Press Releases…
Subject: SHIPMANAGEMENT EXPERT SYSTEMS S.A. IN DEFENDORY 2002 To: THE DIGITAL SHIP PRESS RELEASE PIRAEUS, 2 OCTOBER 2002 SHIPMANAGEMENT EXPERT SYSTEMS S.A. IN DEFENDORY 2002
SHIPMANAGEMENT EXPERT SYSTEMS S.A. - SES, the pioneering software house presents its latest developments (Stand 501), in 12th specialized exhibition of conventional systems for National Defence on Land - Sea Air, DEFENDORY 2002, that is held between 1- 5 October 2002, in the exhibition centre of Piraeus. SES is the only Greek Company covering fully an Integrated Logistic Support (ILS) System with International recognition. Through its Logistics software products together with the data implementation for its Systems, covers the implementation of an integrated support software package capable to be customized to serve specific needs, for any operational unit with the aim of achieving minimum through life cost, consistent with maximising the Availability Reliability and Maintainability (ARM) elements. From 1987 up today with given the experience of the company so from the installation and the operation of ILS, in UK ROYAL NAVY, and the installation and operation of its own systems "Logistics" in 29 countries, with an important number of national fleets among its Clients, the company has the ability of covering the needs and serve best the International Defence Industry.
Subject: New bolero.net products announced
For Immediate release 1 October 2002 (Geneva, Sibos conference) *SWIFT AND BOLERO.NET CLOSING LOOP IN TRADE FINANCE* *French companies first to trial new products* bolero.net today announced a series of solutions that will assist banks in lowering their costs through the replacement of mail, facsimile and the support of alternative proprietary electronic products. BoleroAdvise offers banks the ability to save costs and improve the quality of their existing Documentary Credit Advice services to
exporters through the provision of a bolero.net web-based XML messaging solution. BoleroApply provides a solution for banks that improves the quality of services that they offer to importers in the opening of Documentary Credit transactions. BoleroApply also includes a pre-advice capability to exporters. A group of French institutions including BNP Paribas, Société Generale, Natexis Banque Populaire, Credit Agricole Indosuez and HSBC/CCF have underway a rollout of the new BoleroAdvise solution. Raanan Barzel, bolero.net project leader, Global Trade Services, BNP Paribas says, ³We in BNP Paribas really appreciate the low capital costs and transaction based pricing of the BoleroAdvise service which will allow us to undertake a broad rollout to our customer base. There is an excellent fit between the new incremental approach bolero.net has established and BNP¹s trade finance strategy in offerering higher value added services.² The solutions are simple and quick to implement and can be delivered in a standard or in a customised, bank branded form. They require low levels of capital investment and maintenance, and are delivered as online services, necessitating minimal installation and IT effort. The suite of packaged solutions will help banks to rapidly implement and offer bolero.net backed, bank branded, services to their customers. Each of the service solutions can be implemented, and incorporated into a banks range of trade services, independently or as groups. They also provide a step-by-step means engagement path to the fuller value potential offered by boleroSURF. Both solutions offer fully automated translation capability between SWIFT MT700 and boleroXML standards. And both are provided in generic or customised, bank branded versions. Barry Morse, ceo bolero.net says, ³These new products have great value not only in delivering important cost savings to banks but also in providing a low-cost means through which thousands of banks customers can gain early access to bolero.net connectivity. The potential for increased incremental service enhancement for these customers is now tremendous.² Ends About bolero.net Created by the world's logistics community represented by the TT (through transport) club and the world's financial community represented by the international banking cooperative SWIFT, bolero.net allows the parties in an international trade transaction to exchange contractual, settlement and fulfilment data online in a secure environment which is underpinned by a unique legal infrastructure. Most of the world's major banks (including ANZ, Westpac, ABN Amro, Citibank, HSBC, Chase Manhattan, SocGen and BNP Paribas) and container shipping lines (including Cosco, Evergreen and K Line) as well as many
major multinationals such as BHP Billiton, Samsung, Hitachi, Otto Versand, Guiness UDV, Peugot Citroen and Mitsui have signed up to the system. Please call Peter Scott, commercial director, bolero.net for further information or to set up an interview with either himself or Barry morse at SIBOS 2002. Live demonstrations of bolero.nets solutions can be seen in the Banking sector of the SWIFT stand.
