On 16 August the Washington DC-based National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released its annual compendium of marine accidents and the lessons learned from them. Known as Safer Seas Digest 2015 the document is available in print and on the NTSB website, to be found here. It examines 29 major marine casualty investigations the agency closed in 2015.

The Royal Institute of Navigation is a Learned Society and a UK Registered Charity, operating under Royal Charter. It is also a long-standing member of IAIN.

Now the Institute wishes to replace the current Director on his retirement from 1 January 2017. The initial appointment shall be for five years (and subject to renewal thereafter), over which time the successful applicant will be required to deliver a balanced budget.

The Director is effectively the CEO, responsible for day-to-day management of the affairs of the Institute, subject to the general direction and control of the all non-executive Council; the incumbent also holds the office of Company Secretary of the Institute.

This full-time post is based in London SW7 and involves leading a team of five staff who meet the needs of around 2,200 members. The Director is also required to represent and to speak on behalf of the Institute, acting as first point of contact with media, as well as act as Chairman of the Editorial Advisory Board for The Journal of Navigation, and Managing Editor of the in-house magazine Navigation News.

Further details on the post are to be found here.

Applications are to arrive at RIN no later than 9 September 2016.

The Indian Government Press Information Bureau has advised that on 11 August a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was signed between the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) and the Indian DGLL (Directorate General of Lighthouses & Lightships).

The document was signed in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and will enable the DGLL Training Centre at Kolkata to deliver a professional training course on the management of marine aids to navigation in line with IALA model courses.

Directorate General of Lighthouses & Lightships (DGLL) is primarily responsible for providing an aids to navigation service for the safety of mariners in Indian waters.

It was announced from Birkeroed, Denmark early in August that Danelec Marine is the project leader for a consortium of companies in iSea, a two-year R&D project to improve efficiency in ship operations and safer navigation.

The iSea programme has been approved for funding by the Eurostars programme. In addition to Danelec Marine, participants are Vessel Performance Solutions ApS (Denmark), i-Marine Technologies and Research Inc. (Turkey) and Deniztekno Danismanlik Bilgi Teknolojileri ve Bilgisayar San. Tic. Std. Sti
(Turkey).

The iSea team will deliver a set of Expert Decision Support Systems (EDSS) for enhancing the performance and navigability of vessels. It is understood that the novel EDSS will be enabled by a low-cost and low-risk telematics solution providing real-time transfer of crucial data from ship to shore. The illustration here shows the various sources of ship-to-shore information needed by owners.

The (US) Institute of Navigation announced on 29 August that its Urban Navigation Panel will take place on14 September at 1345 during ION GNSS+ 16 to be held from 12-16 September in Portland, Oregon will include engineers from Google, Uber and Baidu.

Furthermore, ION announced that engineers from Broadcom, u-blox and the University of Texas will join in headlining the Urban Navigation Panel at Oregon Convention Center, Portland.

This elite collection of speakers are at the forefront of creating self-driving vehicles and the GPS systems that guide them and will present an overview of the techniques and technologies that enable vehicle navigation within cities, where buildings block the signals from GNSS satellites.

As part of a continuing mission to enhance navigation standards in the maritime industry, on 1 September the navigation management company Da Gama Maritime (DGM), will launch their new ‘Vasco App’, it is learnt. Having been accepted by the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) as meeting the rigorous standards to provide official paper chart corrections, this is the first means, it is understood, by which the information is provided to the mariner by way of an electronic tablet device.

The shipping industry is increasingly embracing Big Data and the Internet of Things (IoT) in a move to transform and streamline many aspects of ship operations. This can mean connecting through secure Internet links computers and sensors on ships at sea with shoreside IT networks.

The Denmark-based company Danelec pointed out in mid-August that while these technical innovations can bring big benefits in terms of greater visibility into the performance of assets and improved efficiency, they also can create new risks in terms of vulnerability to cyber attacks on the shipboard and shoreside IT infrastructure.

Danelec’s white paper here.

We send hearty congratulations to the following members of the worldwide navigation community who are advancing in their careers:

– Professor Captain Miroslaw Jurdzinski FNI, on being awarded the Polish Navigation Forum Annual Award in recognition of extraordinary contributions to the development of navigation.

