Page 46: of Marine News Magazine (June 2011)

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46 MN June 2011

Simrad Yachting Launches

Broadband 3G Radar

Simrad Yachting launched its next-generation, solid- state Broadband 3G Radar. Delivering two-times greater

RF transmit power and 30% more range and target detec- tion than the BR24, the 3G allows mariners to see objects such as small boats and channel markers at greater dis- tances without compromising its close-range radar capac- ities. The Broadband 3G Radar offers clear, detailed views of surroundings at a range scale down to 200 ft and marks objects within 6.5 ft of the boat. The new radar transmits 1/10,000 the power of traditional pulse radar — less than a fifth the energy of a mobile phone — making it safe to install just about anywhere on a boat. It is also 30 to 50% more efficient than traditional pulse radomes. Broadband 3G Radar supports chart overlay, display networking,

MARPA and True Motion Radar Display to distinguish moving vessels from fixed objects or landmasses. Drawing 18 watts of power during operation and two watts in standby, the Broadband 3G has an operating temperature range of -13 to +131 degrees Fahrenheit and can operate in winds up to 100 knots.

PortVision’s TriMode

Workboat Fleet Service

PortVision announced its PortVision TriMode workboat fleet management and business intelligence service. The web-based solution extends the company’s AIS-based offering to include two-way cellular and satellite service for messaging and position reports, and uses least-cost routing to cut overall expenses. The TriMode service inte- grates least-cost routing across three communication paths, including AIS for real-time reporting of the fleet and other AIS-enabled vessels when near shore or in-port, cellular for near-real-time reporting at very low cost when- ever a vessel is within a cellular coverage area and satellite for guaranteed reporting and text messaging whenever cel- lular is unavailable. Users can use the TriMode service to create e-mail alerts, view arrival/departure history and tap into PortVision’s data warehouse, which processes 40 mil- lion vessel positions daily and archives over 15 billion arrival, departure and vessel movement records spanning the last five years.

Telaurus Onboard Wi-Fi Connectivity

Telaurus Communications has successfully completed trials of its Wi-Fi service onboard ships equipped with se@COMM. Crew communications — particularly SMS and email services — have become an essential service for shipowners and managers serious about crew welfare.

Evidence from seafarers suggests that communication with loved ones while at sea not only improves morale and the overall productivity, it can make the difference between crew staying with the fleet or signing off. But while crew communications packages are proliferating, they come with tech- nical challenges. Crew communications must be kept separate from ship’s business and there is a need to put the connectivity where the crew can use it safely — in the mess or other com- munal areas. Telaurus has addresses this by installing a wireless access point on ships equipped with its se@COMM service to deliver wireless connectivity to seafar- ers, accessible via their smartphones or lap- top PCs. With the use of an extendable antenna unit the con- nections can now bridge multiple compartments without sacrificing bulk- head integrity and without interfering with ships’ busi- ness.

MARKETS

Simrad Broadband 3G Radar

Telaurus WiFi iPhone