Peter can be best reached through his mobile +44 7785 22 7798
Subject: INMARSAT ANNOUNCES THE NEXT GENERATION OF MARITIME COMMUNICATIONS AT SMM 2002 Hi, Please see below an Inmarsat press release detailing the two newest members of the Fleet family - Fleet F55 and Fleet F33. Fleet F55 and F33 allow smaller vessels to benefit from voice, email, secure Internet and Intranet access, plus a high quality fax service, allowing crews to operate a 'mobile office' at sea. Both Fleet F55 and Fleet F33 are due to be launched early 2003. This announcement was made at the SMM show in Hamburg last week. If you would like any further information on Inmarsat or any of its products, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the PR team on the details below. Kindest regards Jodie. Bite The Character Building 41b Beavor Lane, London, W6 9BL Direct line: 0208 834 3415 Switchboard: 0208 741 1123 Fax: 0208 741 2790 jodie.simpson@bitepr.com www.bitepr.com
INMARSAT ANNOUNCES THE NEXT GENERATION OF MARITIME COMMUNICATIONS AT SMM 2002 Fleet F55 and Fleet F33, the new members of the Fleet family See them together for the first time at SMM Hamburg, Hall 9, Stand 9116, September 24-28, 2002 Inmarsat Ltd., the world's leading global mobile satellite communications
provider, today unveiled at SMM Hamburg the two newest members of the Fleet family of services, Fleet F55 and Fleet F33. Designed to provide flexible data services for small to medium-sized vessels, Fleet F55 and Fleet F33 follow on from the successful commercial launch of Inmarsat Fleet F77 in April this year. Together, Fleet F77, F55 and F33 provide high-quality mobile voice and flexible data communication services for the entire Maritime industry. Fleet F55 and F33 allow smaller vessels to benefit from voice, email, secure Internet and Intranet access, plus a high quality fax service, allowing crews to operate a 'mobile office' at sea. "The launch of this new service brings improved data capabilities to smaller vessels ? many of which have never had access to the data they require," said Robert Johnson, Director, Maritime Business at Inmarsat. "Yachts and smaller vessels will also be able to benefit from antennas of a more manageable size. For the first time this enables them to access the type of advanced, reliable and cost effective communications facilities only previously available on larger ships." "This broader family of services reinforces the strength of Inmarsat's portfolio for every size of vessel, and again reaffirms Inmarsat's commitment to bringing highly efficient and reliable communications services to the maritime community." Fleet F55's data services will utilise the spotbeams on Inmarsat's satellites, providing up to 64kbit/s Mobile ISDN or Mobile Packet Data in those areas of the world covered. F55 voice services use the global beam to provide global coverage. Fleet F55 is due to be launched in early 2003 and a Fleet F55 antenna sub system from EMS is being displayed at the SMM Exhibition. The data rates available through Fleet F33 mean that a new, wider range of applications is available to the smaller vessel market. Maritime-specific information, such as sea and weather charts, can be made available online and updated in real time. Users can also enjoy the benefit of reliable, easy access to email whenever and wherever is needed. Fleet F33 is due for launch in early 2003. CurrentlyNera Satcom have is an Approved been the first manufacturer to unveil their Fleet F33 terminal Hardware available, which is being displayed at the SMM exhibition SMM this year. "By launching Inmarsat F33 we are responding directly to a market sector for increased data requirements, but which may be exceeded by the Inmarsat
F77's comprehensive service offering," said Ottar Bjaastad, Nera Maritime Business Manager. "Fleet F33 will give users in coastal waters value-added benefits though higher data capacity and high quality voice."
The benefits of Fleet F55 include: · Clear, digital voice available virtually globally in all four Inmarsat Ocean Regions. · Two distinct services available in Inmarsat spot beam areas: o 64kbit/s ISDN service providing high quality voice group four fax, or high-speed voice band data service. o Mobile Packet Data service, an "always on" IP service. This service is charged per volume of data rather than time (ISDN service). This is very attractive for smaller volumes of data or interactive data sessions. · Relatively small lightweight antenna offering easy installation for smaller vessels.
