Sperry Marine to Supply IBS for New Container Ships

Northrop Grumman Corporation's Sperry Marine business unit has won orders from the China Shipbuilding Corporation shipyard in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, to supply integrated bridge systems (IBS) for 12 new container ships. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. "The state-of-the-art bridge electronics suite is designed to enhance navigation safety by integrating all of the ships' navigation and steering control systems," said John DeMaso, president of Sperry Marine. "This results in improved situational awareness for watch officers, providing a complete real-time picture of the ship's position and movement, with automatic correlation of overlaid radar targets, on an electronic chart display and information system." The new ships, which are being built for Chilean ship owner Compañia Sudamericana de Vapores and German ship owner, Reederei Peter Doehle, will be fitted with a complete IBS featuring Sperry Marine's proprietary Voyage Management System software. The IBS installation includes inter-switched navigation radars, information systems, an echo sounder, speed log, gyrocompass, differential global positioning system, automatic identification system, voyage data recorder and communication station with Fleet 77 Inmarsat terminal. A key element in the Sperry Marine IBS is the Navipilot 4000 fully adaptive, self-tuning autopilot system, which makes real?time adjustments for loading dynamics and weather conditions. The auto self-tuning capability provides fewer and smaller rudder movements for reduced fuel consumption and less wear and tear on the steering machinery. All of the bridge consoles employ state-of-the-art, high-resolution flat-screen technology. Sperry Marine will also provide support for installation, interfacing, commissioning and crew training.