBHEAD UKHO The UK Hydrographic Office will launch its Admiralty ECDIS service for the first time, currently undergoing sea trials ahead of commercial launch scheduled for early 2004. The system enables shipping companies to use official electronic vector charts together with official raster charts when the vector charts are not available. Customers are supplied with the vector charts as they become available, replacing the corresponding ARCS charts. They pay only for charts used, using a system unlock code numbers. This means that if the ship has a change of route due to business changes or emergency, the right charts are always available. UKHO will roll out a new service for ARCS navigator, enabling users of its electronic raster charts (ARCS) to access corrections over the internet at any time. The service is free of charge to all ARCS navigator customers. SUBHEAD Kongsberg The restructured Kongsberg Maritime will demonstrate its new AutoChief propulsion control system, using knowledge gained from working with all main engine manufacturers for 35 years. It enables the seafarers to control all medium and low speed diesel engines. The system integrates with the DataChief C20 machinery automation system, enabling sharing of essential sensorsw between the systems, requiring just one interface to the main engine. It will also demonstrate FleetMaster electronic logbook, designed as a replacement for paper logbooks but with added functionality such as automated repeat entries and ability to send report data back to shoe. The electronic logbook has already been through extensive sea-trials, involving six shipping companies. All six companies have kept FleetMaster on board and three vessels have already thrown away their paper logbooks in favour of the FleetMaster system. Kongsberg has been ongoing a comprehensive restructuring program during summer this year, leading to Kongsberg Maritime being the operational company for Kongsberg Simrad, Kongsberg Maritime Ship Systems and MarItco. SUBHEAD Simrad Simrad UK will demonstrate its A170 type approved automatic identification system, based on the Kongsberg Seatex AIS 100 system, already used in offshore markets. It will also exhibit its shipboard Sat TV with new technology to reduce picture interference. It needs no external compass and is cable free internally. It will also exhibit its range of ChartRadars, Chartplotters, ChartSounders and ChartRadarSounders, with an easy to operate control panel and faster processors, good for fast updates and redraws. SUBHEAD Norcontrol Norcontrol will demonstrate its port management IT system and vessel traffic systems. The Port Management Information System is available in 3 levels, standard, professional and enterprise. Standard Level can be used by small to medium sized ports, covering voyage planning, cargo planning, resource management, vessel management and reporting. Professional level covers additionally detailed management tools for waste, incidents, cargo, invoicing and statistical analysis. Enterprise level is for ports r3equireing real time access to data and port's key performance indicators. Norcontrol will demonstrate its AIS base station systems SUBHEAD ChartWorld ChartWorld will demonstrate what it claims is the "world's most complete folio of ENCs out of official and non-official sources". Charts can be delivered to vessels on CD by courier or downloaded over the internet. Users can substitute official data with private data when official data is not available. ChartWorld sells both IC-ENC and Primar charts. It is promoting itself as a One Stop Shop for all charts. SUBHEAD Transas Transas will demonstrate its ISPS system for ports and waterside, Navi-Monitor; essentially a vessel traffic system which is for monitoring, rather than controlling, the vessel traffic. It is intended for small ports, offshore oil and gas platforms, wind farms and coast guards. It will also demonstrate Navi-bridge, a navigation system combining ECDIS, radar and conning stations. Navi-bridge collects data from all sensors into a single system for optimised presentation of the navigational situation, system control and decision support. It will demonstrate a new version of its engine room simulator, ERS 4000, with new control panels and some functionality modifications. Transas PISCES2, Potential Incident Simulation, Control and Evaluation System, will be also on display.