The benefits of Fleet F33 include: · Clear, digital voice available virtually globally in all four of the Inmarsat Ocean Regions. · Two distinct data services available in Inmarsat spot beam areas depending on terminal version: o Enhanced 9.6kbit/s data offering high performance throughput, and/or o The Inmarsat Mobile pPacket Data is anticipated, offering 'always connected' capability and access to data charged on the basis of usage not time. · Small, lightweight antenna (similar to mini-M), offering increased ease of supply and installation. -ENDSAbout Inmarsat Limited · Inmarsat Ltd owns and operates a unique global mobile satellite network and delivers its communications solutions through a worldwide network of approximately 260 distributors and other service providers operating in over 80 countries to end users in the maritime, land and aeronautical sectors. · Inmarsat Ltd has a portfolio of mobile satellite solutions, including voice, fax, intranet and Internet access and other data services. · Inmarsat Ltd has more than 22 years of experience in designing, implementing and operating satellite networks. · At the end of June 2002, approximately 250,000 terminals were registered to access Inmarsat Ltd's services. · Inmarsat Ltd is also supported by partners in the fields of equipment manufacture, software provision and systems integration.
· Inmarsat Ltd is a subsidiary of Inmarsat Ventures plc. · Inmarsat is the exclusive global partner of the FIA World Rally Championships 2002. · Visit http://www.inmarsat.com for more information.
For more information, please contact: Dominic Cook Inmarsat Tel: +44 20 7728 1256 Fax: +44 20 7728 1179 Email: dominic_cook@inmarsat.com Antonia Christie/Caroline Rabjohn Bite Communications Tel: +44 20 8834 3444/3450 Fax: +44 20 8741 2790 Email: antonia.christie/caroline.rabjohn@bitepr.com
Subject: State University of New York (SUNY) Maritime College Transas simulator Karl and Yana, News item re State University of New York (SUNY) Maritime College Transas simulator. May be of interest to DigitalShip. I am an alumnus and I have contact information for people at the school if you need it. Best regards, Fred
In July of 2002, the State University of New York (SUNY) Maritime College awarded the Buffalo Computer Graphics / Transas Marine USA team the contractfor replacement of their existing full mission ship simulator. The simulator system includes a comprehensive Instructor control, monitoring anddebriefing station, along with a seven visual channel full mission mainbridge simulator designed to meet DNV Class 'A' navigational simulatorstandards. At the core of the system is Transas Marine's industry leadingNavi Trainer Professional simulation software with a comprehensive set of highly detailed vessel and geographic models. The bridge is designed to be flexible enough to be adapted for a number of specific marine training programs in the future and includes stimulated ARPA/Radar units, ECDIS, andthe latest generation of large screen displays for its visualization. The simulator will be used to train college cadets, as well as for training programs for the regions maritime industry. Remarkably, the project thatincludes removal of the old systems, installation of a new seven channelfull mission ship simulator, training and testing, has been completed inless
than three months. Anthony Palmiotti, Director of continuing education at SUNY, and the project leader, commented, "The combination of high qualityproven simulation product, history of quality customer support, excellent references, and a flexible professional approach to this important projectfor SUNY, made the Transas BCG team uniquely qualified to meet ourrequirements. A commitment to our delivery timescale was also an important factor". George Toma, President and General Manager of Transas Marine USA noted, "We enter each individual project with a flexible open approach, andthe aim of complete customer satisfaction. As we at Transas progress intoour second decade in the simulation industry we continue to focus onproviding the quality of systems expected of a global marine solutionsprovider, whilst maintaining the flexibility, and attention to detailthroughout the life of a simulator system that this industry demands." http://www.maritimetoday.com/more.cfm?ID=9410<> Fred Doll Doll Shipping Consultancy Ashdown Place Forest Row East Sussex RH18 5LP United Kingdom Tel 44 (0)1342 825129 Mobile 44 (0)7787 564091 Fax 44 (0)1342 826975 E-mail dollship@aol.com
o: Savi Newswire Subject: Container Security Plan Launched on Eastern Seaboard For Immedate Release NEW YORK SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER AND NEW JERSEY CONGRESSMAN ROBERT MENENDEZ CO-ANNOUNCE 'SMART AND SECURE TRADELANES' ON THE EASTERN SEABOARD TO IMPROVE SECURITY OF U.S.-BOUND OCEAN CARGO CONTAINERS Groundbreaking Public /Private Partnership between Multi-National Transportation Companies, Governments, and Major International Shippers Takes Action to Transform and Secure the Global Supply Chain From Endto-End. NEW YORK CITY AND NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - Sept. 27, 2002 - At concurrent press conferences today in New York City and Newark, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-New York) and Congressman Robert Menendez (13-NJ), vice chairman of the Democratic Caucus, joined with the Strategic Council on Security Technology to co-announce the launch of the Smart and Secure Tradelanes initiative in three major Atlantic tradelanes that include the Port of New York-New Jersey. Also participating with Menendez on the docks of container handling operations at the Port Newark Container Terminal were Rick Larrabee, director of commerce for the Port Authority of New York-New Jersey, Joseph Assante, president of the Port Newark Container Terminal, which is managed by P&O Port Holdings, Vikram Verma, President and CEO of Savi Technology, and Jan Pellens, deputy chairman of a PSA Corp. subsidiary handling 85 percent of the container volume at the Port of Antwerp. Smart and Secure Tradelanes, sponsored by the Strategic Council on Security Technology (SCST), global advisory
