First full-scale trial of Navtor's technology in Norway is taking place onboard Fjord Line ferry
By
Rebecca Gibson |
The Norwegian Coastal Administration (NCA) has initiated the first full-scale trial of e-navigation technology in Norwegian waters in conjunction with Navtor and ferry operator Fjord Line.
As part of the trial, the NCA is using Navtor’s NavStation – the world’s first digital chart table – to digitally share routing information with Fjord Line’s Stavangerfjord, which sails between Norway and Denmark.
First launched in 2014, NavStation gathers all of the information navigators need into a single interface, including weather data, tidal information, digital publications, and other services such as passage planning and route monitoring. This enables the NCA and the ship’s crew to seamlessly share accurate and real-time information, enhancing maritime safety, efficiency and control. Routes can then be approved or adjusted instantaneously.
Until now, ships had to use maritime VHF radio to communicate routing information to the NCA before both departure and arrival so the authority could update vessel navigators on traffic and advise of necessary changes in speed or routing.
“Through the use of NavStation, both Stavangerfjord and the NCA’s shipping control centre in Kvitsøy, Rogaland, have access to identical digital chart information,” said Bjørn Åge Hjøllo, project development manager at Navtor. “For the vessel it offers increased efficiency and a real simplicity of service, while the NCA gets the information it needs to effectively monitor and control traffic. This is a perfect demonstration of the ability of e-navigation, making life significantly easier, safer and more efficient for navigators and land-based decision makers.”
The project also involves Kongsberg Maritime and subsidiary Kongsberg Norcontrol IT, which worked with Navtor to deliver the ship and shore-based software solutions.