Taiwan’s Yang Ming Transport Corp has agreed a deal with Sperry Marine to implement its VisionMaster Net networked bridge system on 10 new 2,800 TEU container feeder vessels currently under construction at CSBC Shipyard in Kaohsiung.
The first sea trials are expected in early 2020, with the ships to use standardised systems to allow crews to more easily access data and integrate onboard applications.
Yang Ming will also have the option to leverage data transfer capabilities between front and back of bridge for remote chart updates on the new ships, and the ability to share data provided from the navigation systems to different locations on the ship and to operations centres ashore.
“We are very happy to be working with Sperry Marine on our next generation of container feeder ships which are designed around Big Data and will be the most connected vessels we have built to date,” said Jackie Ho, Chief Marine Technology Officer, Yang Ming Transport Corp.
“By combining a new level of navigation technology with the reliability of Sperry’s global service network, we can build a platform for digital navigation that will contribute to safety and efficiency.”
VisionMaster Net is constructed with a distributed architecture to reduce complexity in installation, with fewer separate components than a conventional integrated bridge system, requiring fewer connections and cables.
Its modular design allows any combination of equipment to be integrated over an Ethernet ring, using standard cables. The bridges also feature panel PCs with Sperry Marine’s TotalWatch technology, which enables users to switch between Type Approved functions such as radar or ECDIS on a single screen.
“Yang Ming was impressed with the functionality that VisionMaster Net brings them and how it can enable their digital strategy by harnessing data to connect from front to back of bridge and beyond,” said David Watts, Regional Business Development Director, Asia-Pacific at Sperry Marine.
“As a global shipping company, Yang Ming are also very keen to continue their close relationship with the Sperry Marine global service network, with the option to use remote diagnostics when needed.”