resource and catalyst for cargo security, was designed to leverage battle-tested, real-time response information technology pioneered by the U.S. Department of Defense, called the Total Asset Visibility (TAV) network. The TAV has been used for years in over 40 countries to track, manage and secure global military shipments for US forces, ranging from food to ammunition, from the manufacturer to the soldier in the battlefield. Although initially driven by industry, Smart and Secure Tradelanes is closely coordinated with the U.S. Customs Container Security Initiative (CSI), Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT), and the U.S. Department of Transportation's Transportation Security Agency's (TSA) maritime security initiatives, such as Operation Safe Commerce. The network transmits Shipment ID, location, route, and security information across the complete supply chain from manufacturer to ultimate destination in the United States. Phase one of the Smart and Secure Tradelanes initiative deploys multiple technology enablers such as electronic bolt seals based on Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and satellite systems integrated with web-based software to improve transportation container security and productivity through real-time information alerts. The announcement was made at the Port Newark Container Terminal in New Jersey, operated by P&O Ports and site of the initial SST deployment on the Eastern Seaboard. Hutchison Whampoa and PSA Corp, both SST founders and participants, also announced the introduction of the SST initiative at the major European ports of Antwerp, Rotterdam, and Felixstowe (UK). Every year, nearly 300,000 containers are shipped from these three ports to the port of New York/New Jersey representing $20 Billion of annual trade. Containers on these tradelanes can often originate from other ports in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Hutchison Whampoa, P&O and PSA operate at 70 percent of the world's ports. "The Port of New York and New Jersey handled over 2 million containers last year and is responsible for 60% of North American trade," said Senator Schumer. "The introduction of SST will greatly enhance the ports' ability to ensure the safety of our city and our country. The people and businesses of New York should know that their port is taking a leadership role in improving the security of the containers that are coming into this area." "There should be no doubt in anyone's mind that terrorists have used and will continue to use the same global supply chain that makes this economy so strong," Senator Schumer added. "SST will help protect this supply chain and is a major first step in protecting our homeland from a nuclear, biological or conventional weapon from reaching our shores." "As the ranking New Jersey Member on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I understand the important role our ports have as a global business center and economic driver for the region," said Congressman Menendez. "This is why I am proud to join in today's announcement of the Smart and Secure Tradelanes initiative. It is a major step in protecting our homeland from the threat of unsecured cargo coming into our seaports. Through the implementation of Smart and Secure Tradelanes, the Port of New Jersey is taking a leadership role in improving and ensuring the security of container shipments coming into the United States." "Stoppage of any single major port in the world due to an attack would shut down the entire global supply chain for weeks, costing trillions of dollars in global trade," said Assante, president of the Port Newark Container Terminal, a joint venture of P&O Nedlloyd and P&O Ports, which manages terminal operations at the Port
of New Jersey and is one of the world's largest port operations with 21 container terminals in 19 countries and 84 ports, including terminals in New Jersey, Baltimore, New Orleans, and Miami "We're convinced this initiative shows the best promise for making sure that the global supply chain is not used as a means to conceal weapons of massive destruction to attack the people and economy of the United States. P&O is committed to ensuring the integrity and security of cargo entering out ports." It was also announced today that container operations at the Port of New York-New Jersey will join the ports of Antwerp, Rotterdam, and Felixstowe (UK), in securing some of the most critical tradelanes coming into the United States. In July, it was announced that the SST initiative would link the major Pacific ports of Singapore and Hong Kong with Seattle and Tacoma. "Ensuring container security is a global problem