NEW MALDEN, U.K., Sept. 10, 2014
/PRNewswire/ -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has
developed a winterisation field upgrade kit that will extend the
low temperature capability of marine navigation equipment and
enable ships to operate in the Arctic environment of the polar
shipping routes.
These heater kits will enable Marine Navigation Radar Turning
Units to be operated in temperatures down below -55 degrees
Celsius, in addition to keeping the S-Band and X-Band sensors in
the turning units free from ice. Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine has designed them to be
attached in the field at or after installation, and they are
compatible with all VisionMaster FT (VMFT) radar sensors.
"Ships operating in the Arctic environments are exposed to a
number of unique risks and we recognise the need to ensure that our
equipment is capable of functioning effectively under the
challenges of polar operations," said Jeanne Usher, managing director, Northrop
Grumman Sperry Marine. "The winterisation field upgrade kit will
allow our VMFT radar sensors to function in these extreme climates
and supports our efforts to continually improve the safety of
marine navigation."
The winterisation field upgrade kit is approved by the Russian
Maritime Register of Shipping and allows the operator to extend the
working temperature of any unit. With the opening of the Northern
Sea Route and with new regulations for polar navigation coming into
force, products will need to meet Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS)
requirements, which specifies that at least one radar be equipped
with ice detection capability.
Over the next 30 years, as climate change opens up new polar
shipping routes between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, travel
time from Europe to Asia will be cut by 40 percent. With the
Northwest Passage being 7,000 km shorter than the current route
through the Panama Canal, travel time and fuel costs will be
reduced significantly. Northrop Grumman is focusing on improving
operations for any vessels or rigs subject to extreme temperatures
that will be located on or traversing these routes and required to
meet the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Polar Codes.
Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing
innovative systems, products and solutions in unmanned systems,
cyber, C4ISR, and logistics and modernization to government and
commercial customers worldwide. Please visit
www.northropgrumman.com for more information.
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SOURCE Northrop Grumman Corporation