When an experimental plane crashed into the ocean off Catalina Island near Los Angeles, search and recovery proved impossible. The depth of water and strength of the currents made conditions too dangerous for divers. But since March this year, the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department (LASD) have had the 1000 metre rated remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Falcon DR, from Saab, ready for such investigations.

Significantly extended capability

Saab's Seaeye Falcon DR significantly extends the LASD's inspection and recovery capability, enabling the reach of larger areas offshore and around Los Angeles, and the possibility to undertake Homeland Security operations. The ROV will now aid the recovery of previously unrecoverable boats and aircraft, including an inspection of the Catalina site.
Contributing to diver safety

The Seaeye Falcon DR saves valuable dive time and contributes to diver safety. By using the Falcon's onboard camera and high intensity lights, the ROV operator can pinpoint what the diver cannot see and direct the diver to the location of interest. The ROV can also keep a watchful eye on the diver and transport the diver's tools and equipment. A range of tools and survey kit can easily be added to and changed for different missions, such as explosives detection.

The Seaeye Falcon DR is the second Falcon bought by the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department. The first was a 300 metre rated model used for rapid deployment during in-shore search and recovery operations.

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Flagships of the Honda Marine Lineup
The BF200 and BF225's 3.5-liter, single overhead camshaft (SOHC), V-6 engine provides fresh- and saltwater anglers with the most technologically-advanced outboard power available. Based on the architecture of the incomparable Honda Pilot, Ridgeline, and Odyssey automotive engines, the models deliver the maximum in durability, reliability and world-class performance as well as superior torque in a narrow, balanced 60-degree "V" profile. The slim design of both engines allows for the mounting of dual engines on a 26-inch center-to-center distance, perfect for repower applications.

Derived from racing and first appearing on the Acura NSX sports car, Honda's exclusive Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control (VTEC™ - BF225) system utilizes mild cam lobes to operate the intake valves at low rpm, and then engages a high-output lobe for high-rpm operation. The resulting boost in available power provides outstanding mid-range acceleration and top-end performance.

Honda's exclusive Lean Burn Control automatically adjusts the engine's air/fuel mix according to speed and load for maximum fuel efficiency in cruise mode. Additionally, a top-mounted oxygen (O2) sensor partners with the engine command system to deliver maximum fuel economy under any conditions.

Added to the BF200 and BF225 in 2009, Boosted Low Speed Torque (BLAST) dramatically improves holeshot and acceleration by advancing ignition spark timing to within one degree of the knock limit during "hammer down" acceleration. The Engine Control Module (ECM) then steps in to increase injector timing, creating a more potent air/fuel mixture. The resulting boost in available torque at low rpm contributes to a strong holeshot to get the boat up on plane quickly. The ignition spark timing is appropriately adjusted under slower throttle advancement, ensuring a leaner air/fuel mix and class-leading fuel efficiency.

The BF200 and BF225 also feature Honda's all-new high-performance gear case. A longer anti-ventilation plate helps trap water flowing to the propeller to minimize cavitation, while a streamlined front and enlarged bullet reduce drag for enhanced acceleration and fuel efficiency. A front splash plate reduces spray from the hull bottom, helping to maintain a dry deck above.

The BF200 and BF225 share a number of other innovative features. On both models, an Engine Alert System monitors vital engine functions and alerts the operator of issues, while a 2-Pass Cooling System maintains an even temperature across all cylinders for increased cooling efficiency and long-term durability. Both also incorporate a tuned dual exhaust that wraps around the outside of the oil pan to reduce heat build-up and improve engine efficiency and performance. Multi-Port Programmed Fuel Injection (PGM-FI) delivers precise amounts of air and fuel to each cylinder for quick starts, instant throttle response and low fuel consumption. Additionally, a crankshaft-driven, automotive-style oil pump promotes long-term durability of critical engine components. A Single Overhead Camshaft (SOHC) design eliminates trial-and-error valve adjustment. The BF200 and BF225 also meet NMEA 2000 standards, providing users full compatibility with a host of electronic devices.

An exclusive Dual Stage Induction System uses a plenum chamber with twin butterfly valves for low-speed drivability and high-speed performance. At low speeds, air passes through a long intake runner for increased low-end torque. At engine speeds greater than 3,500 rpm, shutter valves open to shorten the air's path and boost air flow for increased available horsepower. While other four-stroke engines use long intake manifolds to deliver air to the cylinder head, Honda's innovative design maximizes combustion efficiency.

The engines' single cowling latch ensures a water-tight seal, while Honda's patented 4-Front Corrosion Protection System and stainless steel steering arms, tilt tubes, and shafts fight off corrosion caused by harsh marine environments. A freshwater flushport serves to remove debris and salt water from the engine for extended life, and a Built-In Pitot Tube in the gear case eliminates the need to drill holes in the boat for installation.

