Navico Expands Production

Electronics manufacturer Navico today announced plans to expand its Ensenada, Mexico, production facility by 35 percent and add a new building. “We continue to build incredible momentum in the business and believe it’s the right time to expand our capacity to boost production of new and existing product lines,” Navico president Knut Frostad said in a statement. “Being part of [the Advanced Systems Group] now for six months has only strengthened our outlook for future growth of product demand from customers, partners and OEM boatbuilders.”

Dockmate launches softdocking technology

Dockmate, manufacturer of advanced wireless remote control systems for yachts, announced today an absolute revolution in easy and stress-free docking with SoftDocking, its newly-patented technology. Regardless of the size or type of boat, power or number of engines, one thing that every boater understands is that docking is made more complex by the delay between engaging the throttle and the moment the boat begins to move. Unlike cars, where there is no immediate burst of power when the gas pedal is pushed and the driver can ease into motion, boat engines will fully engage immediately when put into gear. Docking skills are so critical to safe and enjoyable boating that beginner, and even some advanced, boating safety courses have sections entirely dedicated to safe docking techniques.

New Mercury Joystick Piloting System Makes Docking Single-Engine Pontoons Easier Than Ever

Perhaps no other boat type celebrates leisure and camaraderie better than the beloved pontoon. With their wide-open decks, pontoons seem to naturally encourage friends and family to gather together on the water. Today, more and more people are upsizing their pontoon boats to enhance their fun on the water, and as these boats become bigger and are used for a wider array of activities (tow sports, cruising, even fishing), boaters are turning to Mercury’s industry-leading lineup of innovative high-horsepower outboards to properly power these larger rigs. While the increase in size helps to further facilitate on-water activities, a large pontoon boat with a single source of propulsion can be quite tricky to maneuver in close quarters. Throw some wind and current in there, and these large floating rectangles can really challenge a boater’s docking skills.

ABS, Hyundai working on joint autonomous marine projects

ABS and Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) are to work together on a series of autonomous projects.

ABS specialists will work with HHI’s Korea Shipbuilding and Offshore Engineering (KSOE) and its autonomous navigation subsidiary, Avikus, to integrate autonomous and remote-control functions into vessels. The work will be carried out in compliance with requirements outlined in the ABS Guide for Autonomous and Remote Control Functions. The Guide provides a mix of goal-based and prescriptive requirements set against a wider risk-based approach.

ABS and HHI signed a Strategic Framework Agreement at the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, which will lead to a series of Joint Development Projects (JDPs).

Hyundai launches autonomous navigation system at CES

Seoul, South Korea-based Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has introduced a new autonomous marine navigation system for pleasure boats at the CES consumer electronics trade show being held this week in Las Vegas.

The new autonomous vessel operation system is being developed under a newly-launched HHI subsidiary called Avikus, which is said to stem from the word avviker, an etymological root for Vikings.

Volvo Penta, Danfoss to accelerate marine ‘electromobility’

Deal set to take industry’s electromobility development to the next level. Volvo Penta and Danfoss’ Editron division have signed a partnership agreement that it is claimed will drive the transformation towards sustainable power solutions within the marine industry while taking the industry’s electromobility development ”to the next level”. The partnership will help both companies take the next steps in sustainable power solutions to deliver the highest quality future-proof technology to customers and supports the Volvo Group’s commitment to the Science Based Targets initiative, made in May 2020. That announcement laid out the company’s next steps in adjusting and futureproofing in line with the ambitions of the Paris Climate Agreement. Meanwhile, Danfoss is currently looking to become CO2 neutral in all of its global operations by 2030.

Brunswick completes Navico $1.05bn acquisition

Navico adds significant electronic and software expertise and will take Brunswick Parts & Accessories revenues over $2bn. The industry’s largest player just got bigger with the completion of its acquisition of Navico, a global leader in marine electronics and sensors. Brunswick’s purchase for $1.05bn of the Navico brands – Lowrance, Simrad, B&G, and C-MAP – significantly adds to the company’s Advanced Systems Group (ASG), which already includes a broad portfolio of parts & accessories in power management, digital control and monitoring, and networked devices.