Jan 16, 2018

Furuno has been selected by the Canadian Coast Guard to outfit their new Bay class search and rescue vessels. The 55-foot CCGS Pennant Bay and CCGS Baie De Plaisance are the first of twelve hulls ordered by the CCG, with an option for six more. CCGS Pennant Bay was built by Hike Metal Products in Wheatley, Ontario, while Baie De Plaisance was built by Chantier-Naval Forillon, Inc. in Gaspe, Quebec. These new Bay class vessels, all named for Canadian bays, have been commissioned under Canada’s Federal Infrastructure Initiative and the 2016-17 Fleet Renewal Plan. Their new Furuno electronics, including a multi-station NavNetTZtouch network with Radar and Depth Sounder, will assist the CCG in their mission to keep Canadians and Canadian waterways safe.

To help maintain their high standards of success, an integrated and comprehensive package of Furuno electronics was selected for the new Bay class vessels, which are capable of operating up to 100 nautical miles offshore. At the heart of the network are dual NavNetTZtouch Black Box Processors (TZTBB’s) and 19″ touch screen displays, supported by a dedicated 14″ NavNetTZtouch (TZT14), at the upper helm. NavNet TZtouch offers the capable, proven navigation system the CCG needed, while also delivering the ability to integrate the best peripheral devices available to help accomplish their mission objectives. Dual X-Band Radars are accessible from all TZtouch workstations, and include the Solid State DRS4DNXT, Furuno’s new 24″ Doppler Radome with Target Analyzer and Fast Target Tracking, along with the DRS6AX, a 6kW Open Array Radar from Furuno’s recently expanded X-Class line. Together, these Radars deliver exceptional target detection and clarity, along with impressive short-range detection and a range of up to 96 nautical miles.

These new SAR ships are controlled by the integrated NavPilot series adaptive Autopilot, the NavPilot 700 at the lower helm, and the color NavPilot 711C at the upper helm. Furuno’sNavPilot is referred to as a ‘self-learning’ Autopilot due to its ability to improve the vessels handling by recording information about its characteristics throughout each voyage. Supporting the Furuno navigation network are several devices and sensors, including the DFF1 1kW Depth Sounder and DT800 Depth Sensor, providing redundancy in depth sensing and a detailed picture of the water column beneath the hull. The RD33 Digital Data Display provides a selection of important navigation data with multiple preset data sets to choose from, as well as custom display modes to show important information required for the mission at hand.

Additionally, FLIR M-Series Thermal Camera integration is achieved on these systems with the simple interface built-in to every display and processor in the NavNetTZtouch network. The camera’s advanced thermal imaging will assist in the vessel’s search and rescue mission, allowing the operator to see more, and farther than ever before. The camera can be controlled from any display, and can lock on to a specific target or target location with a simple touch of the display.

The NMEA2000 network allows for easy future expansion, as expansion ports are built in to the network at pre-determined, logical locations for additional NMEA2000 peripheral devices to be added.

For more information on NavNetTZtouch or Furuno’s full line of award winning marine electronics, visit: www.FurunoUSA.com.