requiring all parties in the supply chain to work together for common solutions," said Jan Pellens, deputy chairman of HNN, a wholly owned subsidiary of PSA that handles 85 percent of the container volume at the Port of Antwerp. As a result, the Port of Antwerp will soon be linked with container handling operations here through a real-time information platform, providing better assurances that containers coming in here are safe containers - not carrying bombs, chemicals or even terrorists themselves." Initially funded and driven by the world's largest port operators, SST is in the process of actively deploying interoperable technologies, ranging from Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) electronic seals and readers, GPS tracking systems, and gamma-ray image scanners - all seamlessly linked to security application software through the Universal Data Appliance Protocol (UDAP). The Strategic Council on Security Technology also announced today that the initiative is being extended to include a full range of 'best-of-breed' automatic sensing and biometric technologies and an open implementation of ISO-standard compliant electronic seals. "The Smart and Secure Tradelanes initiative is gaining strong momentum worldwide," said General John Coburn (US Army, Ret.), Chairman of the Strategic Council on Security Technology (SCST), a global advisory resource and catalyst for cargo security. "By having industry fund Phase 1 of the SST initiative, which will be operational by year end, we helped quickly establish a baseline capability that we can build upon. In phase 2, which will begin next year, we expect US ports to build on this foundation by developing and deploying enhanced processes and complementary technologies that will continue to improve our security capabilities within our ports and to extend that security to shipments as they move from sea transportation to truck or rail systems." Today's announcement marks the first installation of the SST infrastructure at sea ports on the Atlantic Coast, which eventually will be linked with seaports in Europe where cargo containers are shipped into the United States. Further extensions and milestone updates of Tradelanes on both U.S. Coasts, and in Asia and Europe, will be announced in the coming weeks. The deployment of SST calls for an integrated security and container security system to capture tracking and security events throughout the supply chain. Working with shippers, carriers, service providers, foreign and U.S. port terminal operators; containers will be tracked and automatically authenticated from the point of manufacturing, port of loading, transshipment port and to final discharge in the U.S. Current solution providers involved in the SST initiative are: Savi Technology, which helped build and operates the Total Asset Visibility network, which is the world's largest active RFID tracking system for the U.S. Department of Defense; QUALCOMM Incorporated, the global leader for mobile fleet management
using satellite and digital communications and position tracking systems; SAIC, a leading systems and technology company, including nonintrusive inspection systems; and, Parsons Brinckerhoff, a 115-year-old company with headquarters in New York City and more than 1,000 employees in that metropolitan region, is one of the largest transportation and infrastructure engineering firms in the world; Sandler, Travis Advisory Services, the pre-eminent international trade consulting firm, is also an active SST participant. About the Strategic Council on Security Technology The Strategic Council on Security Technology is an international assembly of top executives from the world's largest port operators, major logistics technology providers, four-star generals, former public officials and prominent transportation consultancies. Acting as an international resource, the Strategic Council on Security Technology is committed to helping ensure greater supply chain security through best-of-breed practices and technologies while working with a variety of other industry associations. SCHUMER CONTACT: Andy Katzman, 212.486.3627 MENENDEZ CONTACT: Desiree Ramos, 201.217.9365 TRADELANES CONTACT: Mark Nelson, 408.743.8866
ubject: Marine Software Press Release
Press Release September 2002 U.K. based software house Marine Software Ltd is pleased to announce the official launch of Marine Planned Maintenance for Windows _ Lite _ & Marine Storekeeper for Windows _ Lite _ versions. Both new products contain all the core features needed for Planned Maintenance & Stock Control operations and are capable of being run using our existing multiple-ship office systems. These versions are aimed at ship owners or managers looking for a simple robust solution, which is competitively priced, without the need for complicated functionality. A full upgrade path is available to our standard packages should you feel the requirements have changed after your operational use, again at favorable upgrade prices. These new products are now added to the already proven Marine Planned Maintenance, Marine Storekeeper and Marine Purchasing for Windows, all of which have been specially designed with simplicity in mind, easy to use and operate, robust, low cost with minimal training requirements. For more details please contact us.
Marine Software web site www.marine-software.co.uk and email address info@marine-software.co.uk.
