Wärtsilä launches helicopter guidance software technology for marine market applications

The new Wärtsilä Helicopter Guidance software technology is designed to enhance the safety of shipboard helicopter operations.

HELSINKI, 27-Sep-2016 — /EuropaWire/ — Wärtsilä announces the launch of its helicopter guidance software technology for marine market applications. Originally developed for military applications, the technology is based on the company’s well known Nacos Platinum navigation system. Following increasing demand from the market, Helicopter Guidance has been further developed to suit marine applications, notably in the mega yacht and cruise ship segments.

This ‘plug-in’ tool adds a graphic overlay on electronic chart display & information systems (ECDIS) and radar, and shows at a glance whether or not the helicopter is making a correct approach along the right flight path. The “Heli Guidance” feature can be operated and activated manually. To automate this tool, an optional direct connection to an onboard Helicopter Visual Landing Aid (HVLA) system can be provided. For the tracking of fast objects, this can be used in combination with Wärtsilä’s temporarily connectible High Speed Radar (HSC) function.

“Mega yachts often feature a helicopter landing area, which inevitably carries an increased risk of accidents, and which require the full attention of the captain and crew. Our novel Helicopter guidance tool is designed to enhance the safety of shipboard helicopter operations, and is an important addition to our technically advanced solutions vessel navigational aids,” says Stephan Kuhn, Vice President, Electrical & Automation, Wärtsilä Marine Solutions.

The Wärtsilä Nacos Platinum solution integrates all navigation and automation system controls into a single system that enables the vessel to be navigated, controlled, and monitored from various onboard positions. The truly multi-functional workstations provide combined displays of radar, ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display and Information System) and conning information, as well as automatic steering and voyage planning operations.

Meet us at the Monaco Yacht Show, Darse Sud, Stand QS85, from September 28 to October 01.
Wärtsilä at Monaco Yacht Show

Media contacts:

Mr Maik Stoevhase
Director, Automation, Navigation and Communication
Wärtsilä Marine Solutions
+49 4088 25 2701
maik.stoevhase@wartsila.com

Ms Marit Holmlund-Sund
Senior Manager Marketing, Communications, Marine Solutions
Wärtsilä Corporation
Tel: +358 10 709 1439
marit.holmlund-sund@wartsila.com

Wärtsilä in brief:
Wärtsilä is a global leader in advanced technologies and complete lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. By emphasising sustainable innovation and total efficiency, Wärtsilä maximises the environmental and economic performance of the vessels and power plants of its customers.
In 2015, Wärtsilä’s net sales totalled EUR 5 billion with approximately 18,800 employees. The company has operations in over 200 locations in more than 70 countries around the world. Wärtsilä is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.
www.wartsila.com

SOURCE: Wärtsilä