Nacos bridge systems installed on the newest ships

SAM Electronics, which is an L-3 Communications company, supplied the bridge and automation systems on the latest newbuilding for Norwegian Cruise Line (Norwegian). SAM Electronics supplied a Nacos Platinum integrated navigation system and a Valmatic Platinum automation system aboard Norwegian’s new 144,000gt liner Norwegian Getaway. The vessel was built by Meyer Werft at the Papenburg shipyard, and began service in January.

The navigation system incorporates five X- and S-band radar, which are serially linked to five central Multipilot 1100 multifunction workstations. These stations can combine the display of automatic radar plotting aid (ARPA) information radar and ecdis, and can also be used for conning operations, automatic steering and voyage planning. The touchscreen units can then be connected to secondary stations for the selectable display of data at the port and starboard wings and in the captain’s cabin.

The assembly features standardised consoles and a common operating network. The integrated system incorporates a complete range of subsidiary navigation aids including voyage data recorder, differential GPS, EcdisPilot, doppler logs, echosounders, gyro compasses, rudder steering indicator, and wind and weather sensors. Also included on the Norwegian Getaway bridge is SAM Electronics’ latest bridge navigational watch alarm system (BNWAS) and an advanced dynamic positioning (DP) system with three polar axis controllers. The DP system is managed through specialist cruise software developed by associate L-3 Communications company, Dynamic Positioning & Control Systems.

The Nacos assembly is integrated, via a redundant network, with the L-3 Valmarine Valmatic Platinum automation assembly that features safety management and emergency shutdown (ESD) systems. The automation system is controlled via a dedicated communications network that is connected to multipurpose workstations in the engine control room and bridge. The ESD uses its own process control station communications network, remote input/output units, hard-wired control panels and associated workstations.

Similar systems were installed on sistership Norwegian Breakaway, which was launched in April 2013. Also in 2013, Nacos navigation and Valmatic automation systems were installed on Princess Cruises’ Fincantieri-built flagship, Royal Princess. The 330m, 141,000gt ship was also equipped with SAM Electronics propulsion, power generation and distribution facilities.

SAM Electronics and L-3 Valmarine are leaders in supplying bridge and automation systems to cruise ships. Together they have delivered systems for Aida Cruises, Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruises, Cunard Line, Holland America Line, Norwegian, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, Star Cruises, Regent Seven Seas and Seabourn Cruise Line. MEC