Page 62: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (November 2002)

Marine Electronics • AIS

Full Steam Ahead

New AIS solutions and applications are coming out as you read this report!

The evolution of AIS solutions is pro- ceeding at breakneck speed, with a healthy mix of traditional names and new faces introducing new and improved products at every turn. The advent of AIS technology is particularly important now, as ports and vessel oper- ators increasingly focus on safety, col- lecting and analyzing as much informa- tion as possible about a given vessel.

This year's SMM exhibition in Hamburg proved to be fertile ground for the intro- duction of new and the familiarization with established AIS systems. The fol- lowing is a summary of recent news from electronics manufacturers.

During its decade of business, the maritime community has expected and received constant evolution of technolo- gy from Transas, and SMM 2002 did not disappoint. The company held a live demonstration of its UAIS messaging system with neighboring booth Radio

Holland. During the demonstration two "virtual" vessels each carrying a new- generation electronic chart system exchanged text UAIS messages in the real time mode. Transas and Radio Hol- land have a long-standing partnership, and the companies have agreed to merge their efforts in promoting the

UAIS/Navi-Sailor configuration as the optimal AIS solution.

NSB announced that its worldwide fleet of 77 container ships would be refit with STN Atlas Marine Electronics' new Debeg 3400 Universal AIS system, via a contract signed during the SMM exhibition. Developed by STN Atlas and type-approved by the German Bureau of

Shipping and Hydrography (BSH), the fully autonomous Debeg 3400 transmits ship's own data while receiving the same from other UAIS systems within VHF range. Main features include merging of

AIS and ARPA target data, in addition to acquisition of target information where no radar contact is available.

For more than a decade, Saab

TransponderTech has designed, devel- oped and marketed transponders for

Maritime and Aviation applications. To date Saab TransponderTech has deliv- ered more than 700 IMO compatible ship transponders to domestic and inter- national customers, and also holds a leading position with land based AIS infrastructure products related to AIS.

Earlier this year, the company was first given type approval by Bundesamt fur

Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie (BSH) in Germany, on AIS according to the international standards and require- ments.

Today Saab TransponderTech markets its products for land-based applications direct and shipping related products through partners, ICAN (www.ican.nf.net); Kelvin Hughes (www.kelvinhughes.com); Leica % © _ o ^ • ® ®

The push for AIS has resulted in traditional com- panies and newcomers, such as Nauticast, to quickly engineer shipboard solutions. Nauticast emphasizes not only the technical specification, but its unifs slim profile and light weight. (www.leica.com); PinPoint (www.pin- pointsys.com); Saab Rosemount

Marine (www.saabmarine.com.sg);

Sperry Marine (www.litton- marine.com) and Tokimec (www.tokimec.co.jp)

From Vienna, Austria, Nauticast AG specializes in the development and dis- tribution of refined AIS navigation aids, catering for both the commercial, inland navigation and leisure shipping indus- tries as well as ports and VTS centers.

Simply stated, the Nauticast solution is a compact, lightweight version that is sure

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