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26 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News FEATURE MARINE DESIGN With global warming, discussions re- lating to routing cargo vessels through the Arctic as a shortcut to markets con- tinue to heat up. In addition to new ship- ping lanes, the hydrocarbon industry is moving north to the polar regions to dis- cover and recover the rich hydrocarbon resources under the icy dome. As Arctic shipping continues to expand, improved tactical knowledge of ice has become critical to the operators. To ensure the safety and efficiency of Arctic operations, a ship-borne/platform based radar (and sometimes shore-based) system is re- quired to perform reliable detection and tracking of ice and even discrimination between multiyear and first year icefloat- ing in the ocean. Rutter’s sigma S6 Ice Navigator is a specialized ice navigation radar system, designed to provide the en- hanced ability to detect and track various sizes of icebergs, such as growlers and bergy bits, in all weather conditions. Rut- ter’s sigma S6 Ice Navigator also pro- vides a photographic-like image of pack ice in the vicinity of a vessel, enabling it to maneuver through sea ice effectively and making the optimal route identifi- able. The system provides for improved safety, reduced fuel consumption, mini- mized hull damage, and reduced travel time through ice infested waters. The sigma S6 Ice Navigator was devel- oped by building on Rutter’s sigma S6radar processor and display technol- ogy, which represents a core technology in enhanced marine radar data processing and imaging. The sigma S6radar proces- sor converts the analog video return sig- nal from standard full scanning radar into a proprietary digital format and processes that signal in high resolution. It main- tains the full fidelity of the signal throughout the processing and displays the result on a high resolution display. The sigma S6processor is able to apply a range of algorithms for unparalleled small target detection in high clutter en- vironments. It completes the package by providing a 256 level display for superior display detail and user configurability. sigma S6’s superior target detection and tracking capabilities make it ideal for many different applications, including ice detection and navigation, oil spill detec- tion and response, maritime surveillance, and search and rescue. www.rutter.ca Enhancing Safety of Arctic Ops Building on Rutter's radar signal processing and display technology, the sigma S6Ice Navigator (inset below) provides a photographic like image of pack ice in the vicinity of a vessel.
