OSI Maritime Systems has entered into a significant partnership with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration to implement its state-of-the-art Electronic Chart Precise Integrated Navigation System (ECPINS) across the fleet of Swedish submarines. This agreement encompasses the deployment of the latest version of ECPINS, known as ECPINS 7, along with a commitment to multi-year in-service support.
ECPINS is fully compliant with NATO’s Warship Electronic Chart Display and Information System (WECDIS) Edition 2 specification and now meets a substantial portion, at least 70 percent, of the requirements outlined in Edition 3 established in 2017. The latest edition will ensure full adherence to all specifications of NATO WECDIS STANAG 4564’s Edition 3.
Ken Kirkpatrick, President and CEO of OSI Maritime Systems, expressed pride in the contract award, emphasizing the significance of having their advanced navigation technology utilized fleetwide on the submarines of the Royal Swedish Navy. He noted that the challenging geographical conditions in which Swedish submarines operate necessitate top-tier navigation solutions.
Currently, the Swedish Navy’s fleet includes four diesel-electric submarines comprising three Gotland-class vessels and one Södermanland-class submarine. The new agreement will also extend to the forthcoming A26 subclass once it becomes operational.
ECPINS employs the vessel’s sensors to present real-time navigation data on an electronic chart, enhancing safety and precision during journeys. This functionality is augmented by increased situational awareness provided through overlaying radar imagery, displayed contacts, and designated operational areas. The system showcases the vessel’s heading, current movement, and previous routes in detail, allowing operators to customize the time zone and display units according to their needs, such as Lat/Lon, GEOREF, MGRS, meters, feet, nautical miles, or kilometers.
The necessity for ECPINS arises from the operational requirements of submarines, which often operate with minimal exposure above water, thereby limiting their reliance on global satellite navigation. ECPINS addresses this by employing “dived navigation methodologies” that depend on a minimum number of sensors for accurate navigation inputs.
ECPINS has achieved operational status on over 700 vessels in more than 25 navies worldwide. Jim Davison, Vice President of Business Development at OSI Maritime Systems, highlighted that managing dived navigation represents a considerable challenge. Since 2005, OSI has established itself as a leader in providing WECDIS solutions that cater to the intricacies of dived navigation. ECPINS has digitized traditional methodologies, presenting a trusted suite of functionalities recognized by eight NATO and Allied navies, thereby setting the benchmark for overcoming the unique challenges posed by underwater navigation.
