Like the birth of a child, ship launchings are a time of joy and celebration. Such events In the past were public spectacles that drew huge crowds (over 100,000 spectators came to the launch of the Titanic). Some were graced by members of the royalty and dignitaries.
As every ship officer knows, the Electronic Chart Display & Information System (ECDIS) is a powerful navigation tool. Totem Plus of Israel has made it even more powerful by integrating the company-developed Decision Support Tool (DST) into Totem ECDIS to prevent...
Book frontispiece of The light of navigation, 1608 sailing handbook The sailors of old relied on the heavenly bodies to navigate using instruments that seem primitive by today's standards - compass, hourglass, celestial globe, jacob's staff and mariner's astrolabe....
There's a plethora of practical information on ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display and Information System). ECDIS books, manuals and videos - they've become big business in the nautical world. In the midst of it all, Christian Hempstead, Professor and Director of Nautical...
Dutch-owned VSTEP recently sold a couple of NAUTIS simulators in Jamaica and Indonesia. This doesn't seem such a big deal; new training equipment is always being acquired somewhere on the planet. But we find it significant. VSTEP's latest strides somehow bolster our...
Has all the stress on technology pushed good old seamanship to the back burner? The following video of a collision in the Singapore Straits on 3rd March 2013 is bound to raise the question. The incident, which occurred in the VTS Singapore Central area, was hurriedly...
We were all praises for the Transas Navi-Trainer Professional 5000 when it was making its initial waves in the market. This simulator rocks, we thought. Our opinion has been newly validated. We've just got word from Transas in St Petersburg that Det Norske Veritas...
In the galaxy of maritime simulator-makers, VSTEP is the star to watch in 2013. The Dutch company has announced that two maritime schools in Thailand - Chemstar Nautical School in Bangkok and Kasetsart International Maritime College in Si Racha, about 120 km southeast...
By 1st January 2013, all ships 400 gross tonnes or more will be required to have a Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) as part of amendments to MARPOL (International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution From Ships). Time for shipowners to call on...
One unfortunate offshoot of tighter shipping regulations is increased paperwork for those who man the ships. It needs to be done, of course, but it could add to to crew fatigue and stress. Fortunately, technology is helping address the issue. Martek Marine, for...
We're pleased to learn that ECDIS Ltd of the UK has installed a VSTEP NAUTIS full mission bridge simulator with a 315° viewing capability. Although used primarily for bridge team training, the simulator has been fitted with four different ECDIS systems all integrated...
The America's Cup is arguably the most prestigious sailing race, attracting the world's top sailors, innovative yacht designers and heavyweight sponsors. The organisers describe the Cup itself as "the oldest trophy in sport with a rich heritage and history dating back...