The Evolution of Navigational Aids: Upgrading to Tideland ...

We’re pleased to present insights from Chris Smith, the Applications Engineering Manager at Orga BV / Tideland Signal. An industry expert in navigational aids, Chris shares insights on the evolution and benefits of upgrading Tideland Systems.

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Navigational aids have been crucial in ensuring the safe operations of marine vessels for centuries. Just as ships and seafaring techniques have evolved, so have the technologies and solutions used to guide them. Today, I am pleased to shed light on the evolution of Tideland Signal’s navigational aids and the immense benefits that come with upgrading these systems.

Tideland’s Legacy: 6 Decades of Reliability

For over 60 years, Tideland Signal, now an integral part of the Orga group, has stood as a pillar of innovation and reliability. With a commitment to safety, we have ensured that ports, harbours, and offshore structures worldwide are marked with efficient, high-quality solutions. Working together with Orga BV, we can now showcase our solutions in addition to Orga’s own well established Aids to Navigation product range. 

Harnessing Advanced Technologies for Navigational Aids

Tideland’s suite is not only a collection of devices but a testament to technical innovation and industry expertise. With offerings ranging from marine lanterns and foghorns to racons and AIS AtoN, our solutions are continually evolving to meet the challenging demands of the marine environment.

Efficiency and Sustainability: Our newest systems are designed with sustainability in mind. They boast significantly lower power consumption rates, giving them increased autonomy, are cost-effective and environmentally responsible.

Enhanced Performance: With cutting-edge technology, our navigational aids offer unparalleled performance and reliability, ensuring they remain visible even in the most challenging conditions. This clarity is paramount for safety, especially in bustling marine environments.

A prime example of Tideland’s evolving technology is the MLED-150Ex -10NM External powered marine lantern:

• LED Efficiency: The MLED-150Ex unites the advantages of LED technology into a Zone 1 environment. Operators benefit from the low power, high reliability, and reduced maintenance that LED technology ensures.
• MaxiHALO-150 & 180 Hi Design: Built upon the proven foundation of the MaxiHALO-60, the MaxiHALO-150 and 180 Hi assembly serves as the optical source and flasher. Their design is not just about functionality but resilience – housed in a rugged Ex-d well glass suited to withstand the harsh conditions of offshore settings.
• Compatibility and Monitoring: Both the MLED-150 EX and MLED-180Hi EX are designed to harmoniously integrate with current Tideland Signal Lanterns and systems. The MLED-150 EX can be configured as a secondary (standby) light, which monitors the main light. Should there be a failure in the main light, the secondary light kicks into operation autonomously. Additionally, onboard software consistently oversees the operation of the MLED-150Ex, triggering an alarm if any critical operational parameters are breached.
• Impressive Visibility: The MLED-150EX boasts an omnidirectional beam that achieves a >10NM visual range with a transmissivity (T) of 0.74, making it suitable for use as a Secondary 10 Mile Light or a standalone Main 10 Mile Light. The MLED-180 HI EX achieves a >15 NM range at (T) 0.74 making it suitable for use as a 15-mile main light when called for in certain regulations.

Smooth Upgrades: Embracing the New While Respecting the Old

One of the many advantages of our newer solutions is the ease with which they can be integrated. Those utilising existing Tideland Systems need not worry about a complete overhaul.

Adaptable Systems: Upgrading doesn’t mean starting from scratch. Operators can seamlessly integrate newer systems, like our efficient Marine Lanterns, into their existing Tideland infrastructure, achieving enhanced performance without the need for complete replacement.

No-Hassle Implementation: Our dedication is to ensure an easy transition for our customers. As such, upgrading with Tideland is now quicker, more straightforward, and failsafe.

Consider this recent project as a prime example:

A Jackup, originally built in the Far East, incorporated both 15- and 10-mile Incandescent Tideland Light Stations, along with 3 Mile Subsidiary Lights, all tied to an older control panel and charger.

Recognising a need for modernisation, Tideland collaborated with the client, laying out a phased upgrade plan tailored to their budget and timeline. This strategy allows for individual upgrades of both Main and Secondary Stations using state-of-the-art, adaptable LED light stations. Importantly, these changes won’t disrupt the existing system during the transition.

By the end of this overhaul, all Main, Secondary, and Subsidiary light stations will shine brilliantly with the advanced MLED-180 Hi EX/MLED-150EX LED lights. The result? Superior performance, enhanced reliability, and notably reduced power and maintenance needs. This ensures the rig’s smooth operations for years to come. What’s more, Tideland offered insights into potential enhancements for the control and charger system, guaranteeing its support in the long run.

Offshore Decommissioning: Shining Light on a Growing Need

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As the offshore sector evolves, decommissioning gains prominence. In this regard, the role of our lighting systems cannot be understated:

• Safety-Driven: Proper illumination is paramount to guarantee that decommissioning processes are executed securely, minimising risks to both personnel and the marine environment.
• Meeting Global Standards: Tideland’s modern solutions ensure that offshore operators align with international decommissioning norms, underlining the essential role of our navigational aids throughout an offshore structure’s lifespan.
• Proven Reliability: Tideland prides itself on its long-proven reliability and simple yet robust system design. In decommissioning applications where the ability to revisit an installation is difficult and extremely costly, this is a key requirement, not only for safety but for peace of mind for the operator.

