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ELECTRONICS UPDATE Integrated Bridge Designed lor Safety, Productivity r he integrated bridge concept has steadily gained support among shipowners and opera- irs, a group forced to pay closer Dtention to safety matters as a re- alt of high-profile losses and inter- ational regulations. In fact, some ndustry estimates claim that 70 jercent of new construction features i system classified as an integrated jridge, and that number is expected DO increase. Top manufacturers of the inte- grated bridge systems include Sperry, Racal Decca, STN Atlas Elektronik, Kelvin Hughes, and now Raytheon, following its acquisition of Anschiitz. In fact, a driving factor in Raytheon's bid to buy Anschiitz was gaining the integrated bridge capability. "Our biggest lack of product was in the integrated bridge navigation system. The majority of new con- struction is requiring one or maybe two suppliers to provide a complete navigation/communication package. Realizing that we wanted to have such a product, and realizing that the Anschiitz product was available, the decision was made to make the investment," said Bob Schwartz, marketing manager commercial programs, Raytheon, in an inter- view with Maritime Reporter & Engineering News earlier this year. Each manufacturer has carved its own marketing niche, but in gen- eral each is seeking to be a single- system supplier, and much effort has been expended spreading the word about ease-of-installation ben- efits for the yards, and safety and quality benefits for the owners. Vision 2100 Designed to meet the stringent requirements of shipowners and builders, the Vision 2100 from Sperry is a line of bridge console configurations which are available in three levels of modularity: Stand Alone Cabinets; Console Modules; and NavDECK. Vision 2100 NavDECKis the com- plete bridge module, ready for drop- in installation. The system is re- ported by Sperry as helping to re- duce bridge construction time and saving the designer and builder time and money. The system is factory wired and tested, with central hook- up and power distribution. The company assumes turn-key bridge responsibilities from design concep- tion to sea trials. The Voyage Man- agement System VT is perhaps the true revolution behind the system. The second generation system is reportedly user friendly and uses open architecture industry standard hardware and Microsoft's Windows NT operating system. Aesthetically, the system is of a modern design and pleasant to look at — a factor when selling to the image-oriented cruise industry. Ship Control Center nications and main control opera- The Ship Control Center (SCC) tions as a single source package system from STN Atlas Elektronik solution. It is ergonomically de- integrates all navigation, commu- signed and uses standardized mod- ules and interfaces. The SCC sys- tem is available in three basic ver- sions: SCC Standard; SCC Nav; and SCC Wl. All three versions incorporate a full range of Debeg internal and external GMDSS-type communica- tions facilities. Overall continuous nn a^gff its m «» V / w •v iiSF - • * A yfj. oBuW^i. Circle 239 on Reader Service Card July, 1995 35
