Aids To Navigation News

After more than 10 years of work and four diplomatic conferences, The International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) has officially changed from a non-governmental organization (NGO) to an Intergovernmental Organization (IGO).The transition to an Intergovernmental Organization will place IALA in a much stronger position to develop and harmonize Marine Aids to Navigation, as governments will be directly involved in the work. All major decisions will be made by representatives of their governments…

NAVTOR, an e-Navigation and performance technology provider to the maritime industry, said Wednesday it was aiming to simplify CII compliance with the latest release of its NavFleet ship operations platform. Featuring an advanced Emissions Simulator, designed to help shipping companies predict and optimize environmental impact and performance across entire fleets, NavFleet 1.8 delivers operational insights built on high-quality, dual-validated data, the company said.The result…

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has completed a major A$15.5 million two-year project to repair and rejuvenate essential aids to navigation (AtoNs) off the coast of Port Hedland, Western Australia.AMSA commissioned the works following Severe Tropical Cyclone Veronica in 2019, which caused significant damage to electrical equipment, access ladders, platforms, day markers and fenders.AMSA has replaced the top of 13 AtoNs, installed new platforms and above water pile sections…

Japanese classification society ClassNK has granted its Innovation Endorsement for Products & Solutions to a Berthing Aid System developed by Furuno.Furuno's Berthing Aid System displays the distance and angle between the ship and the quay to assist in berthing operations.The Berthing Aid System uses LiDAR to calculate the relative distance and angle between the quay and hull, and displays superimposed images for situational awareness. The system aims to improve safety during berthing by measuring and visualizing the positional relation between the quay and ship…

Maritime navigational safety near two U.S. Navy installations in Kings Bay, Ga., and Portsmouth, N.H. has been improved thanks to new Physical Oceanographic Real-Time Systems, also known as PORTS, installed by NOAA and the U.S. Navy. They are the first new PORTS in two years, and the 34th and 35th in the nationwide network.The system near Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, the East Coast home to America’s Ohio-class submarines, is an integrated series of sensors which will provide critical real-time information on oceanographic and meteorological conditions.

SevenCs, part of the ChartWorld Group, announced the release of ORCA Pilot X software. Originally designed as a primary navigation aid for Pilots, ORCA Pilot X is a tool for professional navigators. ORCA Pilot X is being offered as a free download on the Apple AppStore for iOS tablets.SevenCs has a long tradition of developing bespoke navigation applications for pilots around the world. Following the feedback and input from many  users, SevenCs began the development of ORCA Pilot X as the natural evolution from ORCA Pilot G2.Ralf Lehnert…

The Coast Guard Sector Sault Sainte Marie is seeking input for a Waterways Analysis and Management System (WAMS) study of the Les Cheneaux Islands.The WAMS study will review the short range Aids to Navigation system that covers the waters surrounding the Les Cheneaux Islands, including: Cedarville East Channel, Les Cheneaux Islands Middle Entrance, Les Cheneaux Islands West Entrance, Mackinac Bay Passage, Muscallonge Bay, and Cedarville West Channel.The purpose of the WAMS is to ensure that surrounding waters of the Les Cheneaux Islands are the safest…

Japanese transportation major Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) announced that, along with Furuno Electric, it made a joint presentation of their advanced augmented reality (AR)-based Navigation System.The presentation introduced the background behind the technology and development of the system, as well as MOL’s efforts to "forge ahead to become the world leader in safe operation."The AR Navigation System provides visual support to crew-members during their watch-keeping and ship operations by using AR technology to superimpose real-time video imagery and voyage information.Large tankers, which have a deep draft (The vertical distance between the bottom of the hull and the waterline), require very careful ship operations in waters such as the Strait of Malacca, a highly congested shipping lane.

