• OSI contracted by Damen Shipyards Group to deliver our first Portuguese Navy Integrated Navigation and Tactical System bridge
• Fully compliant IMO MSC252.(83) Integrated Navigation System solution enabling paperless navigation
• Powered by OSI’s ECPINS 7 WECDIS software, developed to be fully compliant with the latest NATO STANAG 4564 Edition 3 standard
• Includes ECPINS SW module capabilities, including GNSS Denied Operations and Aircraft Operations/SHOL
• Portugal is one of our oldest Partners and expert ECPINS users, with our WECDIS software deployed throughout the Navy

July 23, 2024  – OSI is pleased to announce the contract for a complete Integrated Navigation and Tactical System bridge for the Portuguese Navy’s state-of-the-art MultiPurpose Vessel.

The vessel, to be built by Damen Shipyards Group in their Galati Shipyard in Romania, is an innovative 107m platform designed to support Oceanic Research, Search and Rescue, Emergency relief and uniquely, Naval operations to perform as a UxV Mother Ship. Equipped with laboratories, scientific accommodation, unmanned drones and helicopters, it features a stern ramp for UUVs and USVs, a 94 x 11 metre flight deck for UAVs and modular systems to meet its varied and demanding roles. The vessel, classified as Plataforma Naval Multifunctional (PNM), or multifunctional naval platform, will be christened the Dom João II. 

The integrated bridge system will be powered by OSI’s ECPINS 7 software, developed to be fully compliant to the latest NATO STANAG 4564 Edition 3 standard and built to fully meet the IMO MSC.252(83) Integrated Navigation System standard, a key requirement for the Navy, with the additional benefit of being able to support paperless navigation.

OSI’s ECPINS software is more than just a fully compliant WECDIS. Among the additional ECPINS capabilities contracted are the provision of the GNSS Denied capability and the Ship Helicopter Operating Limits (SHOL) modules.

The GNSS denied capability, developed originally for submarine navigators operating dived without GPS, is fast becoming essential for surface navigators. Operating in challenging environments, it enables the accurate determination of own ship position in circumstances where a position fix derived from a global navigation satellite system is not available or unreliable due to spoofing, jamming, signal obstruction, or a lack of satellites.

SHOL is a vital requirement for any bridge on a vessel equipped with a flight deck, and it enables the Office of the Watch to easily maneuver the ship in such a way as to maintain safe conditions for aircraft operations, including for ships with multi-spot facility, without detracting from their primary role as a Bridge watchkeeper. Comprehensive manual calculations are automated, and SHOL instantaneously provides recommended optimal course and speeds to facilitate the safety operations of its embarked aviation assets, be they helicopters or UAVs.

The Portuguese Navy is one of OSI’s oldest customers, and the long-standing relationship is manifested by ECPINS’ deployment throughout the Fleet. This extensive deployment of ECPINS as the Navy’s standard WECDIS, now coupled with OSI’s Integrated Navigation and Tactical System bridge and additional capability modules, presents an ideal environment to support the varied scientific experiments and investigations as well as delivering a robust military testing environment for developing UxV capabilities.

The project follows a comprehensive European tender process and is funded by the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), part of NextGenerationEU, the economic recovery package to support EU member states affected by the COVID-19 pandemic).

With the signing of the contract, the program will go into the initial design phase.

Quotes:

“OSI’s working relationship with Damen has successfully developed over several years and has led to several shipbuilding programs, providing Damen with advanced warship integrated bridge systems that optimize the tactical efficiencies of their new builds and crew safety.” 

Ken Kirkpatrick, President & CEO, OSI Maritime Systems

“Our long-standing relationship with the Portuguese Navy is something we are proud of, and it gives us great satisfaction that they will benefit from our next-generation ECPINS 7 WECDIS delivered in what will be their first true, modern, fully integrated bridge solution in this innovative platform. OSI is moving fast in the continual development of our Warship ECDIS, and we are looking forward to further evolving this leading tactical navigation solution.”

Jim Davison, VP, Business Development