G&D Certified for Maritime Navigation

For centuries, mariners have relied on paper maps to navigate the world’s oceans and waterways. Today, the computer technology used on bridges literally steers the ship. Along with computers, KVM technology enters ships across the world. KVM products from Guntermann & Drunck meet the requirements of international standard IEC-60945. The specification certifies navigation and radio communication equipment and systems for the use in maritime applications.

Guntermann & Drunck (G&D) used the knowledge and experience gathered from projects in air, ground and maritime traffic to get their KVM equipment certified according to IEC-60945. The specification qualifies certain navigation and radio communication equipment and systems for the use in maritime applications. With this, G&D provides their customers from the ship building and ship operating industry with resistant, secure and electromagnetically compatible KVM on board.

An independent testing laboratory issued the accreditation of the IEC-60945 specification to the German manufacturer. The IEC-60945 specification includes numerous tests regarding the environment (heat, cold, vibration), security and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and meets an international standard.

G&D carefully selected specific products for the certification. They are now ready to be applied in engine rooms, technology rooms and even on ship bridges. If you want to know more about the many certified products, you can contact G&D or one of their partners. Additionally and as a special offer to the ship building industry, G&D provides devices with power supplies of 12 or 24 Volt.

Applying KVM optimizes IT installations on- and offshore. Various kinds of applications have proven their worth in the maritime industry:
•    in maritime control rooms like the Vessel Traffic Services (VTS)
•    in offshore control rooms
•    to overcome distances from technical equipment rooms to bridges
•    to control processes e.g. on dredging vessels
•    in control room applications on sea freight containers
•    as support against piracy

With the help of KVM, sensitive computer technology can be removed from the operator’s area into specially secured technology rooms. A KVM sender/receiving system establishes a connection between users and computers. Although the application sounds similar, there is a clear distinction between KVM technology and regular networks. In comparison to data networks, KVM devices establish a point-to-point connection. This connection runs without any networks, software and independently from the computer’s operating system. Additionally, applying KVM means no latency, real-time access, lossless transmission and free seating for employees working at different workstations.

Being certified according to IEC-60945 improves the security of G&D devices even further. A selection of G&D’s KVM switches is Tempest-certified as well. As high-quality security solutions, they comply with the quality and security standards for the use in public security and the military.

Although the certification took a long time, it once again strengthens G&D’s leading roles in industries where security, quality and reliability play an important role.

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