[Povertybay] FW: JEPPESEN MARINE CUSTOMER BULLETIN

[Robert Miller]

For those who may Nobeltec or Norhtstar based navigation systems.

 




Jeppesen Marine, Inc.

15160 Laidlaw Rd., Ste. 100

Portland, OR 97229

Tel.: 503.579.1414

December 26, 2007

ATTN: Jeppesen Marine Product Customers

RE: LIGHT MARINE DIVISION -- JEPPESEN MARINE CUSTOMER BULLETIN 

Arising from increased quality assurance programs, Jeppesen Marine has
identified chart data rendering issues related to defects in both the code
base of our navigation software and the encoding of our chart data. 

As a result of these defects, some chart information (including, but not
limited to buoys, markers, contours, underwater obstructions, etc.) may not
display correctly, or at all, on navigation screens.

Although these defects date back some years and no cases or related
incidents have ever been reported by customers, we believe they could
represent a potential hazard if navigators are misusing affected products by
relying solely on them for primary navigation, instead of placing primary
reliance on up-to-date official government charts. As a result, Jeppesen
Marine is compelled to advise you of this issue, especially as it affects
products using our technology and digital charts.

Regarding resolution of this issue, Jeppesen Marine is dedicated to provide
patches to the affected navigation software, as well as corrected,
up-to-date versions of our Passport chart products. These will be supplied
to all affected customers free-of-charge. Both the software and data patches
are now ready for distribution. 

Shepard Tucker 
Sr. Manager, Sales & Marketing 
Jeppesen Light Marine - North America

Affected Products

Certain Nobeltec Passport chart features (including but not limited to
buoys, markers, contours, underwater obstructions, etc.) may not display
correctly, or at all, when used in conjunction with certain Nobeltec
navigation software packages and OEM plotter solutions.

The following Nobeltec navigation software and OEM solutions are affected by
this defect, when used in conjunction with listed Passport chart versions:


Mfg / Brand

Model

Version

Passport Chart Versions


Nobeltec

VNS

7.x

Versions 30, 31, 32, and 34


Nobeltec

Admiral

7.x


Nobeltec

VNS

8.x


Nobeltec

Admiral

8.x


Nobeltec

VNS

9.x


Nobeltec

Admiral

9.x


OEM - Northstar

972

All versions

 


Affected Chart Regions


AU0020L

AU0021S

AU0022S

AU0030L

AU0031S

AU0032S

AU0090L


AU0091S

BS0010L

CA0150L

CAR0010L

CAR0100L

CO0010L

CO0011S


CU0010L

CU0012S

CU0020L

DO0011S

GR0010L

GR0011S

GR0021S


GR0030L

MX0030L

PA0010L

PA0011S

PA0020L

SAM0020L

US0050


US0080L

ZR00

ZR03

ZR06

ZR07

ZR08

ZR101


ZR901

ZR902

ZR903

ZR904

ZR905

ZR912

ZR914

Description of Defect and Hazard Represented

When affected navigation software and OEM solutions products are used in
conjunction with affected Passport charting products certain chart features
may not always and/or may not correctly display on the navigation system
screen.

Missing and/or incorrectly displayed information may represent a hazard IF
navigators are misusing affected products by relying solely on them for
primary navigation, instead of placing primary reliance on up-to-date
official government charts.

Correction of Defect

Available now online, Jeppesen Marine will supply free-of-charge:

*         Corrected and updated versions of affected charting products to
current users of the affected Passport Chart Versions ("Current users"
include holders of the following Passport charting product versions: Version
30, 31, 32 and 34.)

*         Downloadable software patches for all affected versions of
Nobeltec navigation software and OEM solutions will be provided to all users
of those software products.

These patches contain: 

1. Corrections to some of the color contrasts within the night mode to allow
for better visibility of the chart objects.

2. Critical fixes to the Admiral and VNS Product baseline to fix chart
rendering issues associated with safety of navigation. Certain Nobeltec
Passport chart features (including, but not limited to, markers, contours,
underwater obstructions, etc.) were not being displayed correctly, or at
all, when used in conjunction with certain chart sets. This patch fixes
these software issues and the newest charts (WF-37) will fix the associated
data issues. 

Please visit http://www.nobeltec.com/support/ for information on qualifying
for a free region update. 

3. Removal of the S-57 import functionality. With the application of the SW
patch, S-57 importation will be disabled in Admiral and VNS products and S57
charts previously imported will be deleted, or rendered unavailable for
display.

Jeppesen Marine has selected to disable S-57 importing and display in
Admiral and VNS for safety related reasons. Unforeseeable inconsistencies in
open S-57 data, regardless of its source, and over which Jeppesen Marine has
no control, could be the source of additional rendering issues, which in
turn could determine unacceptable safety hazard.

Jeppesen Marine offers a wide range of high quality vector chart products,
and is available to assist all customers in procuring those most suited to
their navigation needs.

*         Software patches for affected versions of OEM navigation software,
will be provided to all users of those software products, in collaboration
with OEMs themselves.

To obtain your product corrections:- If you believe that you have an
affected product, go to www.nobeltec.com/support/bulletin.htm. Here you can
download the patch of the affected product and register to be notified as
soon as updated Passport World Folio (WF37) data are available. All
additional information is provided on the www.nobeltec.com/support website.

Additional Warning

Jeppesen Marine reminds navigators that nautical chart information -
including information that may be critical to safety - is constantly
changing. 

Once changes have been detected and verified, National Hydrographic
Authorities periodically publish updated information. As it is received,
Jeppesen Marine incorporates the updated information into new charting
products and/or updated versions of existing products. These are
periodically made available to navigators. 

Therefore, navigators should check how up-to-date their charting products
are. If your charts are obsolete (I.e., you are not running on the current
version of the charts and/or your charts are more than one year old),
Jeppesen Marine strongly urges you to update them via Jeppesen Marine
directly, or authorized resellers. 

Please also remember that electronic charts are an aid to navigation
designed to facilitate the use of authorized government charts, not to
replace them. Only official government charts and Notices to Mariners
contain all the information needed for safe navigation. 

Contacts

To download patches and register for charts, go to:
www.nobeltec.com/support/bulletin.htm

For support / services related to affected products:

Jeppesen Marine worldwide customer support

1-800-732-2800 Toll free in the U.S. 

1-303-328-6983 Direct

+49 6102 50 8171 in Europe

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