HAMBURG, March 15, 2010

SAM Electronics announced today that it will supply its next-generation Navigation Automation Control System (NACOS) Platinum vessel control system for two 71,100-gt Aida cruise liners. The ships will be built at Meyer Werft in Germany and are scheduled for delivery throughout 2011 and 2012.

The NACOS vessel control system leverages a true networked architecture that supports a complete portfolio of navigation systems and uses modular components to provide unprece-dented levels of usability and scalability. The systems for the two cruise liners will integrate the functionality of two radar-controlled Trackpilots and Ecdispilots, five radar scanners linked to five Multipilots, ECDIS and Conning displays and the automatic steering control.

The Trackpilot, a core element of the redundant system, will provide precise automatic steer-ing and track control for greater safety and reliability. In addition, all navigational sensors, including gyro, DGPS, doppler-log, echo sounders and wind sensors, will be linked via the network architecture to the Multipilots. Even the Bridge Navigation Watch Alarm System will be integrated to meet new IMO requirements.

The NACOS Platinum Series will be showcased live for the first time in the U.S. at Seatrade Cruise Shipping Miami 2010, Booth 2379.

The NACOS Platinum Series features system-wide adoption of standardized hardware and software components, providing improved quality and reliability of operation while simplifying ship management and maintenance procedures. All products within the new series are de-veloped with user-centered design principles to provide a Human Machine Interface (HMI) that is intuitive, transparent and completely consistent across the product line. The system’s exceptional interface and simplicity of operation enable the crew to concentrate on operating the ship safely without any undue distraction or stress.