Lilaas AS has secured the breakthrough order for its innovative electronically-controlled LO1 lever range, which was officially launched at this year’s SMM exhibition in Hamburg. The company will supply its first LO1 units to US-based Marine Technologies LLC, which is delivering a BridgeMate thruster control system to a Platform Support Vessel (PSV) ordered by Global Offshore at Havyard in Norway. The newbuilding, a Havyard 832 design, is due for delivery in June 2013.
The installation will be distinguished by the control system’s mounting in the armrest of the captain’s bridge chair, which will mean both azimuth and thruster control are possible while the Master is in a seated position.
Terje Akerholt, Lilaas Sales and Marketing Manager, Maritime says: “We are delighted that Marine Technologies has taken the initiative in ordering the first LO1 levers, which we believe will revolutionise control technology for the shipping industry. We see offshore vessels as a key market for the new all-electronic lever type, as operators in this sector need the reliability and enhanced functionality provided when manoeuvring close to platforms, for example.”
LO1 is a multifunctional control lever for azimuth, thruster or propulsion controls. The lever’s functionality and high software content is complimented by its ergonomic design. Mr Akerholt adds: “Offshore operators tend to specify advanced, top-of-the-range systems. They want levers whose design and functionality is in line with up to date vessel performance.”
The new lever, which is compact and rugged and designed to combine multifunctional controls in a simple and safe manner, features components pre-installed in its structure and only requires a very shallow cut-out beneath. “The LO1 brings together the functions of multiple joysticks or levers into a single unit,” Mr Akerholt points out. “It is also programmable so that individual customer requirements can be more easily met.”
The LO1 can be supplied with a built-in TFT LCD display, which shows the position of the lever and feeds back information from the ship’s systems. However, Marine Technologies has requested a customised model without a display, mounted in a 96mm x 96mm panel, as the company already shows thruster forces on its own panel indicators. The company has also specified levers in black and grey to match the colours of the BridgeMate series.
Ole Morten Husoy, Marine Technologies Sales and Design Manager , says: “Lilaas has been very responsive on both design modification and colour availability. The end user will get nicely designed compact levers, which also have a good feel to them.”
There were other factors that influenced the choice of the LO1 as the lever for the thruster control system on the Global Offshore PSV. Mr Husoy points out: “They are very price competitive and we know from earlier experience with Lilaas products that they deliver reliable equipment and the service is very good.”
[mappress]
November 2, 2012