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Compass Display Protected From Abrasion By Coating —Literature Available KVH Industries, Inc., designs, manufactures and markets micro- processor-based electronic heading sensors and compass systems for marine, military, communications and industrial applications. Two recent KVH products are the Azimuth 314 digital compass and the Azimuth 100 digital compass. The Azimuth 314 digital compass is a fluxgate compass designed for powerboats; while the Azimuth 100 is a self-contained, stand-alone compass for small boat owners. A fluxgate compass, according to KVH Industries, is designed to read the earth's magnetic field. In simple terms, the earth's magnetic field interacts with a magnetic field created by a sensor in the compass. The interaction of these two mag- netic fields allows a determination of direction. When manufacturing began on the Azimuth 314 compass, manufac- turing manager, Jim Welsh, dis- covered "the completed compasses often had scratches on the LCD dis- play window. We don't ship com- passes with scratched face plates." As a result, at the beginning of the production run on the Azimuth 314, the company had to scrap several hundred face plates. After investigation, Mr. Welsh decided that Vueguard 901® WC, manufactured by Panelgraphic Cor- poration, West Caldwell, N.J., was the solution. This product is a sur- face treatment that is applied to a variety of substrate materials. According to Bob Millano, product manager for Panelgraphic Corporation, "Vueguard 901 not only makes those substrate materi- als steel wool abrasion resistant, but also resistant to many chemicals, solvents and cleaners." The use of Vueguard on the dis- play windows of KVH products has, according to the company: reduced glare and improved readability; al- lowed the use of tough polycarbon- ate, instead of glass; and lessened crazing or cracking from harsh cleaners. For free literature detailing KVH products, Circle 80 on Reader Service Card For further information on Vue- guard 901 WC from Panelgraphic Corporation, Circle 81 on Reader Service Card ABS Forms Corporate Quality Assurance Group The American Bureau of Ship- ping has established a Corporate Quality Assurance Group to better address its internal QA concerns. The work of this group is separate from the established, external QA programs of ABS in which surveyors assess the quality of the production operations of builders, manufactur- ers, and fabricators worldwide. This new internal QA Group pulls together procedures formerly con- ducted within the ABS divisions into a single, independent structure. The responsibilities of the group are to develop and coordinate corporate quality policy; assist departments, divisions, and regions in developing and implementing QA programs; identify and solve any shortcomings in ABS services; assess corporate training needs; and assist in the development of rules, guides, and internal instructions related to quality assurance. In addition, the QA Group is responsible for quality audits of ABS management, systems, prod- ucts, and services. The internal QA program of ABS is administered by Michael Wheatcroft, director of Quality Assurance, who reports directly to the CEO. His efforts will be rein- forced and monitored by an inde- pendent oversight team consisting of three well-known experts with many years of QA experience: Rear Adm. William Benkert, USCG (ret.), Vice Adm. Robert Price, USCG (ret.), and retired Bethlehem Steel QA manager Dexter Ols- son. The American Bureau of Ship- ping is the first classification society to have such an independent QA oversight team. For further information, Circle 100 on Reader Service Card Imperial Immersion Suits Save Lives; Survivors Get Club Membership Joe Gilbert, Peter Goldstern, and Gary Marlar are just three members of an exclusive 400-mem- ber group, the Penguin Club, who have survived life-threatening storms and accidents at sea with the use of Imperial Immersion Suits. Mr. Gilbert survived more than 20 hours of exposure after Hurri- cane Juan wiped out the oil drilling platform on which he was working several years ago. Mr. Goldstern survived more than 10 hours after his plane went down in stormy seas in the North Atlantic. After abandoning his boat, Mr. Marlar survived 5 hours in the water before he was rescued. "Of course, 400 is undoubtedly a small percentage of those who have had occasion to use Imperial suits in the 18 years they've been available," said Parkway/Imperial's president, Frank Sanger. Often the only motivation for speaking up about an incident is a survivor's request for a replacement storage bag for his suit—the bags are almost always lost overboard when the suits are needed in an emergency. Parkway/Imperial honors anyone who documents an incident in which their life was saved through the use of an Imperial Immersion Suit by issuing a Penguin Club membership card, plaque, and replacement of their storage bag. The South Amboy, New Jersey- based company reports it supplies well over half of the immersion suits sold in the U.S. The Imperial Im- mersion Suit was one of the first to receive the U.S. Coast Guard's ap- proval under new rule-makings (IMO/SOLAS 73/84). Immersion suits, formerly called "exposure" or "survival" suits, are required on certain inspected ves- sels (ships, tankers, MODUs) and are recommended by the Coast Guard on uninspected vessels. The Imperial 1409A Immersion Suit features one-piece sealed con- struction with attached hood, boots, and gloves. A detachable hi-rider buoyancy ring with advanced infla- tor design reinforces built-in buoyancy of the neoprene material. The suit protects against hypother- mia and will not sink even if flooded. Parkway/Imperial also produces high-quality drysuits, wetsuits, and other related equipment. To submit information to Park- way/Imperial about survival at sea using the Imperial Immersion Suit, and for membership in the Penguin Club, contact: Parkway/Imperial, 241 Raritan Street, South Amboy, NJ 08879; telephone: (201) 721- 5300; fax: 201-721-4016; telex: 844568. For free literature detailing Park- way/Imperial Immersion Suits, Circle 10 on Reader Service Card Wescol International Opens Office In New York City Wescol International Marine Ser- vices Inc. recently announced the opening of their New York City office at 527 Madison Avenue. The office will be active in all aspects of commercial shipping, with particular emphasis on project- related business. Additionally, the office will provide U.S.-based clients with direct access to an ex- tensive array of shipping services offered by the Wescol Group of companies. K.J. McNelis, after 10 years in Tokyo, returns to New York to head up the office. Formerly with Teh Tung Steamship and the P & O Group in Japan, he brings with him a solid background in international shipping activities. The company's full address is as follows: Wescol International Ma- rine Services Inc., 527 Madison Ave- nue, 10th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10022, phone: (212) 605-9797, fax:(212) 421-1424. YOUR SOURCE TODAY FOR THE NEW IDEAS OF TOMORROW. New York 914-921 0400. Texas 713-868-3636. California 213-538-5930. Singapore 8621421 Circle 255 on Reader Service Card 36 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News
