Page 30: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (November 1997)

Raster V. Vector — the battle continues

The relentless advance of new technology continues to force change in one of the world's oldest and most conservative of activi- ties, the marine industry.

Navigation at sea has been developed over thousands of years. Probably — until recent times — its most important advance was the chronometer making possible the calculation of longitude. But even this momen- tous event is being overshadowed by the development of electronic navigation concepts. Not least among these is ECDIS — elec- tronic chart display and informa- tion systems.

There are currently two types of accepted electronic charting systems. Raster and Vector.

Raster charts are more easily pro- duced than those using the vector- ized principle, which involves pro- ducing data in layers laid progres- sively on top of each other.

One of the major advocates of raster charts is the U.K.

Hydrographic Office (UKHO), whose systems can transpose its paper chart portfolios to raster scan products, capable of being used by approved electronic chart systems under its ARCS service.

This has initially provided the marine industry with an accept- able electronically digitized for- mat, but lacks the versatility of the vectorized chart.

The U.K. Hydrographic Office (UKHO) said that it does not take a position favoring raster or vec- tor charts — providing they are officially authorized — but sees great benefit from combining the two systems for a complete, world- wide coverage.

The compilation of a vectorized chart is a time-consuming and lengthy process and production is being concentrated on high-risk areas such as coasts and harbors, leaving the deep sea and ocean passage routes to be covered by

View from the cock- pit .. the control bridge on the Stena

HSS. The captain and co-pilot/naviga- tor sit in aircraft-type chairs and have access to all neces- sary information via three computer screens immediately in front of them. raster scanned charts for the immediate future.

It has taken a number of years for an international standard to approach ratification under the auspices of IMO working with the

International Hydrographic

Offices (IHO).

The UKHO has been actively involved in the development of international standards for elec- tronic navigational charting (ENC) and ECDIS, working close- ly with the Monaco-based IHO.

Towards this end the UKHO has been a member of a working group set up to develop the proto- col for electronic charts, Special (Continued on next page)

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NAV/COM Notes

PC Maritime Wins Shell

Order

Shell International Trading and

Shipping Co. has placed an order with PC Maritime Ltd. for the installation of the Navmaster

Professional Office throughout its fleet of 47 vessels, as an onboard route management and planning system. Of the 50-system order, 47

Navmasters will be installed onboard Shell's fleet of tankers and gas carriers and the remaining three systems will be used by the company's Fleet Audit superinten- dents to assist in onboard training.

For more information on PC Maritime

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C-Map Releases New

Bathymetric Cartridges

C-Map has released two bathy- metric cartridges/chartsets for the eastern Gulf of Mexico and the

Washington/Oregon coast.

Both systems contain NOS bathy- metric chart data taken from paper charts, which display size, shape and distribution of underwater fea- tures.

For more information on C-Map

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Litton Shows Off New

Product Line

Litton Marine Systems is sched- uled to unveil a complete line of products and systems for Sperry

Marine, Decca Marine and C. Plath at Europort 97. Scheduled presen- tations include integrated bridge systems, marine information tech- nology (IT), navigation sensors and ship control systems.

For more information

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MVS Launches New Satellite

Services

Global satellite communications provider MVS USA has launched new services including Inmarsat B

High Speed Data (B-HSD) via MVS 0-1-5 Worldwide service. MSV 0-1- 0 revolves around two Land Earth

Stations (LES), providing coverage in all four ocean regions for

Inmarsat M, Mini-M and B, includ- ing B-HSD.

For more information on MVS USA

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Maritime Reporter/Engineering News