– Simon Gaskin, FRIN, FNI, Secretary General of IAIN for his induction as a Freeman of the Honourable Company of Master Mariners, London.

In an age where there is an app for just about everything, the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) and HM Nautical Almanac Office (HMNAO) have been developing a sight reduction app. This is aimed at providing a fully digitized version of the AP3270/NP303 publication and will plot the user’s position lines to give a visual representation of an astro fix.

The app is in development, and this is where UKHO needs the help of navigators. Dr Paresh Prema, UKHO’s Senior Analyst/Web Developer needs volunteer navigators with android-based hand-held devices and skills in astro navigation to test-drive, to comment on and to develop further this exciting piece of navigationally-useful technology.

If you feel you can help, please contact: Dr Paresh Prema at the UKHO for details.

It is understood from Inside GNSS that the GPS Directorate is requesting public comment on proposed changes to several interface specification (IS) and Interface Control documents (ICDs) for GPS signals in space.

Developments have prompted the changes, including work on the Next-Generation Operational Control Segment (OCX), design of the GPS Block III satellites, and a new memorandum of agreement among several federal agencies that would introduce new satellite outage file (SOF) to Notice Advisory to Navstar Users (NANU) messages.

It was announced from New Mexico on 27 July that the (US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is working to combat electronic jamming of first responders’ radio communications systems by enhancing jamming prevention, detection and mitigation technologies.

A DHS S&T First Responder Electronic Jamming Exercise took place on 16 July at the White Sand Missile Range in New Mexico, where DHS S&T hosted first responders from more than 40 federal, state and local agencies, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency, US Customs and Border Protection, and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

It was announced on 25 July from Busan, Republic of Korea, by the US Navy that the Oceanographer of the Navy and Commander, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command Rear-Admiral Tim Gallaudet had signed an amendment extending a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) following a meeting with ROKN Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Jung, Ho-sub.

It is understood this agreement allows for the US Navy to continue cooperating with the ROKN in conducting military surveys, processing and analyzing collected oceanographic, hydrographic and geo-acoustic data, preparing gridded digital databases and exchanging data and information.

The Swedish Club has launched its latest publication, Claims at a Glance, which provides an insight into the full range of claims the Club has handled over the last five years, and is intended as a tool to reduce the frequency of incidents for both P&I* and H&M** claims. With prevention at its heart, it covers the key lessons learned across a range of real life situations, and provides a useful update of data contained in its most recent loss prevention titles: P&I Claims Analysis; Main Engine Damage; Navigational Claims; Ice – Advice for
Trading in the Polar Regions; Heavy Weather; and Wet Damage to Cargo.

Claims at a Glance investigates the causes of a wide range of incidents and makes practical recommendations on how to prevent them. It makes full use of Interactive Root Cause Analysis (IRCA) to analyse the root cause of a variety of claims, demonstrating that despite the seeming differences between incidents, the root causes are often very similar.

The report can be found here.

The US Navy, Army and Coast Guard together with Iraqi and Kuwaiti navies and Kuwait Coast Guard, solidified the creation of the first in a series of US-Iraq-
Kuwait trilateral exercises following an initial planning conference held at Naval Support Activity Bahrain. This was announced from Manama, Bahrain, on 13 July. This US-Iraq-Kuwait trilateral will be a quarterly exercise that serves to develop the proficiency of all participating forces to work together in support of regional safety and security.

CHIRP is the UK Confidential Reporting Programme for Aviation and Maritime. The aim of CHIRP is to contribute to the enhancement of aviation safety in the UK and maritime safety worldwide, by providing a totally independent confidential (not anonymous) reporting system for all individuals employed in or associated with these industries (see its site.

The GA FEEDBACK has now been issued (No:68; 2/2016) and is attached as a
pdf.

News has been received from the UK branch of global navigation satellite system (GNSS) testing provider, Spirent Communications plc., of the launch of the GSS7000 series of multi-frequency, multi-GNSS RF constellation simulators. The GSS7000 (illustrated) provides an entry to multi-frequency testing, with a modular approach to enable this new precision GNSS simulation system to expand with users’ needs.

It is understood the GSS7000 simulation system will suit receiver, system and application developers who want to take advantage of new satellite navigation systems and the better accuracy offered by civilian, multi-frequency GNSS.

