Dualog Seabulk Offshore joins Dualog Seabulk Offshore of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has signed up with ship-shore data communications company Dualog, to look after the communications on its 43 vessels which are mainly around West Africa. "We were looking for a single (e-mail) supplier that could offer us a comple solution that included our ships," says Craig Thomas, VP West AFrica Operations of Seabulk Offshore. "We believe in Dualog's solutions and the people therre inspired confidence." Seabulk has also ordered Iridium equipment from Dualog, and will use Iridium together with Inmarsat -C. The company's employees have been trained by Dualog to install the software onboard ships. Meanwhile Anders Utkilens, which has fitted VSAT on all of its vessels, will still continue uising Dualog. The copmany is one of DUalog's most loal clients. "It was important for us to keep all existing Dalog systems for e-mail and administration, to maintain the best overall solution," says Utkilens IT manager Sigmund-Toe GGrane. "Any time we lack [VSAT] coverage, Dualog communicator swtiches us automatically over to another system, we don't notice anything," he says. Dolphin launches PC AIS tracker http://www.dolphinmaritime.com Dolphin Maritime Software of Lancaster, UK, has launched a windows PC-based system which displays AIS data on a screen. It enables shipping companies which do not have an electronic chart system to have a better display of AIS data than on the screen of the equipment itself. The screen gives details of all AIS equipped vessels within range (25 to 40 nauical miles) - It is not type approved for use on SOLAS vessels, but can be used for smalelr ships to monitor AIS signals, or for port and habour control. The software alone costs GBP 200, where the computer is connected to an existing AIS receiver; or for GBP 1000 you can buy the copmuter software, an AIS receiver andatenna. For example you can see on a spreadsheet all the information being transmitted by nearby vessels- icnluding the name, call sign, position, status, course over ground, speed over ground. OSG Shipmanagement uses ChartCo OSG Shipmanagement of Newcastle, UK, has signed a contract to fit its fleet of 33 ships with the ChartCo data broadcast sytem, to receive weekly notices to mariners and tracings for BA and US charts. The deal was negotiated by John Lilley and Gillie, ChartCo's agent. OSG is also evaluatined using ChartCo's MetManager weather service on 2 of its vessels. "OSG believes that the timely suppl of Notices to Mariners is cricially important or the safe operation of a fleet trading world wide," says Cpatain Ray Nelson, marine director of OSG. Dubai Shipping Company to use SIS softare http://www.sismarine.com Dubai Shipping COMpnay recently announcd plans to complete all puchasing transactions electronically using the SIS Fleet Management software. Previously, the company used a mizxture of fax and e-mail. Zafar Rizvi, financial administration manager of DSC, says that the company is committed to improving the efficiency of its purchasign department. DSC as already started trying to encouarge its network of supplies to submit order forms electronicaly as well. "we are commited to ipmroving our company in every way and SIS Fleet Management Systems are an important part of this process." SAM fits automation system in SOuth Korea SAM Electronics has won a deal to fit an automated bridge maneuverin system and mahcinery alarm and montoring systems at STX Shipbuilding, South Korea. The system will be fitted on a 30,600 gt double hull tanker being built for SOCATRA, a Frenceh shipping company. It folows a collaborative agreement signed between STX and SAM Electronics, for SAM to supply an extensive range of automated equipment which are assembled localled, covering engien safety, engine governor and alarm monitoring modules. Shakespeare launches new AIS antenna http://www.shakespeare-marine.com Shakespeare Marine Electronic Products Group of South Carolina, USA, which claims to be a world leader in maritime antennas, has launched a special AIS antenna specially for AIS. "Marine radio is only as good as its antenna," Shakespeare says. The antenna is made of fibreglass and is 1.25m long. BMT and Kongsberg tie-up http://www.bmt.org British Maritime Technology has made a tie-up with Kongsberg, to connect its Rembrant ship maneovering simulator with Kongsberg's dynamic positioning system. PC Rembrant is a sophisticated computer tool which models how ship moves through the water, originally built to enable masters to practise making berthing and departure maneovres before actually doing it. The system was later extended to show the ship on electronic charts and in three dimensions. By linking the two systems together,it is possible to create a dynamic positioning simulator combining Kongsberg's console with PC Rembrant's mathematical models, charts and 3D screens, to create a training aid for dynamic positioning equipment. Teekay uses Danaos fleet management system http://www.teekay.com Vancouver tanker company Teekay has introduced a new fleet management system by Danaos, linking its operations, chartering and accounting around the world. The software is intended to help share data and improve access throughout the organisation, covering both operational and commercial information. "The company is leveraging this information to enhance our ability to promptly meet customer requests and deliver flexible solutions," says Stewart Andrade, project manager, Teekay Marine Services. The system was developed by Danaos specially for Teekay. It includes a scheduling tool to optimise the Teekay fleet, selecting the best ship for the job taking into account voyage scheduling and cargo requirements. The system enables different Teekay business units to communciate globally in real time with the same information, enabling the company to improve response time to customers. "Because users in any time zone can depend on the same information to make decisions, Teekay is able to react quickly with creative and refined responses," says Mr. Andrade. "That goes a long way towards ensuring that our customers have a consistent, high-quality experience." One of the most important primary objectives was enabling Teekay's chartering offices in Asia, Europe and North America, to talk to Teekay's vessel operations centre in Vancouver. Information entered by both operations or chartering departments is immediately accesible to both. "All updates are instantaneous and are there for both groups," Mr. Andrade says. "This helps us in making better decisions in our day to day activities. It's a very powerful tool." The system was developed by Danaos working in partnership with Teekay, with a $2.9m investment, as well as a great deal of management support from Teekay. A project team was put together at Teekay with staff from IT, operations, chartering and accounting departments. "This collaborative effort over a two-year period was critical to ensure that the system meets all our requirements from concept to go-live," says Mr. Andrade. "In the first two months it has worked very well, improving communications and the availability of information between chartering, operations and accounting." "It's a system that incorporates best practices and ensures consistent business procedures." He says that while Danaos provided the platform, it was Teekay that had the vision. "We came up with the concept and we came up with the specifications. "What we wanted the system to do was conceived and designed by Teekay people, many of whom deal directly with our customers and understand their needs. We went out with a very strong vision of what we wanted the system to do - and we did it."