Navionics & Sevencs Join Forces

Navionics S.p.A. of Viareggio, Italy, and SevenCs GMBH of Hamburg, Germany, announce that they have joined forces to produce and distribute electronic charts for the commercial shipping market.Merging Navionics' extensive database with SevenCs' technology, the companies created a new database compliant with the IMO-IHO S57.3 technical standards, as required by large commercial vessels and professional mariners. Both companies will begin distribution of the new product in December 2001. The introductory offering will present full coverage of Europe and North America, and worldwide coverage will be available sometime in 2002. Gert Büttgenbach, Technical Director of SevenCs, explained, "We are very excited about our new relationship with Navionics. Now we will be able to supply our customers with a complete turn-key service, starting with our well established ECDIS Kernel, the software engine that powers the most advanced systems in the shipping industry, and ending with top quality electronic charts and updates for the entire world." Dr. Giuseppe Carnevali, President of Navionics, added, "This is a great opportunity for both companies to improve their products and expand markets. Even though our electronic charts are not a substitute for the official Hydrographic Office-produced charts, over the years they have proven to be a large contribution towards safer and more efficient navigation. Also, we are confident that the competition created by our entry into this market will create healthy stimulus for all of us to make even better charts at ever-lower prices, a competition in which the ultimate winners are safety and the mariners."S57.3 charts from Navionics/SevenCs are exhibited at Mets at the Navionics stand 10318 Hall 10 and at Europoort in the HDW Hagenuk ECDIS stand at the Alphatron stand 02.2035 on the ECDIS2000 system manufactured by HDW Hagenuk SchiffstechnikThe oldest company in the business, Navionics has been manufacturing electronic charts for 18 years for the leisure boating market.SevenCs is a world leader in the development of electronic chart technology for the shipping industry, and was one of the foremost technical contributors in the development of the IHO-IMO standards.