SSG No 4 - Shipgaz

Baltice shows updated satellite pictures
of the ice situation.
“We want to approve such courses to
maintain high standards in ice navigation”,
he says.
Another aid soon to be included on the
website is a training video, including for
example animations about how to take a
ship through an ice field.
A single access point
The website is unique, as it makes it easier
than ever before to utilise the accumulated
know-how of several countries about winter
navigation.
“It used to be difficult to access all this
information, as it was scattered among different
organisations in several countries.
Now relevant and up-to-date information
on winter navigation is collected to a single
access point”, Mr Aro says.
The web service contains information
such as ice reports, an up-to-date ice chart,
an ice thickness chart, reporting instructions
for vessels, information on traffic
restrictions, icebreaker operating areas and
ice navigation courses for seafarers. Data is
collected from the authorities responsible
The Finnish icebreaker Urho.
for winter navigation in the Baltic Sea area.
From 26 tenders received, the Finnish company
AffectoGenimap was chosen for the
technical implementation of the website.
Updated information is crucial
To maintain interest in a website among
the users, continuous updating of information
is always important. On a site like this,
where the main target group of users are
professionals within shipping, providing
correct and updated information is crucial.
“We have bought the updating service
concerning the ice chart and the ice information
from the Finnish Institute of
Marine Research during the website’s first
IT & COMMUNICATIONS
PÄR-HENRIK SJÖSTRÖM
year of existence. Information about our
traffic restrictions is forwarded to the system
automatically”, explains Mr Aro.
As most of the vessels are not equipped
with broadband for Internet access, a slow
version for access through Edge/GPRS
connection has been developed.
“When you are in the coverage area, the
information is available with a mobile
phone”, says Mr Aro.
In other cases the website is designed for
easy printing of the web pages and a print
may be obtained for example from the
shipping company or the agent’s office
when the vessel is in port.
pär-henrik sjöström
SCANDINAVIAN SHIPPING GAZETTE • FEBRUARY 23, 2007 35