Racal's ISES Improves Ship Operating Efficiency

—Literature Available Ship electronic systems covering all aspects of management afloat were presented by Racal to the international shipping community at the Europort Exhibition in Amsterdam.

Known as ISES—Integrated Ship Electronics Systems—the range of equipment is being supplied by Racal Marine Systems Limited and combines the company's extensive electronics capability with in depth understanding of ship operational requirements built up over 40 years within Decca.

The ISES concept integrates ship operational functions into central work stations so that command and control from a single point becomes practical. ISES is modular, versatile and flexible and covers the four main ship management areas: bridge, engine room, cargo and administration.

Each operates in stand-alone mode or may be interconnected to exchange and dispaly information, still further improving ship operating efficiency. Data may be transferred ashore by the ship's communications equipment.

The four subsystems making up ISES are: Bridge: IBES (Integrated Bridge Electronic System). This comes in two forms. IBES 100 is based on the Racal MNS 2000 multi-sensor navigation receiver and processor interfaced to an ARPA display and adaptive autopilot, with the facility to add an automatic chart table.

Transfer of data between these units makes for a highly cost-effective integrated navigation and collision avoidance system.

IBES 1000, the more advanced and comprehensive bridge system, enables every mile of a ship's progress to be monitored and controlled to a degree of efficiency not previously attainable. It is possible not only to undertake from a single command position the safe and efficient navigation of the ship but also to perform a complete range of other functions, including voyage planning, voyage monitoring and passage economics. Full communication between the color graphicsbased work station and the ARPA and automatic chart table allows for the onboard creation of electronic charts.

IBES 1000 comprises stand-alone equipment which meets or exceeds statutory requirements and a master work station with MC68000- based processor, color graphic display and control facilities which provide simple and rapid access.

The work stations (each processor drives up to five) communicate with ARPA, autopilot, multi-sensor navigation receiver, automatic chart table and other navigational sensors such as log, gyro and sounders.

Engine room: ISIS (Integrated Ship Instrumentation System). This draws on Racal's 20 years of experience in marine automation. It is based on ISIS 450 which has full Unmanned Machinery Space capability and meets the requirements of all major Classification Societies.

ISIS monitors and controls main and auxiliary machinery, ballast, trim, etc., from one or more locations as well as undertaking trend analysis and performance monitoring.

Cargo: ICES (Integrated Cargo Electronic System). This system undertakes stress and stability calculations as well as monitoring and controlling cargo, including tank levels, draft, temperatures and the status of valves and pumps. It also provides the capability to plan, record and produce the paperwork associated with cargo operations and personnel training.

Administration: IMAS (Integrated Management Administration System). This performs such timeconsuming shipborne tasks as public and private documentation, accounts, stores and stock control, maintenance planning, training, welfare, entertainment and word processing. IMAS will, of course access administrative data in the bridge, machinery and cargo integrated systems.

ISES hardware features high definition, fast response color displays with dedicated keyboard and rolling ball cursor control, all optimized for marine use.

The ISES family, developed after extensive project studies and sea trials with British Marine Technology (formerly BSRA and NMI) and BP Shipping, presents the ship operator with new and highly flexible ways of increasing ship efficiency.

For further information and free literature on Racal's ISES, Circle 7 on Reader Service Card

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