Kongsberg Maritime Secures New S-VDR Contract

Kongsberg Maritime has secured a contract to supply Westfal-Larsen Management AS, Norway, with its S-VDR solution, the Maritime Black Box-S (MBB-S). The delivery of the fully DnV Type Approved MBB-S, including the approved 'float free' PSU (Protected Storage Unit) and 'fixed' PSU options, will provide an extremely flexible solution. Westfal-Larsen Management AS, which was incorporated in 1996 as the result of a demerger from Westfal-Larsen & Co. A/S, currently has eight general cargo/container carriers, three chemical tankers and one LPG carrier that it manages. Westfal-Larsen Management has become a resource base for other companies within the Westfal-Larsen Group, for general management, accounting, operation, technical management of ships, and new building projects. It has been planned that the contract will be extended later this year with a Fleet Agreement for Kongsberg's MBB-S. Adding to the delivery will enable Westfal-Larsen Management to meet the requirement that all of its existing cargo vessels above 20.000 gross tonnage are installed with an S-VDR before dry- docking, after 1st July 2006 and at the latest, by 1st July 2009. Westfal-Larsen Management plans to use a Guided Installation and its crew will attend a training course later this year to prepare for the change. The MBB-S is designed for vessels built before 1st July 2002 that under IMO regulations are required to retrofit S-VDR equipment. The system is based on Kongsberg Maritime's full VDR system (MBB) and provides functionality for training and reporting in addition to the core remit of incident/accident data recording. The Type Approved fixed or float free PSU options provide a choice for different vessel types and configuration. Kongsberg Maritime can also provide a choice of installation packages, including Turnkey Installation or Guided Installation.