Northrop Grumman upgrades navigation systems

“The upgrade to VisionMaster FT ECDIS ensures the vessels meet the new, mandated regulatory standard set by the International Maritime Organisation and the International Hydrographic Office,” Scott McCrory, Bbsiness director, Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine told The Motorship.

The new systems, which will be installed by the end of 2014, will replace the existing NaviECDIS, which uses the Voyage Management System supplied by Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine.

The VisionMaster FT system has been designed to meet customer specifications, with information from all navigation sensors brought together and merged into multifunction workstations.

The VisionMaster FT ECDIS allows quick access to tasks to be performed during a vessels operation. It can reduce risk by creating and testing multiple voyage plans and features CCTV display with 3D view, radar overlay and central alarm management.

Northrop Grumman says in addition to paperless navigation, the new ECDIS will reduce maintenance costs and provide the integrated bridge system with the latest technology and features.

“By working in partnership with Arklow Shipping under a maintenance contract, we are able to proactively identify obsolete equipment and work together to schedule vessel retrofits with minimum disruption,” Mr McCrory added.

Arklow Shipping operates a fleet of 44 ships that transport project cargos, grain and both general and bulk commodities.

The 12 vessels being upgraded are multipurpose vessels ranging in capacity from 3,000 to 5,000 gross tonnes.