Asian cable ship

Spotted this ship at loyang offshore supply base. I still remember when this ship was first built around year 2000 at Jurong shipyard, I was there to commission the Integrated Bridge System(IBS) delivered by Kongsberg Marinetime Singapore. It took me 3 months to fully commission it. A very tough and fulfilling assignment.

Sperry Marine X-band 25Kw Bulkhead radar

This is a container ship equipped with Bulkhead(Downmast) Transceiver X-band 25KW. The crew has complained that the echo received on the radar screen was very weak, a sun can be observed from near range. Most electronic parts including magnetron, modulator, receiver pcb, limiter, TR cell...etc has been replaced by technician in other port but problem still remain the same. Ship electrician has also confirmed the waveguide was good as he pump air from one end and could receive air from the other. In order to find out whether the fault was on wave guide, antenna or the electronic unit, i have done a test to prove it.

1. Removed the transceiver end top waveguide, placed a test pen with good working bulb above the center of the waveguide.

2. Transmit the radar, the RF signal will then energize the test pen bulb, the brighter the bulb is, the stronger the signal transmit out from the transceiver.

3. Reconnect the transceiver top waveguide, go to monkey Island to open the other end  of the waveguide.

4. Do the same by putting a test pen across the open waveguide, if the bulb appear very weak or totally not lid at all, then the problem lies in the waveguide along the way.

5. Open part by part to check for leakage waveguide, this is not easy. One way it can be done was to pump air at one end and block the air at the other end. Create some foam with soap and apply on the waveguide run.

6. Pump air and observe bubbles from the foam. This is the same method as checking for leak Tyre.

Please see some pictures taken while troubleshooting the waveguide leak problem. This fault is very tricky, anyone find it useful can try the same method without being running up and down changing parts and test the whole day not able to identified the fault.

Radar transmitted with test pen placed on top and bulb lighted up

A typical mismatch and strong reflection from the antenna.

Western Anchorage

I was attending to annual performance test for SVDR. Today is a nice weather.
Lots of ship anchored here.

Uni-Safe BNWAS

Another type of BNWAS made in Denmark. It was type approved for DNV, LR, BV, RINA, ABS, GL, NKK, RS, CCS and KR classification. As a system integrator, we had tested this piece of equipment and found quite easy and straight forward to installation on board ship. It comes with a 24 months warranty, so ship owner can rest in peace for any defect if frequent visit to Singapore as spares were available for one to one replacement. It also comes with motion sensor so ship crew need not reset every now and then when alarm sound after the preset period of between 3 - 12 mins. Please see below for specification.

RS232 Pin-out and self make cable

The purpose of uploading the RS232 Pin-out is for anyone who wish to use laptop or notebook to connect DB9 pin D-Sub for hyper terminal to check/troubleshoot for NMEA serial signal availability or simulate NMEA out from latop to external device.
For new laptop which does not have DB9pin as serial com port, purchase of USB to Serial converter can be easily purchase from any computer shop. Solder a DB9pin female connector with 3 core cable will do the work. Pin 2 = Receive data, Pin 3 = Transmit data, Pin 5 = Ground. When using RS232 com port in laptop to measure RS422 signal on any external device, connect as below.

Laptop            RS422 device output
Pin 2 ---------------- TX-
Pin 3 ---------------- NC(Not Connect)
Pin 5 ---------------- TX+

Laptop            RS422 device input

Pin 2 ---------------- NC(Not Connect)

Pin 3 ---------------- TX-

Pin 5 ---------------- TX+

Sperry Marine Bridge Watch Monitoring System (BNWAS)

This is a  container ship. Ship crew has complaint about the bridge watch monitoring alarm has continuously giving visual and audio alarm once the watch alarm generator switches on. Try to press the reset button on reset unit at bridge did not help. The worst is that the alarm has trigger all the way to all alarm panels including Captain's day room where Captain has difficulty falling asleep. So they have to completely switch off the unit.
I attended the ship and checked all fuses and power supply to main watch alarm terminal module were all present. Checked the parameter by putting dip switch in terminal module from 0 to 1. Put the key switch at watch alarm generator to off position. The word - PRO will present. Checked the parameter in the unit from 000 to 019 and it should be shown as the manual setting. I have selected 001 which is owner setting as per IMO requirement. Lower limit alarm = 3 mins, Higher limit alarm = 12 mins. Delay in buzzer alarm = 15sec. Delay in accommodation alarm = 15sec. Delay in crew alarm = 90sec. You can also set to show count down(CD) in counting down state or dormant state = 1 or 0 in parameter.
Found the problem to the constant alarm been activated was due to one of the reset unit been activated(short circuit)  and causing the unit to permanent reset. Remove the pin 59 - 29 Ext Device which causes the shorting. The watch alarm unit works in a parallel way where either reset unit within the network shorted, all reset unit will be shorted. So looking at the terminal module, 43 - 13, 45 - 15, 47 - 17, 49 - 19, 51 - 21, 53 - 23, 55 - 25, 57 - 27, 59 - 29, 60 - 30 should measure +24Vdc. If no voltage were received, it means one of them must be shorting. How then do you know which one is shorting since all connected in parallel? Removed wire 43, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 60 and connect to a temporary terminal block. Measured in ohm to 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 30 respectively. Means the red probe goes to 43, the black probe goes to 13 in ohm range using a multimeter. After fixing the problem, tested count down of 12 mins, 6 mins and 3 mins working perfectly ok. Also tested the time diagram works as per IMO requirement.
Please see the parameter setting below and time diagram according to IMO requirement.

This type of BNWAS is simple and easy to install and operate. The cost is also reasonable consider the IMO regulation kick in for most of the ship owner to fulfill the IMO regulation requirement. For enquiry, please contact Sperry Marine for quotation
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Sperry Marine VMFT Radar

I have to say that so far i have come across quite a number of radars in the market including furuno and JRC radars make from Japan, Kelvin Hughes radar from UK, Kongsberg Maritime radar DB10 from Norway. Furuno radar has quite a big share market in commercial marine due to it's cheap and good nature. I have to say my preference is still sperry marine radar. It was a perfect match when they combine the Decca radar transceiver with the latest technology of display unit - Vision Master FT. This has make it so good and easy to commission and service. The operation aspect is also great as it can combine ECDIS and radar in one console. So ship owner who wanted to fulfill the IMO requirement and wanted to upgrade their radar display with old BridgeMaster E either X or S band transceiver has become much more easy. The time taken to commission a VMFT radar display has shorten very much, so shipowner can upgrade the radar without been delayed for the chartered time and $$ lost due to delay in cargo delivery. Today is New Year Eve of year 2011, I wish all people i know, including my peers, friends, relatives and family member have a good start and great year in 2011. I hope and wish all of them good health, great jobs and all wishes come true.

祝大家新年快乐