Page 24: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (March 1998)

GEM M [MHMS the propellers are constructed using a special, high strength steel, which makes crafting them more difficult than tradi- tional bronze models. The pro- pellers feature the additional strengthening to add to their service life (anticipated at 15 years), due to the large amount of time the props are cavitating due to the nature of icebreak- ing work.

ECHO Project Update

Electronic Chart Display and Information

Systems (ECDIS) are being counted on to improve safety at sea while making the working life of those onboard easier, particu- larly in regard to time saved updating and organizing paper charts. The ECHO (European Chart Hub Operations) project began in April 1996 with the aim of produc- ing a prototype commercial service for the storage and distribution of ENCs. Led by

Norway's Electronic Chart Center (ECC), the project is partially funded by the EU and includes many international organizations and manufacturers, including the Finnish

Maritime Administration, Sysdeco Dikas AS,

ASPO, Telenor, the U.K. Hydrographic

Office, Inmarsat, IONA Technologies and

Sintef.

Production of ENCs to the IHO's standard

S57 edition 3 has begun in several centers, and the volume of available data continues to grow.

The ECHO project has linked the U.K. and Finnish Hydrographic Offices, who sup- plied their charts and updates via ISDN con- nections to the ECC. The ECC operated as a regional ENC Coordinating Center and pro- vided end-user services from where the data were available on demand to the vessels 24 hours a day. Communications with the

ECDIS equipment onboard utilized

Inmarsat-B high speed and GSM connec- tions, but any communications medium sup- porting the widely available TCP/IP protocol could be employed. These links allow instantaneous updating of charts while at sea, a key plank in the ECHO project. Close attention has been paid to the security of data and cost of transmission, to ensure the project represents a viable commercial ser- vice. (Please look in MR/EN's April 1998

Scandinavian Report for more extensive cov- erage of this burgeoning technological pro-

Circle 353 on Reader Service Card 22-B

STRAINERS, FILTERS

TRANSFER VALVES

TRANSFER PUMPS

Rugged Construction—Cast Iron, Steel,

Stainless, Bronze and Other Alloys.

Flanged, Threaded or Weld-End.

Model 72

Simplex & Duplex Strainers

For fuel oil, lube oil, cooling water or any fluid service. Protects pumps, nozzles, meters, heat exchangers and process lines. Size 1/4" to 12" and larger. High pressure/temperature special designs available.

Model 73

Sea-View

Strainers

Simplex-

Duplex

Cast bronze body with transparent sump permits instant visual inspection of flow and collected debris. Sizes 1" to4".

Model 72AA

Transfer

Valves

Six (6) port plug valve for duplexing two tanks, heat v» exchangers, filters, 1 or other systems with mini- mum piping and space. Easy 1/4 turn, one stroke plug valve operation switches flow from one side to the other. Sizes 3/4" to 8" and larger.

High pressure/temperature special de- signs available.

Model 60 Pumps

General line of cast iron fuel and lube oil pumps—direct connected for light oils, reduction drives for heavy oils.

High temperature special designs available. Sizes 3/8" to 2".

KRAISSL CO. 303 Williams Avenue., Hackensack, N.J. 07601

Tel: (201)342-0008 • Fax:(201)342-0025 e-mail: [email protected] "Please see us at our websites on the internet at: http://nell.com/nr0025.htm or http://home.aol.com/kraissl

Circle 329 on Reader Service Card

Maritime Reporter/Engineering News

ENGINEERING -MANUFACTURING qjfl a ui® ! 'SERVICE

MARINE SPECIALISTS IN HEATING, VENTILATION, AIR CONDITIONING,

AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS • AIR HANDLING UNITS • CHILLERS / CONDENSING UNITS • FAN COIL UNITS •FANS • FIRE DAMPERS •WEATHER LOUVRES

Stork Canada Inc.

HEAD OFFICE REGIONS 47 boul. Marie Victorin

Candiac, Quebec

Canada J5R 1B6

Tel: (514) 659-6571

Tel: (800) 465-7749

Fax: (514) 659-1035

[email protected] www.stork-mtl.com 26 Maclean Road

Box 2026

Westfield, New Brunswick

Canada EOG 3J0

Tel: (506) 757-1198

Fax: (506) 757-1897 431 Mountain Highway

Suite 3

North Vancouver, B.C.

Canada V7J 2L1

Tel: (604) 985-3447

Fax: (604) 985-3462