The BF200 and BF225 are also among the industry's quietest outboards, eliminating the need for sound-dampening insulation into the cowling designs.
The BF225 is available in 20-, 25- and 30-inch shaft models, while the BF200 is offered in 20-inch and 25-inch shaft lengths. All new Honda outboard engines sold for recreational use offer an industry-best True 5-year, non-declining limited factory warranty that is the same on the last day as it is on the first.

Honda Marine pioneered four-stroke engine technology, setting a new benchmark for fuel efficiency, quiet operation, and low emissions. Honda's outboards share the same unparalleled durability, quality, and reliability of its legendary automobiles. With models ranging from 2 to 225 horsepower, Honda Marine's full line of current production models meets rigorous California Air Resources Board (CARB) 3-Star standards, ensuring their availability and regulatory compliance in all 50 states.

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ARMONK, N.Y. - IBM (NYSE: IBM) today unveiled new software that will enable businesses and governments to extract new business information from sensors to determine the whereabouts and conditions of millions of returnable shipping containers used to transport goods around the world. Using the software, massive amounts of sensor data can be gathered in real-time, providing supply chain transparency and reducing inventory costs by as much as 40 percent.

The new software is one of many technologies IBM offers to bring a new level of intelligence to the way in which people, businesses, organizations, governments and systems interact

Sensors are quickly becoming a part of our everyday lives. They are being used to monitor and manage water flow rates, highway traffic, seismic activity, air quality, the flow of energy across power grids, and much more. By 2010, approximately six billion of these tags will be in circulation.

Today, IBM is announcing it has enhanced IBM InfoSphere Traceability Server with a new capability called Returnable Container Management, which was specifically designed for governments, businesses, automotive manufacturers, parts suppliers and other businesses to track the exact location of containers and other reusable assets used to move parts and products.

This technology is aimed at improving the performance of the millions of shipping containers that form the foundation of international shipping and trade. Containers, which move millions of parts and products every day, represent a major investment for clients in many industries. For example, many automotive original equipment manufacturers maintain container inventories in excess of $100 million. The containers are shipped by manufacturers to suppliers, who fill the containers and send them back with components and sub-assemblies to the manufacturer.

Even in this age of heightened security concerns, returnable containers in every industry are often lost or misplaced, creating shipping delays and increased costs. IBM's new Returnable Container Management offering allows container owners to use sensor data to protect their investments in shipping containers and other mobile assets. By affixing a sensor with a unique serial number to each container, manufacturers and their trading partners can use a Web browser to track the exact location of a particular container as they move along the supply chain.

IBM Software Now Tracks Both Small Items and Reusable Containers

IBM's software was designed to enable government organizations and businesses in a wide range of industries to track and authenticate items as they move through the supply chain, from farms and manufacturing floors to factories, distributors, retailers, and governments. In the public sector, it is being used in a pilot project launched by the Vietnamese State Agency for Technological Innovation and the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers to track the country's seafood exports -- a market worth more than $4.25 billion in 2008.

In the healthcare arena, the software is now being used to make it easier for hospitals, doctors, and patients to keep track of the medical devices implanted in individual patients. Implanet, which sells medical implants such as hips and knees, affixes RFID tags to the packaging of medical devices so that before a surgical procedure takes place, a hospital can scan the tag and store information on the implant with the patient's records so the information on the implant can be retrieved if needed in the future.

Clients using IBM's Returnable Container Management capability affix sensors such as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags to each of their reusable containers. Through the use of both standing and mobile devices that read the tags, all relevant data is captured, including place and date of manufacture, serial number, and other necessary details. IBM's software, based on industry standards, allows clients and their trading partners to use a Web browser to determine where each container is at any given point. If a container reaches the wrong location, the system will alert management.

For example, an automobile manufacturer using the software can track containers filled with parts from suppliers to their manufacturing plants and ultimately back to container storage facilities. In doing so, they can expect to improve container turnaround time by as much as 20 percent; reduce container loss by between 5 and 15 percent, reduce container inventory by 10 percent; realize a 30 percent savings in container carrying costs; and reduce the need for one time packaging and expedited shipping costs by 80 percent.

The new offering provides companies with a complete platform for tracking and analyzing the movement of these valuable mobile assets. Through the previously unavailable insight provided by this application, container owners can optimize business processes, asset inventories and in turn, gain a competitive advantage. In particular, clients can expect to eliminate as much as 40 percent of their container inventory by minimizing losses, optimizing utilization rates, and detecting and preventing unauthorized diversions.

