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Communication Technology Formal confirmation had been received from the Inmarsat-2 and Inmarsat-3 satellite manufacturers that Inmarsat's fleet has no on-board knowl- edge of dates and will not be affected by the rollover to the millennium. All TT&C sites were completing their tests, with no major problems identified to date, although in some cases the GPS receivers needed to be upgraded. In order to ensure product compliance by MESs, LESs and network co-ordina- tion stations (NCSs), Inmarsat ensured that the relevant System Definition Manuals (SDMs) reflected Year 2000 requirements and the organization kept in regular contact with manufacturers to progress compliance tests. The target for manufacturer comple- tion was set at December 31, 1998 so as to be consistent with Inmarsat's overall program. Details of the status of specific MES models are available from the manufac- turers concerned, or on the Inmarsat website. Year 2000 rears its head in August But while the world gears itself up for those few days at the turn of the century when devastating chaos could be wreaked, at a cost of billions of dollars, in those industries and service sectors that have not checked their systems, GPS users — most of whom are in the maritime industry — have even more to be worried about. They have to be ready four months before everyone else — because August 21 is when the GPS rollover will occur. Some receivers of time signals from the GPS satellite fleet will hit problems at midnight on August 21/22,1999 when the 'week number' field cycles from 1023 to zero. Unless they have been cor- rectly programmed to handle this event, the receivers may well think themselves back in 1980. Inmarsat's ground segment uses 16 of these vulnerable time receivers to keep its satellite control system in synch with its TT&C stations around the globe. "We have been pressing the receivers' manu- Worldwide Experience INTERIOR OUTFITTER CRUISE SHIPS • DINNER BOATS • WORK BOATS • CASINO VESSELS CSI Custom Ship Interiors, Inc. P.O. Box 882 • Solomons, MD 20688 • Fax:410-326-9125 410-326-9122 Circle 148 on Reader Service Card Built for Extremes Engineered for Reliability Made in U.S.A. SK66KOMT BLOCKS AND FORGINGS Since 1890 Skookum • Ulven • RopeMaster • BCM MARINE - LOGGING MINING-OFFSHORE FISHING - CONSTRUCTION 1-800-547-8211 For a Dealer Near You 94 P.O. Box 280 • Hubbard, OR 97032 U.S.A. • Fax: (503) 651-3409 Circle 272 on Reader Service Card H3] SUPERIOR ENERGIES INC. TEMP-SET® INSULATION COVERS MANUFACTURING AND CONTRACTING Removable Reusable Temp-Set Insulation Covers Manifolds, Turbos, Silencers, and complete Exhaust Systems Reduce engine room temperature Lower engine room noise Easy to assemble ACOUSTICAL INSULATION ASBESTOS ABATEMENT TURN-KEY JOBS Let us take care of all your insulation and abatement needs WANT SUPERIOR QUALITY WANT SUPERIOR SERVICE CALL SUPERIOR ENERGIES INC. 1-800-BUY-SEI-1 P.O. Drawer 386, Groves TX 77619 Telephone: (409) 962-8549 Fax: (409) 962-4027 Website: www.insulationsei.com Circle 280 on Reader Service Card •N ELECTRICAL IN S TRUMENT S NEW Voltmeters and Ammeters with built-in selector switch Many other Instruments available Sizes available: 72x72mm (2.S3" sqr.) Voltmeter Part* EC4V7 Ammeter Part* EC4V4 96x96mm (3.7S-sqr.) Voltmeter Part* EC3V7 Ammeter Part* EC3V4 JELCO U/A, INC 2508 Lakebrook Court Atianta, GA 30360-1715 Phone (770) 455-9110 Fax (770) 457-3754 SELCOUSA@worldnet.att.net Circle 264 on Reader Service Card Maritime Reporter/Engineering News Circle 290 on Reader Service Card VIKING SOFTLOOP FENDER When Push Comes to Shove, Have a Viking on Your Side • The softest, most forgiving ship assist fender on market 1 Designed for greater energy absorption and gripping ability • Ideal for tractor tugs bow, stern and side fenders • Side hip fenders for tug and barge units • Pier cell fenders a division of Viking Marine Products, Inc. ] 160 Stltt Street • Perth Amboy. NJ 08861 USA 732-826-4552 • Fix 732-826-5^13 http://wwwvilcingfexider.coni