Page 21: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (December 1999)

Marine Electronics Update

Electronic Matters Rule The Day In Amsterdam

The maritime industry gathered in

Amsterdam last month at the semi- annual Europort Exhibition to display the latest technological advances in marine products and systems. While the show maintains a large local contin- gency — a good deal of the exhibitors are local agents rather than the manu- facturing company principles — it is well regarded as one of the industry's premier events for showcasing new products and services to an internation- al shipowning community.

Of particular note — and not just in

Amsterdam — are the tremendous strides which are continually made on the marine electronics products and sys- tems front. Competition in this segment is very keen, and the category is domi- nated by very large, usually diverse industrial conglomerates that have made consolidation of systems and capabili- ties a quasi-sport in recent years. The need by shipowners to meet increasing- ly strict rules and regulations with advanced electronic products and sys- tems and the economies of scale of being a "one stop shop" for bottom-line minded shipyards have been primaries drivers in the urge to merge. In addition, the task of continually delivering advanced products and systems which are increasingly easy to use requires that companies dedicate "' ® tremendous ..-rssi™ amounts of capital into the R&D side, -iSSrr" another rationale for the trend towards bigger.

Europort was used as the launch- ing pad for two of the world's first type-approved

ECDIS systems, from Transas and

Kelvin Hughes. Transas was the world's first company to receive type-approval, as was reported on in the November edi- tion of Maritime Reporter & Engineer- ing News, while the Kelvin Hughes announcement was a mild surprise to competitors and customers alike. BSH, the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic

Agency, has provided the type-approval for Kelvin Hughes' Nucleus2 "duel- fuel" 5000 and 6000 Electronics Chart

Display and Information System (ECDIS) in accordance with the IMO resolutions and IEC specification.

While a string of new ECDIS approvals are anticipated in the coming months and years, currently Kelvin Hughes is the only company to offer an IBS solu- tion with a type-approved ECDIS.

Kelvin Hughes' ECDIS

Certificate.

ECDIS is much more than a simplistic replacement for paper charts, and is rather an integrated, complete solution to the navigator. The Nucleus2 ECDIS works in harmony with other bridge equipment such as the radar, GPS and autopilots, taking real-time information to continuously update the on-screen display.

While the developments in ECDIS Litton's Design Vision Bridge

The new generation.

Reliability. Efficiency. Assured quality.

Combining these features, we provide profitability and total economy for offshore support operations. Our optimized supply vessel concept helps you to achieve the essential.

Efficient operations. Everywhere.

Aquamaster

AZ I IUTH THRUSTERS

KAMEWA FINLAND LTD., P.O. Box 220,

FIN-26101 Rauma, Finland

Phone: +358 2 83791, Fax: +358 2 8378 4804. www.kamewagroup.com

Vickers Ulstein^V

Marine Systems •

THE BALLAST

Smart Strain Gauge

Level Sensor with

Generic 4-20mA Output

Use one sensor for all shipboard liquid levels

This technology has been designed specifically for surviving the rigors of ballast tank continuous monitoring. It weighs less than 2 oz. and is con- structed from 100% pure titanium. • It's the size of your thumb • Accuracy .25% of full scale • 100% Titanium • Weighs less than 2 oz. • ABS/USCG/Lloyds approved • FM Class 1, Div. 1 Intrinsically Safe • Removal without tank entry • No mercury or other contaminants • Interfaces to your existing monitoring system • One sensor for all shipboard liquids: fuel oil, lube oil, fresh water, black water, etc. • Generic 4-20 mA output • Used in 15,000 tanks worldwide

Many Options •: s

ELECTRONIC MARINE

SYSTEMS, INC. 800 Ferndale Place

Rahway, NJ 07065

Call today for more information! 732.382.4344 732.388.5111 fax [email protected] e-mail http://www.emsmarcon.com

December, 1999 Circle 287 on Reader Service Card Circle 219 on Reader Service Card