ChartCo, the global provider of digital navigation and compliance solutions, has expanded its global network of offices to Piraeus, Greece to help provide dedicated support for customers in this region for the shipping industries.The global leader in digital navigation services is currently supplying and supporting customers in commercial shipping, offshore, cruising and superyachts all around the world and has a prominent presence of offices in the UK, Europe and Southeast Asia.Over the past decade, ChartCo has established its footprint within the shipping industry in Greece and Cyprus, and now serves more than 100 companies and over 1…

The implementation of e-navigation - the user-friendly collection, harmonization and display of essential maritime information - will contribute to enhanced maritime safety and security and support efficient shipping while protecting the marine environment, says International Maritime Organization (IMO).Various e-navigation solutions are being developed, taking into account IMO guidance and regulations.The SMART-Navigation Project, organized and funded by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Republic of Korea, was presented during an IMO regional workshop on e-navigation for the Asia-Pacific region, held in Busan, Republic of Korea…

The maritime services group Global Navigation Solutions (GNS) has announced a further enhancement to its Voyager Planning Station (VPS), with the addition of tools to manage compliance with special environmental requirements under International Maritime Organization (IMO) MARPOL regulations.The specialist providers of maritime navigation information, solutions and support to the global shipping industry said in a press release that the upgrade comes as part of the release of Voyager 7.3.4, making it easier for users to manage MARPOL compliance with designated Special Areas, Emission Control Areas and Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas."The new feature gives users the ability to view up to date areas under MARPOL as an overlay on either a map or an ENC from within Voyager…

Japanese shipping company Nippon Yusen (NYK) has been recognized with a special award from the Japan Institute of Navigation (JIN) for improving onboard operation through use of J-Marine NeCST,  a ship navigation support tool that was jointly developed by NYK, MTI Co. Ltd., and Japan Radio Co. Ltd. (JRC).J-Marine NeCST (NeCST is pronounced “Next”) allows users to easily plan routes using the handwriting function of the electronic navigational chart, in addition to managing and sharing operational data using integrated information such as meteorological and hydrographical forecasts.An awards ceremony was held on July 12, 2019, and attended by Tomoyuki Koyama…

The Danish Maritime Authority (DMA) announced that the international Marine Aids to Navigation Day (WAtoN Day) will be held around the world for the first time.DMA marks the WAtoN Day at Nakkehoved Lighthouse in collaboration with Museum Nordsjælland on July 1, 2019.The International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) will together with many national marine administrations including Denmark celebrate the WAtoN Day under the theme "Successful Voyages, Sustainable Planet", and by that draw attention to the work on the development of Aids to Navigation and, not least, to tell about the importance of why we use beacons, buoys etc.

R.STAHL TRANBERG has announced the launch of the TRANBERG BlueLine Lighting Series – a portfolio of high quality, cost-effective and next generation lighting for the maritime sector. The announcement was made at Nor-Shipping 2019, taking place in Oslo from June 4 to 7, 2019.The BlueLine Series, which consists of navigation lights, searchlights, floodlights and deck lights for all kinds of vessels, has been designed to provide marine operators with a world-class quality standard in marine lighting.

Global Navigation Solutions (GNS), provider of maritime navigation information for shipping companies, announced that it will sell all digital and paper nautical charts and publications at cost price as part of its innovative Voyager Navigation as a Service (VNaaS) solution.The maritime technology company said in a press release that VNaaS customers will pay an annual software licence fee to access a complete set of software and data analytics tools that enable officers onboard to order exactly the charts and publications they need for each voyage and shore-based stakeholders to control and manage navigation purchasing and compliance more effectively.All the ENCs…

Global Navigation Solutions (GNS), provider of maritime navigation information for shipping companies, and the weather service provider StormGeo announced a strategic partnership to combine their industry-leading weather and navigation capabilities to benefit our shipping customers globally.The new partnership will leverage GNS’s and StormGeo’s combined competence in software and analytics, creating a strategic opportunity for joint development of new solutions and insight. The combined reach of the two companies is more than 20,000 vessels.Working with StormGeo, GNS is extending its Voyager FLEET INSIGHT online service to include key…

