By
Alex Smith |
FarSounder and Navtor have launched a new partnership to include support for Navtor’s official electronic navigation chart (ENC) data in FarSounder’s base software package.
The two companies will work together to explore ways in which Navtor’s e-navigation tools can be used to enhance FarSounder’s Argos 3D Forward Looking Sonar platform, which detects ocean obstacles ahead of a ship to help prevent collisions.
“In this release, users will not only have support for Navtor ENC chart data included, but they will also be able to bring up automatic identification system targets (AIS) and automatic radar plotting aid (ARPA) targets in the Chart Viewer” said Cheryl Zimmerman, CEO at Farsounder. “Support for new message types associated with AIS and ARPA targets has been added and are easily displayed on the FarSounder stand-alone system. With this additional information, customers have a complete understanding of their surroundings on one screen.”
Founded in 2011, Norway-based Navtor released the first type approved pay as you sail ENC service in 2012, followed in 2014 by digital chart table NavStation.
"By implementing the Navtor electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS) kernel in the FarSounder platform, we bring official electronic navigational chart display to the FarSounder customers for optimal safety, awareness and flexibility,” said Bjørn Kristian Sæstad, chief business development officer for original equipment manufacturer/software development kit at Navtor. “The cloud-based data distribution keeps everything up to date, with the latest charts and publications delivered seamlessly to the vessel. For vessels with an ECDIS installed, there is now the option to have matching map displays on both their ECDIS and FarSounder radar system.”