Odfjell signs fleet agreement with NAVTOR
Odfjell, a global leader in the chemical tanker and gas carrier shipping segment, is set to roll out NAVTOR e-navigation solutions throughout its entire fleet. The move will increase operational efficiency, while greatly reducing the number of man-hours spent on administration across the ship owner’s 50 deep-sea vessels, the company said in its press release.
E-navigation specialist NAVTOR will now facilitate Odfjell’s transition from paper charts to paperless navigation, ensuring that all vessels meet the class deadline for compliance with the IMO’s ECDIS mandate (July 2015). The 40,000 dwt Bow Sky is the first ship to adopt NAVTOR’s AVCS service, with a further roll out planned throughout Q1 and Q2 2015.
“This will be a revolutionary change for the Odfjell teams on the bridge,” states NAVTOR Marketing and Communications Manager Willy Zeiler.
“The administration of paper charts takes many hours each week – it is a necessary yet laborious use of man hours. However, with NAVTOR’s digital ENC service it’s simple, taking just a few minutes. That frees up valuable time for the bridge team, allowing them to focus on other important operational tasks, while also increasing job satisfaction, reducing fatigue and, therefore, boosting safety.
NAVTOR has built a market leading position since the launch of its ENC service in 2011. The solution is distributed on the pre-loaded USB-based NavStick, allowing navigators to instantly access global charts and licences. Once installed on the ECDIS, the service can be updated on a regular basis, as per the SOLAS chart carriage requirement, using the same USB stick and the NavSync online synchronisation feature. This ensures that all charts, updates and licences are the most recent versions.
“Odfjell is a respected name in world shipping and gaining another customer of their stature demonstrates the growing appreciation for our innovative products,” continues Zeiler. “The AVCS offer is the cornerstone, but with our NavTracker fleet management tool and weather optimised route planning service we have a truly comprehensive e-navigation package.
“This delivers not just safer navigation and reduced man hours, but also better shore-to-sea understanding of fleet movements, enhanced planning capabilities and informed decision making. Together that impacts positively on operational efficiency and business costs.”
The agreement marks the culmination of a busy six months for NAVTOR, which opened its first office in Asia in December – in Singapore – and launched the NAVTOR NavStation in September, the world’s first digital chart table.
About NAVTOR
NAVTOR is a market leader in the provision of innovative maritime e-navigation solutions, services and technology. NAVTOR supplies a comprehensive product and services portfolio for international maritime operation, including both paper and digital nautical charts and publications. All of NAVTOR’s products and services are developed in line with the company philosophy of simplifying tasks, increasing efficiency and improving operations. Through the application of cutting edge digital technology, NAVTOR’s team makes life easier for navigators, and safer, clearer and more efficient for shipowners and operators.