It has been announced that the Carnival Corporation Center for Simulator and Maritime Training (CSMART) in Almere, The Netherlands, was commissioned on 14 July. The CSMART is said to be the largest facility in terms of training capacity and utilises the most innovative technology provided by Transas.

The Transas Integrated Full Mission Simulation Academy equipment implemented at the CSMART is a significant innovation that moves the capability of the most complex challenge to maritime safety, it is understood. This is the
result of almost two years’ intensive R&D investment. Carnival recognised that a step-change was required in the way seafarers are trained to improve safety at sea. The interaction of human factors on board cruise vessels are some of the most complex in the maritime industry.

On 11 July the (UK) Department for Transport invited car drivers to have their
say on the use of advanced driver assistance systems and self-driving technologies in cars on British roads.

At the same time the following were announced:

– A programme of reform to make the roads ready for advanced driver assistance and driverless technology was launched.

– A consultation with a chance for everyone to have their say about new vehicle technologies was offered.

In summary, a major consultation to help pave the way for automated cars to be used on British roads was launched, with all drivers invited to have their say. Under the proposed measures, rules will be changed so automated vehicles can be insured for use on the roads.

On 11 June it was announced by Terma in Aarhus, Denmark that the company has been contracted to upgrade the existing Terma Surface Movement Radar (SMR) at Birmingham Airport. With this Birmingham will join a long list of airports to operate the new generation Solid State SCANTER 5502 Surface Movement Radar.

From London on 11 July the Ministry of Defence (MOD) confirmed the deal to purchase nine P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) for the Royal Air Force (RAF). These new aircraft, which will be based at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, will play a vital role in protecting the UK’s nuclear deterrent and the UK’s two new aircraft carriers. They will also be able to locate and track hostile submarines, and will enhance the UK’s maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) capability. This capability will also bring economic benefits to Scotland and the wider UK, with an additional 400 personnel based at RAF Lossiemouth.

It was announced from Houston, Texas, on 6 July that ABS Group, a leading provider of technical inspection and verification services to the global power and wind energy industries, had signed an agreement with DroneView Technologies to deliver joint aerial wind turbine and equipment inspections utilizing sophisticated drone technology as a cost-effective means. As advanced technology drones provide a data-driven alternative to traditional inspections of aerial wind turbine blades at hazardous heights. This will lead to safer, more efficient wind farm operations, it is understood.

Friday 1st July 2016 was an historic day for the UK as elements of the future Royal Navy and Royal Air Force combat air fleets, the F-35B Lightning II, flew over their prospective ‘homes’; HMS Queen Elizabeth, HMS Prince of Wales in Rosyth and RAF Marham in Norfolk.

The head of the Fleet Air Arm, Rear-Admiral Keith Blount commented: ‘Today marks a significant milestone in the nation’s return to aircraft carrier aviation and carrier strike. Both ships have been designed from the keel up to operate with the F-35B and the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy are working ever closer to see fixed-wing aircraft once more operating from Royal Navy Aircraft Carriers. I feel very proud to be part of it.’

The new aircraft carriers will each be capable of operating up to 36 F-35B Lightning II stealth jets.

On 8 July Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince George met Royal Air Force Red Arrows pilots and Air Cadets at the world’s biggest airshow. Their Royal Highnesses attended the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT), at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, as Britain’s new supersonic F-35B Lightning stealth jet made its UK debut with a thrilling flying display.

The AIRSTART Consortium will be showcasing leading edge technologies essential for operating Beyond Visual Line of Sight, BVLOS, at Farnborough International Airshow trade event from 11-15 July. UAS is a disruptive technology which could have significant impact in applications such as search and rescue and electricity distribution network inspection, but this will only be fully realised if UAS can safely operate over longer distances, it is reported.

Commenting on the outcome of the result of the EU referendum held in the UK on 23 June 2016, Professor Chris Atkin, President of the Royal Aeronautical Society, said: ‘Recognising the concerns of many in our community about the effects of the
changed UK/EU relationship, the Royal Aeronautical Society would encourage all parties to work to preserve the excellent collaboration that exists between the United Kingdom and the rest of Europe in the aerospace and aviation industry. The Society stands ready to advise those making choices over the coming months that will have an impact on this important economic sector.’