ACR eyes Europe
US headquartered specialist in safety and survival technologies, ACR Electronics, has broadened its range of devices with the introduction of its new Class A and Class B Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) transceivers.
The electronics manufacturer, which operates from its US headquarters in Florida, has also recently opened a new distribution centre in Rotterdam, Netherlands, as it continues to grow its worldwide network of dealers, distribution facilities and services to support its international customers.
ACR’s new AIS product offering, combined with the recent acquisition of UK-based safety and communication specialist Ocean Signal, further establishes the company as an industry leader with the capabilities to provide a comprehensive portfolio of devices to the marine market place.
The bolstered ACR product line of reliable survival gear now includes a full range of AIS transceivers, Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs), Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs), Search and Rescue Transponders (SARTs), AIS Man Overboard Beacons, VHF radios, searchlights, rescue strobe lights and other safety accessories.
“We are very pleased to launch the new AIS transceivers and to be able to offer these vital safety products to our customers in addition to our established distress beacons and survival products which now include the popular, compact Ocean Signal range,” said Gerry Angeli, President of ACR Electronics. “ACR is already known for developing reliable products suitable for the harshest conditions, so we are confident that the Class A and Class B AIS transceivers will enhance this reputation. The ACR AIS transceivers offer high reliability, performance and compliance with regulations at a competitive price.
“By facilitating faster communication and navigational planning especially when vessels are hidden or obstructed from radar, our compact transceivers will greatly improve vessel safety and Marine Domain Awareness by sending and receiving wireless navigational data to and from nearby ships equipped with AIS including the vessel’s name, position, course or speed over ground, heading, and rate of turn. Looking ahead, AIS is a technology that will evolve in the years ahead to further improve safety, security, tracking and accident investigations and we feel it is important for ACR to be at the forefront of this developing area of maritime safety.”
The AISLink CA1 Class A transceiver is a commercial standard system which demonstrates the highest AIS transmission power and the most frequent transmission of AIS information. Approved worldwide for both deep sea and inland waterways, it offers an extensive feature set including an easy-to use graphical interface with multilingual capability which positions it as a leader amongst other AIS Class A options.
Compact, easy to install and competitively priced, the ACR Class A transceiver interacts seamlessly with navigation systems through its NMEA 0183 interface, with a large, highly visible, monochrome LCD display.
By Jake Frith
