A Solvang vessel departs from the major gas facility at Kårstø on the west coast of Norway. The captain and crew are embarking on a 9-day voyage. Onboard, they are carrying 36,000 tons of LPG which is to be delivered to Turkey. Efficient and safe navigation is all important.

For centuries, people have sailed the world’s seas. We have explored the world and carried goods from continent to continent. Without the  ability to navigate, this would not have beenpossible, whether sailing by the stars millions of miles away or the modern satellites over our heads. This invaluable skill provides safety and efficiency for the crew and their cargo.

Solvang was one of the first shipping companies in the world to introduce ECDIS (Electronic Data Chart and Information Systems) on all the vessels in our fleet. This places Solvang well ahead of the mandatory requirement for ECDIS systems due to be introduced in 2012.

Our transition to electronic systems started in 2006, in cooperation with our partner Transas, an international maritime technology supplier. Their system is called Transas Admiralty Data Service (TADS). The company has offices in a number of worldwide locations, and its headquarters in Gothenburg, Sweden. By 2010, all our vessels had made the transition to the new system. Transas' ECIDS system NaviSailor is using official electronic charts produced by Hydrographic offices around the world. These charts are gathered and provided our vessels via Transas Admiralty Data Services (TADS).

Transas systems provide additional digital functions and services, which further improve safety and efficiency onboard our vessels. For example, they provide data on tides, information on current and meteorological forecasts. This allows for careful planning of the itinerary in terms of speed and when the vessels are required to arrive at next port.

Safe and efficient sea voyages are primarily a question of good seamanship. The mostmodern technology helps our seamen bebetter. We have therefore chosen to focus on other aspects in addition to the actual installation onboard. We have placed a significant focus on training and education in the new procedures required by the new system. This training took place at the Transas training centre in Gothenburg and training facilities in Manila, and has been adapted to our requirements and our business.

Digital navigation represents a huge step forwards on the route to improved safety and more profitable sailing. Our system allows crew members to remain fully up to date of the most recent data which applies to an itinerary. This allows for more efficient navigation, which in turn generates environmental benefits in the form of shorter sailings and lower fuel consumption. Increased safety also minimises the risk of accidents, discharge of cargo and improves crew safety.