Navigation technology supplier Anschütz has completed a refit of the integrated navigation system (INS) and radar systems on the polar research vessel RRS Sir David Attenborough.
The 129-metre vessel, which entered service in 2021, has been equipped with SYNAPSIS NX INS.
The project involved installing the latest generation of compact marine computers and software upgrades across five multifunctional workstations. These workstations offer improved situational awareness and an expanded set of navigation tools for route planning and voyage management via the ECDIS.
Operated by the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), the vessel is designed to function in extreme environments under the requirements of Polar Code ice class 4 and the Lloyd’s Register (LR) NAV1 IBS notation.
The new local area network (LAN) architecture of the system allows for full control of navigation functions from any workstation on the bridge, integrating radar, autopilots, and a redundant gyro compass system.
“We are pleased to have the opportunity to demonstrate the benefits of our improved Synapsis software, and it’s great to work with British Antarctic Survey,” said Joscha Lorenz, head of technical support and service at Anschütz.
The RRS Sir David Attenborough is owned by the Natural Environment Research Council and provides both scientific research and logistical support in the Antarctic.
