Chinese ENC coverage comes online
- The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) has announced the completion of Chinese coastal coverage of Electronic Navigation Charts (ENC), which had previously been seen as one of the major regions yet to be adequately covered ahead of upcoming mandatory ECDIS carriage requirements. >>more

Phoenix details costs savings from OpenPort switch
- German ship manager Phoenix Reederei reports that its average monthly satellite expenses have dropped more than €1,000 per ship since installing Iridium OpenPort satellite terminals on five of its vessels. >>more

BASSnet for 80 PIL vessels
- After a year-long evaluation process Pacific International Lines (PIL) has agreed a deal with maritime software provider BASS for the supply and installation of the BASSnet Fleet Management System on 80 vessels. >>more

Odfjell reports $475k savings through voyage optimisation
- The Odfjell Group has begun the rollout of Applied Weather Technology's routing services and onboard voyage optimisation system aboard 65 of the approximately 90 tankers in its fleet, estimating that it has saved 1,000 metric tons (MT) of fuel oil during the first 90 days.  >>more

SE Ship Management deploys FB150
- Stratos reports that it has successfully deployed an integrated, crew communications solution running over the FleetBroadband 150 for SE Ship Management (SESM) in Singapore, a subsidiary of SE Shipping Lines (SESL). >>more

Dutch Navy goes for CommBox
- After a successful installation and period of testing, The Royal Netherlands Navy, represented by the Netherlands Defense Academy training vessel Van Kinsbergen, has begun using the CommBox system from Virtek Communication to manage its communications. >>more

Noordhoek vessels get VSAT
- Dutch company SeaVsat reports that it is to provide VSAT satellite communications systems to two newbuild vessels operated by Noordhoek Diving. >>more

Veson introduces new modules
- Veson Nautical has introduced two modules for its Veslink automated communication service, Veslink Premium OnBoard and Veslink Agent Portal, which are used to create a configurable web-based service for collecting and exchanging data. >>more

Human element vodcasts from Nautical Institute
- The Nautical Institute (NI) has created a series of free online 'vodcasts' (video podcasts) for students and lecturers to use to share knowledge of some of the key human element issues that affect shipping including fatigue, communication, health and safety. >>more

Newbuilds install emissions monitoring
- Martek Marine's MariNOx emissions monitoring systems are to be installed on four 45,200 dwt heavy lift ro-ro container ships ordered by Italian operator Ignazio Messina from Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) in South Korea. >>more

NAVTEX receiver launched by McMurdo
- McMurdo has launched its new NAVTEX Receiver, the McMurdo SMARTFIND GMDSS NAVTEX, which provides up-to-date NAVTEX maritime safety information automatically delivered on a 6-inch screen. >>more

Transas to incorporate AtoBviaC for voyage planning
- Transas' new navigation solution, the Navi-Planner 4000, is to incorporate auto routing software from UK-based company AtoBviaC, a producer of marine distance tables for the global shipping industry. >>more

Sperry agrees cruise and ferry deals
- Sperry Marine reports that it has supplied integrated bridge systems (IBS) for two new high-speed passenger ferries for the Norwegian ferry operator Fjord1 Fylkesbaatane, and electronic navigation systems for the Greek cruise ship MV Aegean Odyssey, which has recently completed a major refurbishment. >>more