Wellhead Electrical Supplies: A Trusted Distributor

Wellhead Electrical Supplies (WES) has been instrumental in distributing Orga Tideland products, ensuring that our cutting-edge solutions reach a wide audience. WES shares our commitment to quality, innovation, and safety, making them a perfect partner in our journey. For 25 years, Orga BV and Wellhead have been collaborating closely. Our partnership goes beyond mere business:

Tailored Solutions: Together, we offer solutions specifically tailored to meet unique operational requirements. This ensures that clients receive a product and service that fits their exact needs.

Shared Vision: Our collective emphasis on safety, innovation, and quality ensures that we stay ahead of the curve, offering the very best to the marine and offshore sectors.

Upgrading your Tideland Systems is more than just embracing new technology. It’s a commitment to enhanced safety, efficiency, and operational excellence. Whether you’re operating in ports, harbours, or offshore environments, now is the perfect time to take the next step in navigational aids evolution.

Ready to make the transition and experience the benefits first hand? Get in touch with Wellhead Electrical Supplies today and our range of Orga Tideland products. Upgrade to the future of marine safety.

For well over half a century, the Instrument Landing System (ILS) was the only radio navigation aid for precision approach and landing. In recent years, however, a new system known as GLS, for GBAS Landing Systems, has emerged from the research and development arena into operational use, accompanied by suitable aircraft equipage. GLS “augments” signals from standard Global Navigation Satellite systems such as GPS and GLONASS, thereby giving sufficient precision and reliability for use for precision approach and landing. Ground-based Augmentation Systems (GBAS) can give great precision for landing operations when sited at an airport and provide a real alternative to ILS supporting the full range of approach and landing operations. Current GBAS installations provide Category I (CAT-I) precision approach service, and ongoing work is targeted at providing GBAS Approach Service Type-D (GAST-D) service for operations in what used to be called ILS CAT-III minima. ICAO has just published international standards for GAST-D operations.

To illustrate the benefits of GLS implementation, the following has been provided by one of the earliest airports to have launched GLS.

Implementation of GLS in the Australian Environment by Ken Allcott, Airfield Planning Manager, Sydney Airport Company Ltd.

The Ground-based Augmentation System (GBAS) is a facility that enables the provision of Category I Precision Approaches. The GBAS can provide up to 26 approaches to any runway, and if runway thresholds need to be displaced for extended periods can be readily reconfigured to provide an approach to a displaced landing threshold.

The GBAS unit can be located away from the immediate runway environment eliminating areas normally required to protect the ILS signals. The flight checking regime for the GBAS system is less disruptive for the conventional ILS. Instead of six ILS units being flight checked separately, only one flight check is required for the GBAS validation.

The GLS display in the cockpit mirrors that of an ILS display, and pilot training to facilitate GLS is not onerous.

In 2005, Sydney Airport in conjunction with Qantas and Airservices Australia installed a GBAS unit to facilitate GLS approaches culminating in the first B737 approach in 2006.

The GBAS unit facilitates ILS-like approaches to all runway ends at Sydney Airport.

GLS approaches were conducted under strictly controlled conditions authorised by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). By 2009, Qantas had flown over 2,000 approaches.

The GBAS at Sydney airport was officially commissioned for operational service in 2014. In the months immediately following, commissioning statistics indicated that 36% of A380 aircraft and 52% of B738 aircraft were performing GLS operations at Sydney Airport. The number of aircraft performing GLS approaches has steadily increased since commissioning.

Sydney Airport is fortunate in that the fleet mix is relatively modern. Nearly all B737 aircraft are GLS-equipped, many A380 aircraft are also equipped and all the new generation aircraft such as the B787, B747-800, and A350 come equipped with GLS as standard.

GLS has provided several benefits to operators over the conventional ILS approaches. In the case of an ILS approach, the signals are often disrupted by the previous aircraft landing or departing. The GLS approach is immune from this interference, and the stability of the guidance is enhanced over the ILS.

In general terms, a GBAS unit is about the same cost as an ILS installation but a GBAS unit will provide up to 26 ILS-like approaches to multiple runways. Currently, the flight inspection regime for GLS is similar to ILS as it is convenient for the flight inspection aircraft to perform this inspection whilst operating on the aerodrome. However, it is recognised that the frequency of flight inspections could be extended significantly beyond the requirements for ILS checks. This would reduce the capacity implications brought about by systems flight checks.

In 2017, Airservices Australia installed a GBAS unit at Melbourne Airport facilitating precision approach guidance for suitably equipped aircraft to two runway ends where previously no precision approach procedures were available. It is planned that GBAS units will be installed at Brisbane Airport in the future.

Sydney Airport and Australian airports in general are currently investigating options available to achieve Category II approaches to further exploit this technology.

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