(RALEIGH, N.C.) — Mackay Communications recently collaborated with Lindblad Expeditions and Nichols Brothers Boat Builders in the design, supply and installation of advanced integrated bridge systems (IBS), complete with consoles and ancillary electronic systems, on the National Geographic Quest and National Geographic Venture expedition cruise ships. National Geographic Quest was delivered in 2017 and has been serving in Lindblad’s fleet for over a year. National Geographic Venture will embark on its inaugural voyage Dec. 2.
Mackay Marine’s Project Management Group, in concert with Lindblad Expeditions, Nichols Brothers, and Jensen Maritime Consultants, supplied both vessels with their primary bridge navigation and a majority of their communication systems. The fully integrated bridge consoles were designed, supplied and installed by Mackay’s Project Group. The consoles, outfitted primarily with a Furuno suite of products, include the command and control systems, radar, electronic chart display and information systems (ECIDS), global positioning systems (GPS), automatic identification systems (AIS), global maritime distress and safety systems (GMDSS), and voyage data recorders (VDR).
Additionally, Mackay supplied an integrated internal communications platform from Zenitel A/S of Norway, comprised of public announcement (PA) systems, general alarm, and the shipboard local area network (LAN) which is tied into the vessels’ phone system or PABX. The onboard Inmarsat FleetXpress system was connected to the PABX and integrated along with other onboard communications systems.
Lindblad’s National Geographic Quest and National Geographic Venture are Jones Act coastal cruise vessels, built to provide 100 guests in 50 cabins with an intimate, nature-driven experience of exploring coastal waters, shallow coves and fast-moving channels where wildlife congregates.
