DRAMMEN, August 3, 2010 

After nearly 30 years delivering Damatic automation systems to the marine market L-3 Valmarine has developed their own new proprietary system platform for the advanced marine automation market; 

L-3 Valmarine have always been in the forefront technology wise to make sure that their customers always receives updated technology and solutions and excellent value for their investments.

As a result of their quest to always improve their products L-3 Valmarine is introducing their 4.th generation technology platform for Advanced Ship Automations system. This new version of the system, VALMATIC Platinum, is a sum up of 30 years of experience and is a powerful state of the art distributed process control and monitoring system.

VALMATIC Platinum has a multifunctional and user-friendly operator interface (HMI) where process related information is available right at hand. An optional Information Management System (IMS) that includes a history database, analyzing tools, process replay, reporting functions, diary etc. is available for optimizing of the ship operation performance.

Distributed hardware combined with a modular architecture enables a very high degree of flexibility that ensures optimal installation solutions.

A new maintenance philosophy makes the service and maintenance of the system easier than ever with excellent online- and offline tools, All units are made for hot swap and necessary firmware- and software versions are automatically checked and downloaded to the appropriate units.

Redundancy has always been a key function in L-3 Valmarine's system design, and with this new system platform it is taken one step further with an optional second redundant system network. All hardware modules are type-approved by the major classification societies. The result is an outstanding degree of reliability and availability.

The VALMATIC Platinum is based on the same concept as L-3's NACOS Platinum navigation systems and can seamlessly be integrated to share operational information between the automation- and navigation systems. Common hardware and configuration tools, and easy to understand HMI increases the safety and reduces the product lifecycle cost.

Together with the built-in redundancy features and L-3 Valmarine's 30 years of proven competence in the Advanced Ship Automation market this system is the preferred choice for ship owners that are concerned with quality and safety, and where punctuality and undisturbed operation is of outmost importance.

VALMATIC Platinum - Features

• Multi Functional Displays (Displays IAS, Radar, ECDIS and Conning information)
• Outstation cabinets 50 -> 500 IO's (typical)
• Scalable 500 -> 50.000 IO's
• Realtime processing capability
• Dual redundant system network
• Redundant process network
• Local control & operation at processor level
• Hot swap of any components
• User centered HMI design - with zoom and pan
• Fast system recovery
• 1ms Sequence of events
• UTC & Local time for alarms
• Remote diagnostics
• Ship to shore link
• Historical database incl. tools for reports, trends, replay etc.
• Improved online & offline tools for configuration, commissioning and service

L-3 Valmarine's reference list for Automation and Navigation systems contains more than 700 systems in operation. 

Integrated Ship Control Solutions for ship owners who value quality and safety

L-3 Valmarine is a major supplier of ship automation and navigation systems world-wide. We work closely with our customers to develop innovative technical solutions focusing on safety, quality and lifetime costs. The result is our fully integrated ship control concept offering unique multi-functionality, redundancy and reliability. The cruise vessel market is the core business and the company is a market leader for ship automation in this segment.

In general, the systems are designed with a high degree of automation and safety, enabling the company also to be present on both Ro-Pax, Naval, LNG, offshore and other special purpose vessels.

The company employs 100 people and is headquartered in Norway, with a branch office in Finland and cooperation partners in Italy, France, Singapore, China and Korea. L-3 Communications, located in the US, is the principal owner where L-3 Valmarine is a part of the L-3 Marine and Power Systems division.