Page 9: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (April 1992)

Electronics Update

Frotronics Adds Safecom CM

And CP To List Of Products

Marketed For Philips

Frotronics, Inc., Houston, Texas, markets marine products for

Tokimec and Philips throughout the

United States and Canada.

The Philips Safecom CP and CM are standard 'C' Inmarsat terminals for portable and shipboard use, re- spectively.

The Safecom CP is a communica- tion terminal that can transmit from anywhere in the world. The system consists of a powerful laptop com- puter which is easy to use. The text

Philips Safecom CP. Standard 'C' Inmarsat por- table terminal in a self-contained suitcase. to be transmitted is compressed to reduce the cost of sending as well as transmission time. For a high de- gree of security the system can have encrypted communication capabili- ties which would make it impossible to read if intercepted by a third party. Special versions are avail- able for users with maximum secu- rity requirements.

The Safecom CP has a recharge- able battery which will give opti- mum performance for a period of four hours when under normal use.

The Safecom CP is supplied with a waterproof and shockproof case for ease of transportation.

The Philips Safecom CM is de- signed specifically for shipboard in- stallations and provides a unique communication facility for all sea- going vessels. The Safecom system communicates with a coast earth station via an Inmarsat satellite and from there the communications are

USNS John McDonnell and USNS Littlehales after delivery to U.S. Navy

Trinity Industries Delivers Two

Hydrographic Survey

Ships To U.S. Navy

Trinity Industries, Inc. subsid- iary, Halter Marine, Inc., recently completed a $25 million contract with the U.S. Navy with the deliv- ery of two, 208-foot coastal hydro- graphic survey ships, T-AGS 51 and 52, USNS John McDonnell and

USNS Littlehales.

The ships, which were designed by the Trinity Marine Group, are operated by the Navy's Military

Sealift Command (MSC) for the

Naval Oceanography Command.

Collected data from the ships is used to create and update port, har- bor, approach, coastal and opera- tional charts. The ships collect hy- drographic data in water depths from 38 feet to over 13,000 feet using hull mounted and towed sonars. Each ship carries two Trinity-built fiber- glass hydrographic survey launches (HSLs) for use as an integral part of the data collection process. The ships and their launches have precise navi- gation capability and an integrated data collection system. The ships also have data processing systems.

Each ship is 208 feet long, with a 45-foot and 14-foot draft. Full load displacement is 2,054 long tons and lightweight displacement is 1,245 long tons. Transit speed is 12 knots and endurance at that speed is 12,000 nautical miles.

Both ships have a father/son, 2,550/230 shp, geared diesel propul- sion system. The larger diesel en- gine is used for maneuvering, main- taining a speed of 12 knots at 80 percent maximum continuous power and attaining a maximum speed of 14 knots. The smaller diesel is used alone when towing survey equip- ment at 4 to 6 knots. Three 350-kw diesel generators provide ship service power, with clean power provided through solid state power conditioners.

The ships can maintain survey speeds from 3 to 12 knots and collect hydrographic data on all headings in seas with significant wave height (SWH) up to nine feet. The ships are capable of recovering the two hydro- graphic survey launches and other survey equipment in seas up to four feet (SWH). A roll stabilization tank aids ship stability.

The global positioning system (GPS), precise timekeeping capabil- ity, and short range positioning sys- tems sustain the ships' navigation and positioning efforts. In addition to the ships' GPS, separate GPS's provide position information to the survey data processing system.

The AGS-51/52 ships can accom- modate a total of 33 persons, includ- ing 10-12 surveyor/technicians and 21-33 crew members. There are 12 double, and seven single staterooms.

Trinity is also building T-AGS 60/ 61,328.5-foot oceanographic survey ships for the Navy in a design and construction contract worth more than $100 million.

For more information on the services offered by Trinity Marine,

Circle 49 on Reader Service Card

Philips Safecom CM. Standard 'C' Inmarsat termi- nal for shipboard installations. handled by the public data or telex network to the home base. The sys- tem consists of two units, a trans- ceiver and an antenna unit. The

Safecom CM allows the user to com- municate with ships at any time, all over the world. Selective call signs allow for full communication pri- vacy.

The two enhanced group call fa- cilities in the system are SafetyNET and FleetNET. SafetyNET is an automatic system which allows your vessel to receive vital information, such as navigational warnings and distress calls. When an alarm is activated the distress alert auto- matically connects the terminal to a rescue coordination center. Distress alerts will always take precedence over all other transmissions and an immediate connection is made to the rescue center. FleetNET service allows for a home base to transmit the same message to a designated group of vessels, resulting in greater efficiency in information flow.

Special "poll commands" allow the home base to activate the system without disturbing the crew. This would usually be in cases of know- ing the position of the ship and only requires the system to be connected to a navigator.

The Safecom CM will fully satisfy all GMDSS regulatory communica- tion requirements for ships operat- ing in any part of the world, exclud- ing polar regions.

For a free brochure detailing

Philips Safecom CP and CM, and all equipment marketed by Frotronics,

Circle 15 on Reader Service Card

Bill Would Encourage

New Service Between

Pacific Northwest-Alaska

A bill recently introduced in Con- gress by Rep. John Miller (R-WA) would encourage the establishment of domestic ship service between the

U.S. Pacific Northwest and Alaska.

The bill, HR 4006, would provide

Title XI loan guarantees for the con- struction of a passenger ship in the

U.S. for voyages between U.S. ports

April, 1992 on Puget Sound and points in Alaska.

Present passenger ship service for the area departs from Vancouver,

B.C.

ASE To Hold

Technical Symposium

In Arlington, Va.

The Association of Scientists and

Engineers (ASE) of the Naval Sea

Systems Command will sponsor its 29th Annual Technical Symposium on Thursday, May 28, at the

Sheraton Crystal City Hotel in Ar- lington, Va.

The theme of this year's sympo- sium is "Achieving Affordable

Performance," and it sets the stage for 16 papers that will be presented during the technical program. The program will begin with registra- tion at 8 a.m., followed by technical sessions at 9 a.m., a social hour at 11:45 a.m., and a luncheon at 1 p.m.

Vice Adm. Kenneth C. Malley,

Commander, Naval Sea Systems

Command, will be presenting his "Views from the Bridge." Vice Adm.

Joseph P. Reason, Commander,

Naval Surface Forces, U.S. Atlantic

Fleet, will be the keynote luncheon speaker. Paul Anthony, a local TV and radio personality, will be the master of ceremonies.

The cost of the symposium is $45 and the luncheon is $20.

For registration information, contact: Chris Thompson at (703) 602-0450/9711. 11