The Marine Electronics Hub
If I understand the timing correctly, about when Raymarine starts shipping its new AIS 500 Class B transponder in May, it will also offer software updates for A, C, E, and G Series MFDs that provide some AIS plotting improvements. On top of the list is “buddy tracking”, which I consider a valuable feature, though the term — used by several manufacturers — is a bit misleading…
Thanks to an angelic Panbot, I’ve now read pertinent sections of IEC 62288, a.k.a. “Maritime navigation and radiocommunication equipment and systems – Presentation of navigation-related information on shipborne navigational displays – General requirements, methods of testing and required test results.” It’s a hundred pages (preview PDF here) laying out in great detail the minimum requirements for how all new radars going on SOLAS ships will perform and present data. Perhaps most important among many mandated enhancements is the treatment of AIS targets, Class B included, putting them on essentially the same level of safety value as radar targets. I think these standards are good news not only for the bridge teams on big ships, but also us little guys who sometimes travel amongst them (despite the consternation that came up yesterday)…
I spent some of this weekend installing and trying out Coastal Explorer 2009, and was thoroughly impressed…
So Global Satellite USA has announced an interesting Iridium PBX box, but it won’t roll out until June and will cost $4,200 (with an outside antenna and 20 meters of cable)…
When I wrote about SafeLife in January, I didn’t realize that this full-on through-satellite EPIRB and PLB testing service wasn’t quite ready to go. In fact, it’s not trivial to put together the system...
