Largest Ferry Fleet Depends Upon Furuno Radars For Safe Passage

Furuno marine electronics help ensure the safety of passengers and crew aboard the 27 vessels that compose Washington State's Ferry System - the largest such fleet in the U.S. Advanced Furuno radar systems, such as the FR2125 and FR2110, are currently in place on all these ships, allowing them to efficiently and safely navigate the busy waters of Puget Sound. The fleet makes more than 500 trips per day, transporting an average of two million commuters and vacationers per month to various islands and peninsulas in the area. It includes 25-knot passenger only ferries, a 40-knot passenger only fast ferry, "Super Ferries" that carry up to 160 cars and 2,500 passengers, plus a "Jumbo" class ferry that can accommodate 206 cars and 2,000 passengers. Recently, the ferry system received authorization to spend $210 milllion on the building of three additional Jumbo ferries to serve the needs of the area's growing population. According to Bill Hughes, a State Ferry captain for more than 19 years, Furuno's state-of-the-art FR2100 Series radars allow these vessels to provide virtual 24-hour service to and from 20 different terminals throughout Puget Sound. "This area is a major port of destination for foreign shipping lines such as Evergreen, Hanjin and APL, and home to a lot of domestic boat traffic as well," Hughes said. Weather conditions, fog and narrow channels also make navigation a tricky process. That's why Furuno radars with ARPA and video plotter overlay capabilities are so vital to our operating success." Furuno's 20-in., commercial-grade FR2100 Series radars represent the ultimate in power, target detection, collision avoidance features and advanced microprocessor engineering. They also meet the stringent requirements of the IMO for installation on all classes of vessels. Nine different models are available, including both X- and S-band versions.