Seldom has a sight-seeing vessel turned so many heads in commercial shipping as the carbon fibre Vision of the Fjords. For shipping worldwide, however, it may be the ship’s bridge technology that proves its most significant feature.
Known as ‘Seasight’ through her development phase at shipyard Brødene aa, the eye-catching Vision of the Fjords began carrying tourists between Flåm and Gudvangen along Norway’s western coast in June, taking in the UNESCO-protected Nærøyfjord. Those on board are free to roam over the distinctive zig-zagging exterior in pursuit of the ultimate view – a design aiming to emulate a mountainside trail.
The feature bringing the ferry to wider attention has been its propulsion, whose hybrid DC distribution and storage solution allows Vision of the Fjords to switch to silent, two emission-free 287 kWh batteries when entering conservation areas. However, the high profile pleasure cruiser is notable for a less feted technical solution preferred onboard, whose impact may be more immediate in an increasingly tech-savvy commercial shipping market.
Vision of the Fjords provides a further reference for Simrad-branded bridge equipment, in a segment of the shipping market whose new business oxygen is in short supply, but where the equipment’s supplier is a fast rising force.
All of the new ferry’s main bridge equipment items – from the radar to the electronic chart display information system (ECDIS), autopilot, compact gyro compass, and DGPS – are Simrad-branded solutions.
“This is a major reference for Simrad safety, navigation and control technology”, says Leif Ottosson, CEO, Navico. “The Norwegian ferry market is rightly known as a trend setter in ship technology, but it is also fiercely competitive. Securing this contract puts Simrad bridge products at the heart of innovation in the commercial maritime industry.”
In fact, Vision of the Fjords provides an early showcase for the Simrad PLECDIS E5024 system, launched last year as the latest IMO type-approved Simrad navigation system for use aboard SOLAS vessels, and distinguished by simple installation and intuitive user interface. Also onboard are two Argus 12U radars for high speed craft. Working off one 9ft and one 6ft antennas, Simrad’s X-band technology can merge two antenna images (including full ARPA and AIS) in one display.
The Simrad PLECDIS E5024 itself is a dual ECDIS station solution, featuring a wireless trackball controller, 24-inch Full-HD 16:9 widescreens with on-screen keyboards, and simplified drag-and-drop waypoint manipulation for route planning.
In addition to the main displays, the Vision of the Fjords bridge console also includes the Simrad GC85 Compact gyro system, which is fully approved for High Speed Craft – trailed as the most flexible Gyrocompass on the market in installation, configuration and cost terms.
Also onboard is the Simrad AP80 autopilot system, which features adaptive software that offers users the opportunity to select either auto or navigation modes, with settings to enable slow speed and manoeuvring quickly. The newly-designed Simrad MX612 navigation system onboard has been designed to match the AP80 autopilot, and its 5” LCD bonded screen is distinguished by a clearer and fog-proof display with wide viewing angles.
Last, but not least, is the Simrad EP70 Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB), whose high-intensity LED at to the top of the antenna ensures optimal visibility.
The Fjords chief executive Rolf Sandvik has already given notice that the partnership behind Vision on the Fjords intends to build more vessels of similar specification. The anticipated newbuilds will all feature “the latest technology”, according to Sandvik.
Whether that means more orders for Simrad-branded remains to be seen, but The Fjords is by no means exceptional in its class of vessels for having specified Simrad products. In May, the supplier hosted a media event which Ship Efficiency Review attended in Stavanger, showcasing Helgøy Glimt, a carbon fibre fast ferry which also undertakes passenger services in the Norwegian fjords. The vessel has been fitted with Simrad ECDIS, Simrad Argus X Band, Argus S Band radars, and also the Simrad HALO™ radar– the world’s first high-performance solid-state, open-array radar system with pulse compression technology.
Helgøy Skyssbat owner Kristen Helgøy was on hand to praise the sharp radar definition when moving past a series of small islands, even in poor weather. He also complimented the Simrad dual ECDIS E5024 for both ease of use and online training availability.
At 21m in length, it is worth noting that Helgøy Glimt is not obliged to carry SOLAS-compliant navigational equipment like this. However, all navigators are trained on ECDIS in Norway. Mr Helgøy told journalists that seafarers onboard expected to operate highest quality equipment as a matter of course, in order not to jeopardise future employment.
Helgøy Glimt’s V5024 AIS A, two MXGN70 GPS CDU, HS80 GPS compass, AP80 autopilot with quick stick, EPIRB EP70 and SART SA70 are also Simrad products.
Then, in June, Australian operator Manly Fast Ferries installed Simrad bridge equipment and broadband radar on four new catamarans for Sydney Harbour operations. The shipowner ordered an NSO Evo2 quad-core marine processor, a 4G broadband radar, an Autopilot AP28, and Simrad MO16T widescreen monitors.
Manly Fast Ferries managing director Will Ford said: “The broadband radar in particular has made a huge difference. The low-emissions view, target definition and separation is extremely helpful in close-quarters manoeuvring.”
Even before a recent injection of investment from Goldman Sachs, spokesmen for the Navico Commercial Marine division through which Simrad-branded products are offered had forecast consolidation in the commercial marine electronics sector for the years ahead. These expectations echo the leisure sector where the group now occupies pole market position.
One of the distinguishing features of the company, in both the commercial and leisure sectors, is that it manufactures its own products. It also continues to bring new product to the commercial maritime market, most recently with the introduction of a new IMO-approved integrated radar system for use on Category 3 SOLAS vessels, workboats, tugs and coastal fishing boats. The new product aims at a space ‘in between’ the Simrad Argus IMO radar and the radar the company supplies for recreational vessels. It makes use of the multifunction display developed for the cutting edge Halo radar, launched in 2015, and the Argus scanner.
As the distinctive Vision of the Fjords continues to turn heads cruising up and down the Norwegian coast in perhaps the highest specification maritime market in the world, ambitions for Simrad-branded products will surely be done no harm at all.
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