Page 34: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (August 2005)

34 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News

ACR Offers RapidTrack S-VDR

ACR Electronics, Inc. introduced the RapidTrack S-

VDR — a simplified float-free voyage data recorder. It is designed as a smaller, lighter and less expensive option for commercial mariners.

The RapidTrack S-VDR is built in a sturdy float-free

EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) polycarbonate case, and when deployed, it is capable of automatically broadcasting satellite-detectable GPS coordinates for up to seven days to aid location and retrieval. A two-piece design, the float-free RapidTrack

S-VDR includes a highly durable mounting base sub- assembly, which is fastened directly to the ship.

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Stratos, SMS Global Introduce New

Crew Communication

Stratos Global Corp. and SMS Global, Ltd. recently introduced SMSCrewMail, a prepaid short message system (SMS) and text e-mail service for maritime crewmembers seeking a cost-effective way to stay in touch while at sea. SMS messaging is an option avail- able on digital GSM networks, which allows text mes- sages of up to 160 characters to be sent and received via the network operator's message center to mobile phones, or from the Internet, using an SMS gateway website. If the phone receiving an SMS message is powered off or out of range, messages are stored in the network and are delivered at the next opportunity.

SMSCrewMail also allows maritime crews to send text e-mails up to 460 characters.

With SMSCrewMail as part of StratosOne and

StratosNet, crewmembers can send and receive SMS and text e-mail messages using most Inmarsat satellite platforms, including Inmarsat-A/-B/-M/mini-M/R-

BGAN/GAN and Fleet, as well as Iridium and

Marinesat/Landsat. It is also easy for a GSM or other e-mail user to reply to messages, as crewmembers are assigned a GSM number and a standard e-mail address.

SMSCrewMail is included at no extra cost to vessels using StratosOne and StratosNet. Messages generated from crewmembers are simply sent to the outbox of the onboard StratosOne or StratosNet e-mail client, and then delivered when the vessel connects to its e-mail service.

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PetroCom Introduces Unique

Wireless Phone

PetroCom announced that the first nonincendive phones are now available to workers located in poten- tially hazardous environments or locations. These phones are Class 1 Div 2 Group A-D compliant and meet National Electric Code (NEC) standards for non- incendive equipment, nonincendive circuits and nonin- cendive components. "While responding to the needs and requests of our customers in offshore-oil explo- ration, we found that a nonincendive phone was simply not available," notes Ken Wright, president and COO of PetroCom. "Now that we are in production, we've learned that workers in other hazardous industries have been looking for this type of phone and demand the same benefits." Service for these phones is available through PetroCom or any other GSM wireless provider operating at 850 MHz. Manufactured by Ecom

Instruments for PetroCom, the phones incorporate electrical and mechanical modifications, as well as the addition of special safety protective electronics. The

NEC Class 1 Div 2 Group A-D designation specifies that these phones are usable in situations where haz- ardous concentrations of flammable gas or vapors exist under unlikely conditions of operation.

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Rolls-Royce Works on New IBS

In response to new standards, Rolls-Royce is devel- oping a new integrated bridge. DNV's new Bridge

Design Offshore Service Vessels (NAUT-OSV) classi- fication is designed to reduce errors and accidents in the offshore industry. Four main systems — communi- cations, navigation, steering and automation — are blended in the integrated bridge solution under devel- opment by Rolls-Royce in cooperation with Furuno, which is supplying the communications and navigation systems. "The biggest challenge has been to get the various units to share information," said Ingemund

Longva, director of automation and controls, Rolls-

Royce. "The new UMAS alarm control and monitoring system will be fully integrated with Furuno's commu- nications and navigation systems. The operator will then be able to use the same workstation and screen to carry out a variety of different tasks. For example, it will no longer be necessary to have separate radar screens." The long-time need for a more comprehen- sive and standardized operating platform still applies because it speeds up operating training. The new clas- sification standards provide a framework for a uniform bridge configuration, with fewer opportunities for cus- tomised solutions. "We have a unique opportunity to create a uniform design and technical solutions with the highest level of integration, since we already pro- duce much of the equipment on board," said Hans

Martin Hjorungnes, group leader, electrical systems, at

Ship Technology Offshore. "Integrated bridge solu- tions will be space saving and provide better function- ality." Commissioned by Rolls-Royce, Hareide

Designmill has created a unified design for consoles, panels, joysticks, monitors and the operator's chair.

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Communications

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