Japanese shipping giant Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) announced its intention to install a navigation system using augmented reality (AR) technology jointly developed by Furuno Electric and MOL Techno-Trade on 21 MOL Group-operated very large crude oil carriers (VLCCs).The system displays information on other vessels sailing on a vessel's planned route and surrounding sea areas and other ocean conditions, such as shallow waters, on tablets and screens. It integrates information from the Automatic Identification System (AIS) and radar with real-time video images from the bridge camera in collaboration with Furuno Electric's cutting-edge Electric…

Orca AI launched to prevent maritime collisions by providing AI-backed navigational solutions for the shipping industry, backed by a $2.6 million seed round led by MizMaa Ventures and including funding from Ray Carriers and The Dock.Collisions and other maritime incidents have been on the rise for the past several years, jumping from 2,000 in 2011 to an estimated 4,000 in 2017. The vast majority of maritime collisions occur in congested waterways, often in areas near ports or in narrow waterways. Current navigation tools are less effective in these situations and rely on the crew’s judgment to navigate safely, providing room for human error which is the cause of more than 75% of collisions.Orca AI’s system is designed for crowded waterways and the harshest, lowest visibility, scenarios.

Norwegian maritime industry completed the project of the world’s first purpose-built krill harvesting vessel  that has taken two years and included 40 Norwegian vendors.A press release claimed that Antarctic Endurance, the custom designed new-build is a one of a kind, energy efficient krill harvesting vessel that showcases the very best of Norwegian maritime engineering expertise and innovation.E-navigation specialist NAVTOR  said that its NavBox solution was chosen by Antarctic Endurance for e-Navigation services."The NAVTOR team are both proud and humbled that our NavBox solution was chosen to make sure she always have latest charts and publications available as it embarks on the 2019 harvesting season…

GNS, the maritime technology company, has been awarded the contract to supply the fleet of Singapore-based Epic Gas Ship Management and its shore-based marine team with a complete navigation solution.GNS won the contract following a competitive tender during which Epic Gas ran extensive sea and shore-based trials over a six-month period evaluating solutions from three vendors. Key evaluation criteria were intuitiveness of the software and simplicity of the end-to-end service, which includes everything from route planning and monitoring through to the efficient transfer of ENCs to ECDIS for voyage execution.Capt. Martin Brzuska, Head of Group Marine Assurance, DPA at Epic Gas said: “The most important thing for us is safe transportation of our cargoes globally.

Grupo Lindley was approached by Administração dos Portos do Douro, Leixões e Viana do Castelo in Portugal to improve the reliability of the aids to navigation in the Douro River. Along this stretch of navigable waters there are many piles that when the river floods become totally submerged.In conjunction with Instituto Hidrográfico (Portuguese Navy), Almarin together with sister company Lindley in Portugal has been working on a topmark that performs as a buoy floating off from the pile in high water.

The global marine and offshore vessel management and support services provider V.Group said that its V.Ships Leisure unit has been awarded a contract by Antarctica21 for the technical management of the expedition vessel, Magellan Explorer.The 100-guest Magellan Explorer is currently under construction at Asenav in Chile and due to be delivered in October 2019, the ship management company company said.The vessel, which is being built to the new polar code and is uniquely customised for fly-cruises in Antarctica, will join Antarctica21’s fleet as the first newbuild for the Chile-based cruise brand, with their current fleet on charter agreements.Antarctica21’s President and Chairman Jaime Vásquez stated…

The European Union (EU)-funded 'Safe maritime operations under extreme conditions: the Arctic case' (SEDNA) project is developing ways to improve the design, operation, navigation and anti-icing features of ships traversing the harsh Arctic region.SEDNA's innovations could help protect lives, safeguard the region's unique natural environment, and open more competitive routes for Europe's shippers, said a communication from EUROPA research information center.As the ice in the Arctic region retreats due to global warming, new maritime routes are opening up to shipping traffic. However the Arctic's extremely harsh conditions and the severe safety challenges for navigation teams increase the risk of accidents…