OSI Maritime Systems has signed an agreement with Sweden for the deployment of its advanced Electronic Chart Precise Integrated Navigation System (ECPINS) across Swedish submarines.
It includes the deployment of the current edition of ECPINS through ECPINS 7 and the delivery of multi-year in-service support.
“We’re proud of this new contract award. To have ECPINS deployed fleetwide on the Royal Swedish Navy’s submarines strongly endorses OSI’s cutting-edge navigation technology,” OSI Maritime Systems President and CEO Ken Kirkpatrick said.
“Further, the waters in which Swedish submarines operate are geographically some of the harshest, that in turn requires the best in navigation.”
The Swedish Navy currently operates a fleet of four diesel-electric submarines: three Gotland-class (A19) vessels and one Södermanland-class (A17, formerly Västergötland-class) submarine.
The agreement also covers the upcoming A26 class once it becomes operational.
Electronic Chart Precise Integrated Navigation System
The ECPINS uses a submarine’s sensors to display real-time navigation information on an electronic chart, enabling a safe and precise journey.
The display is supported by enhanced situational awareness “in the form of overlaid radar imagery, contacts, and operational areas,” according to OSI Maritime Systems.
“ECPINS displays the ship’s heading, current movement, and past track in detail,” the Canadian firm further explained.
“The operator can customize the time zone and system units for display – such as Lat/Lon vs GEOREF vs MGRS, meters vs feet, NM vs Km, — while entering data in any of these.”
‘Dived Navigation’
The ECPINS is required as submarines often have to operate with minimal above-water exposure, restricting their reliance on global satellite navigation.
In such a scenario, ECPINS provides navigation input through “dived navigation methodologies” using a minimum of sensors.
The tool is operational on at least 700 vessels worldwide in over 25 navies.
“Dived navigation is a demanding task. OSI has been the global leader of WECDIS dived navigation solutions since 2005,” VP of Business Development at OSI Maritime Systems Jim Davison explained.
“ECPINS has digitised all of the traditional dived navigation methodologies and created the most trusted suite of dived functionality available in a WECDIS application. Recognized by eight NATO and Allied navies, ECPINS has set the gold standard in overcoming these challenges.”