World leading designer and supplier of coastal surveillance and VTS systems, Kelvin Hughes, has announced that it has been contracted by VisSim, a leading VTMS system provider and integrator, to supply eleven SharpEye™ radar sets for the protection of offshore facilities in Azerbaijan. As part of VisSim’s Marine Asset Protection and Surveillance System, Kelvin Hughes will provide ten SBS-800-1 (3.7m antenna) systems for offshore production platforms in the Caspian Sea, typically two radars per platform, and one SBS-800-2 (5.5m antenna) that will be installed onshore. Using a fibre optic connection being developed by Kelvin Hughes, the offshore SharpEye™ transceivers will be able to transmit more data at higher speeds, ensuring improved picture quality at the radar display. In addition, this technology will deliver greater reliability with lower installation costs at the same time as improving offshore safety by reducing the number of electrical connections. The onshore SBS-800-2 system will comprise an upmast X-Band SharpEye™ radar transceiver with a low profile antenna – the adoption of an upmast solution highlighting the high reliability and maintenance-free characteristics of SharpEye™. Full installation of the radars, following a planned programme of testing, is scheduled for August 2014. Spike Hughes, Kelvin Hughes’ Sales and Marketing Director, commented: “We’re confident that SharpEye™ will deliver everything VisSim needs to protect the Azerbaijan offshore facilities they have been contracted to supply. Representing a significant advance on current marine radar technology with its ability to separate targets from clutter, Sharpeye™ provides greatly improved situational awareness even in adverse weather conditions.” For more information visit www.kelvinhughes.com.
