Northern Sea Route navigation guide

China’s Ministry of Transport has announced plans to publish a navigation guide for the Chinese vessels on the Northern Sea Route. The guide will comprise charts, routes, sea ice conditions, meteorology and other navigation information in the Arctic region.

IHS Maritime 360 reported that Donghai Navigation Security Center, China’s Arctic research centre and Jimei University compiled the guidance for the Arctic and are working on similar navigation assistance system for Antarctica, including visual buoys, radio navigation, emergency communication and AIS.

Late last year, COSCO multipurpose vessel Yong Sheng completed a first trial voyage via the Northern Sea Route from China to Europe. COSCOL Deputy GM Liangming Wu told IHS Maritime COSCO would “try to make the regular commercial operation of the route come true as soon as possible.”

Late last year, classification society ABS published a guide to the regulations relating to passage of the Northern Sea Route, reflecting increased interest in the potential of the NSR to an increasing number of shipowners.

‘Quantum Compass’ to supplement GPS

The UK’s Ministry of Defence is investing millions of pounds in the search for a secure and interference-proof means of providing accurate positioning anywhere on the globe, the FT reports.

Scientists at Porton Down and the National Physical Laboratory believe they are three to five years away from developing a ‘quantum compass’ that would be able to locate itself based on the subatomic effects of the earth’s magnetic field.

The advantage of this technology would be to remove the need for satellites or fixed radio masts – spawning huge interest from the military and civilian users looking to overcome the limitations of the Global Positioning System (GPS) and other space-based navigation systems.

In February this year, the architect of GPS, Colonel Bradford Parkinson, warned that the system was under strain and was highly vulnerable to deliberate disruption or attack.

Scientists say the MoD technology could have civilian applications in time and may eventually be available for use in smart phones.

Inmarsat waits on extent of GX launch delays

The failure of a Proton rocket during take-off on May 16 – the fourth launch failure in less than two years – has put back the launch schedule for Inmarsat’s Global Xpress next generation satellite system. Inmarsat had been due to launch two further satellites later this year to join the first unit already in orbit and begin providing the service by late 2014 or early 2015.

The DigitalShip reported that Inmarsat expects the findings of an enquiry to be completed in the next two months. “Those conclusions will be important in determining the impact on our launch schedule, we believe a delay in the planned launch of both the Inmarsat-5 F2 and F3 is now likely, which would delay the launch of GX services on a global basis,” it said.

But Inmarsat said that the launch delay would not affect the start of commercial GX services on a regional basis using the first and in due course the second satellites, nor existing customer commitments to purchase GX services. Existing L-band business, including FleetBroadband remain unaffected by any GX launch delay, it added.

Denmark-China strengthen green technology ties

The governments of Denmark and China have concluded a co-operation agreement which will see the two countries work together on the development of ‘green maritime’ technologies and forge stronger links in the field of shipbuilding.

The Danish Ministry of Business and Growth and the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology signed the agreement during a state visit to China, building on 40 years of co-operation since the signing of the first bilateral agreement in 1974.

Andreas Nordseth, director-general of the Danish Maritime Authority said Danish shipping and maritime companies have a strong presence in China. “With this new agreement on green technology and shipbuilding China and Denmark take yet another step and aim towards maritime technology. The agreement establishes the framework of new co-operation between Danish suppliers of green maritime solutions and Chinese shipyards.

“Several Danish companies are already established with production, service centres or sales offices in China, and this agreement should support this development and create new forms of co-operation that can, in the long term, increase Danish-Chinese trade,” he added.

BITS for bulker operators from Seagull

Maritime e-learning provider Seagull has released BITS, a ‘competence management system’ designed for the dry bulk industry. The Bulker Industry Training Standard is a computer-based evaluation tool aimed at officers onboard ships with unique maintenance, operating and cargo handling practices.

Seagull has previously worked with a variety of shipping organisations on creating harmonised competence standards, developing electronic versions of the INTERTANKO TOTS (Tanker Officer Training Standards) scheme and SIGTTO (Society of International Gas Tanker and Terminal Operators) competence guidelines.

BITS can be used to provide a benchmark for industry competence, and also adapted to reflect training standards developed by individual operators. It represents Seagull’s first CMS tool for non-tanker applications, and includes coverage of cargo specific competencies for coal, grain and iron ore.

In line with the requirements of the STW Convention, BITS covers competence in navigation, cargo handling, control operations, marine engineering, electrical; maintenance and repair and radio communications.

MLC 2006 drives crew calling demand

Less than a year after its entry into force, the Maritime Labour Convention has already had an impact on ship-to-shore communications, The DigitalShip reports. Sometimes known as the ‘seafarers’ bill of rights’, the Convention includes some non-mandatory guidelines covering day to day and emergency access to communications by ship’s crew.

While these guidelines are not mandatory, shipowners taking part in a maritime panel at this year’s Thuraya Partner Conference in Dubai reported that MLC has quickly become a significant driver for them in how they provide crew communications.

Head of IT and Communications for Emarat Maritime, Baskar Shanmuganantham told the conference the MLC’s entry into force had co-incided with an increased demand for crew voice and data services.

“Although the Convention does not directly obligate owners to provide crew solutions, technology is now, more than ever, a critical component to retain crew, as well as staying ahead of the competition,” he said.

“We absolutely cannot stand to lose our trained and experienced crew because of non-availability of crew communications,” said Mr Shanmuganantham, who added that his company had broadened access to the internet across its fleet.

Leslie Suntay of crewing agency Philippine Transmarine Carriers agreed that the MLC had been “a strong selling point whenever we pitch to principals and even to ships’ masters. They understand the implication is that they must care for their crew.” With the Philippines still providing the majority of the world’s seafaring resources, connecting crew has become critical as a means of retention and welfare provision.

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