Dear Eva , QuestaWeb, Inc., is announcing that ICS Customs Service, Inc, has selected QuestaWeb's Parts Classifier to improve the reliability of its US import services for its customers. This announcement follows a previous press release dated July 23, 2002, in which QuestaWeb announced that Yamaha Corporation of America had selected QuestaWeb's QW Importer system to ensure US Customs compliance and to accelerate product shipments to its customers. To arrange for follow-up interviews with Leon Turetsky, CEO of QuestaWeb, please contact Dan Demaree at the phone or email below. Media contact: Dan Demaree Demaree Public Relations, Inc. Tel 240-686-1000 ext. 104 ddemaree@demaree-pr.com NEWS RELEASE
ICS Customs Service Selects QuestaWeb's Parts Classifier to Improve Reliability of Customs Brokerage Services WESTFIELD, NJ -September 24, 2002 - QuestaWeb, Inc. (www.questaweb.com), the provider of web-based multi-national crossborder solutions, today announced that ICS Customs Service Inc., one of the leading Chicago-based customhouse brokers, has selected QuestaWeb's QW HTS Classifier to improve reliability of US import services for its customers. The QW HTS Classifier is a component of the QuestaWeb solution that classifies products according to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) of several countries including the USA. The ability to support the rapid classification of products in multiple languages around the world is a key factor in streamlining the process of importing and exporting those products for global manufacturers and importers. In anticipation of stricter compliance verification processes, ICS selected QuestaWeb as the provider of the comprehensive regulatory and import compliance system as the company finalizes its preparations for the interface and processing changes. ICS recognizes QuestaWeb as a reliable global technology company that provides an integrated suite of cross-border solutions. The company will use QuestaWeb's Parts Classifier and Internet Tracking modules to ensure US Customs compliance and to manage its shipment status notifications. William Sharpe, President of ICS said, "Our larger customers, such as Generac Power Systems Inc., are working with us on a parts number basis. QuestaWeb's QW HTS Classifier will facilitate pre-classification
of our comprehensive parts database in a fast and reliable manner prior to the actual shipments. Such automation will considerably speed up the clearance and ensure adherence of our clients to complex customs regulations. QuestaWeb's software will streamline our operations, virtually eliminate operators' errors, and improve our compliance verification process." Generac Power Systems (www.generac.com) is one of the world's largest independent manufacturers of complete engine-driven generator systems ranging from 3 kW to 2000 kW for industrial, residential, mobile, recreational vehicle and communications applications. "We are proud to add a customhouse broker of ICS's reputation, a company that depends upon the quality and reliability of their computer system, to our list of clients," said Leon Turetsky, CEO of QuestaWeb. "The recognition by companies like ICS that our solutions can be relied upon to improve their service efficiencies is a strong testament to the value of our systems and the high level of our customer service." About ICS Founded in 1989, ICS Customs Service, Inc. is a full-service customs broker with headquarters in Chicago, Illinois. ICS has the tools and expertise to clear shipments electronically for their clients in any port in the USA. The company offers a full range of customs brokerage and freight forwarding services to customers throughout Europe, Asia, and North America with a growing client base in the areas of healthcare, medical devices, electrical devices, clocks, and general manufacturing. ICS is currently rated in the top 20 customs brokers in Chicago based on volume of imports. For more information about ICS and its services, please contact Bill Sharpe at: bsharpe@icscustoms.com or (630) 350-9998. About QuestaWeb QuestaWeb is the provider of a full cycle multi-national cross-border management system to optimize and monitor global trade, logistics, and clearance operations. QuestaWeb's system is a modular web-native suite of integrated software solutions with multi-lingual capabilities and up-to-date import/export compliance content. All of the solutions including software and consulting services are designed to accelerate the flow of goods through the global supply chain, to reduce the associated operational costs, and to ensure compliance with everchanging cross-border regulations. For more information, please visit www.questaweb.com.
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For immediate release Marine Computing International are one of a group of companies in the MIDAS research project funded by the British National Space Center (BNSC) and investigating future means of delivering weather information to mariners.
The project is focussing on using detailed current weather data obtained from weather satellites not just the satellite images that we see on the TV but also data such as surface wind speed, wave height, sea temperature and clarity, and ocean currents. Technology has advanced to a stage where this information can be readily extracted from weather satellite images, and the project is investigating what data is of interest to the mariner as well as looking at the different ways of providing him with the data, in particular with the advances in GSM and satellite communications that are just becoming available. A web site is available with a prototype system giving data for areas in the English Channel at http://midas.lsl.co.uk/servlets/MIDASPageServlet?area=swapproaches The research in this area shows how the mariner can benefit from current weather reports delivered in a timely way, to complement weather forecasts by providing more accurate and more detailed information on the current situation in a shorter time scale. (Ends)