Offshore Systems - Government Customer

Royal Navy
Project Profile: WECDIS Fleet Deployment

“It is the additional military information it contains that is most impressive. We can mark on potential minefields or mid-ocean bottom profiling to enable us to better evaluate where submarines might be transiting or hiding, or even mark air routes to enable us to identify commercial air traffic from potential hostile aircraft.”

Commander Peter Sparkes
UK Royal Navy

In 2004, Offshore Systems teamed up with Lockheed Martin UK to deliver fleet wide WECDIS (Warship Electronic Chart Display and Information System) capability to the Royal Navy (131 systems in total). The integration of ECPINS® W SUB software has expanded to 28 vessels with 26 certified as ‘Digital Navigation’ platforms. ECPINS displays Additional Military Layers (AML) and includes other features according to NATO STANAG 4564 including dived submarine navigation.

The ECPINS W SUB software is the heart of the WECDIS program and was identified as a major step forward in RN navigation capability. It is used throughout the fleet, installed in the Fleet Flagship HMS Ark Royal and onto a number of Frigate and Destroyer Platforms.

ECPINS W SUB is the RN standard for electronic navigation and is used in all aspects of military navigation including ships entering and leaving harbour and coastal and ocean passage navigation. In addition, ECPINS W SUB supports the ship’s warfare element for effective fighting.

The next phase of the RN WECDIS project includes completing installation in all remaining major warships, minor war vessels and submarines.

Project Profile: Warship-AIS

“The Royal Navy (RN) constantly seeks to improve equipment and has fully embraced electronic navigation and, in doing so, has seen improvements in enhanced situational awareness. RN WECDIS and W-AIS have evolved from equipment that has been available in the commercial market and developed to provide the RN with first class capability. Both systems are being fully integrated into the Fleet and are providing ships and submarines with a clear operational edge.”

Commander Steve Holt
UK Royal Navy

In November 2006 Offshore Systems was awarded the contract as Prime Contractor to supply Warship-AIS (W-AIS) to 77 surface vessels and submarines.

W-AIS builds on the core ECPINS product and meets IMO carriage requirements. It is designed to enhance Maritime Interdiction Operations, Situational Awareness and contribute to the Recognised Maritime Picture.

W-AIS will be installed in the Operations Rooms of surface ships and in the control room of submarines. It will also be available through RN WECDIS on ship’s bridges.