IBM's Returnable Container Management offering was developed through expertise IBM gained by creating similar systems with major automobile manufacturers. The product was developed in IBM's Silicon Valley Lab, drawing on the analytics capabilities of IBM Cognos.

InfoSphere Traceability Server is the only product available that is standards based, includes enterprise serial number management and embedded enterprise grade reporting and analysis tools. The software works seamlessly with IBM's WebSphere Sensor Events software. InfoSphere Traceability Server is fully compliant with industry standards such as GS1 EPCglobal's Electronic Product Code Information Sharing (EPCIS), standard, which allows trading partners to share information captured using sensor and other serialization technologies such as barcodes.

Among the other IBM software products that enable the Internet of things are WebSphere Sensor Events, Cognos 8 BI, WebSphere Business Events and Business Process Management, ILOG software for supply chain management, Tivoli Netcool and Maximo Asset Management.

About IBM

A pioneer in sensor technology and a leader in IT and business strategy, IBM offers sensor solutions that unlock new business value and help drive new insights and innovation. For more information, visit http://www-306.ibm.com/software/data/masterdata/rfid/ and www.ibm.com/solutions/sensors.

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The new, state-of-the-art workshop provides qualified in-situ capacity and field support and offers a wide range of service functions, including propulsion system repairs, engine component overhaul work and other services. Initially, the facility will be served by 12 highly trained personnel, and additional field-service engineers will be recruited during the coming months.

Wärtsilä currently serves the area from Wärtsilä Sweden's main facilities in Gothenburg on the west coast of Sweden, and since 2006 also from a smaller workshop in Sundbyberg close to Stockholm. Wärtsilä currently employs over 300 people in Sweden.

Mr Bo Dahlén, President & General Manager Services, Wärtsilä in Sweden, says: 'Through investing in this workshop we want to ensure the best support for our customers. We have seen an increase in the number of requests for our services on the east coast, and our facilites in Sundbyberg have become too limited to allow us to adequately support these needs. Our marine customers will now have better options for service in the Stockholm area, which might lead to more companies establishing in the region'.

Wärtsilä's investment in the 700m2 service centre at Beckholmen is based upon the notable increase in shipping traffic along Sweden's east coast. Several large shipping companies are already operating services from Stockholm, while more and more cruise and ferry vessels are visiting the Swedish capital. The new freight terminal close to Södertälje is also attracting an increase in containership tonnage to the area. The potential for marine services in the area is, therefore, significant.

Pictures from the inauguration will be available at www.wartsila.com

Wärtsilä in brief
Wärtsilä is a global leader in complete lifecycle power solutions for the marine and energy markets. By emphasising technological innovation and total efficiency, Wärtsilä maximises the environmental and economic performance of the vessels and power plants of its customers.

In 2008, Wärtsilä's net sales totalled EUR 4.6 billion with 19,000 employees. The company has operations in 160 locations in 70 countries around the world. Wärtsilä is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki, Finland.
www.wartsila.com

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American Honda Motor Co., Inc., today announced the opening of a third West Coast port facility, in Richmond, Calif. The company will shift a substantial portion of its current vehicle import operations from the port of San Diego to the new Richmond facility. The expansion will help American Honda to more efficiently serve its Honda and Acura dealers in Northern California and will support greater rail capacity for transporting vehicles to points east.

The new 80-acre facility, known as the Point Potrero Auto Center, will allow American Honda to greatly decrease shipments of vehicles by tractor trailer from Southern California to Northern California, helping to reduce CO2 emissions associated with new-vehicle distribution. The facility will also support efficient east-bound rail shipments critical to Honda's overall logistics network.

"Establishing these operations in Richmond will help us secure and balance our long-term logistics needs," said Dennis Manns, assistant vice president of logistics for American Honda. "This additional port not only ensures future rail and port capacity, but it also has a net environmental benefit, a key goal for Honda in all of its operations."

American Honda's port expansion is estimated to eliminate 1,720 truck trips from San Diego to northern California, totaling more than 1.5 million miles of truck travel each year. This will result in an annual reduction of approximately 3,200 metric tons of CO2 from American Honda's logistics operations in the region.

In addition to ports in Richmond and San Diego, American Honda operates a port facility in Portland, Oregon.

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Honda Marine announced today an all-new online sales training program that provides comprehensive sales educational modules for Honda Marine dealerships.

Honda's newest course, part of the company's online training solution, Honda Marine University, is designed to promote sales education excellence among Honda Marine dealerships nationwide. The comprehensive program is intended to train dealership sales associates on the features and benefits of Honda Marine's products.

As part of the course offering, dealers also can learn more about Honda's newest fuel-efficient outboard engine, the BF60/BFP60. The BF60 horsepower (hp) model is setting a new best-in-class standard in the mid-range boat segment and features, including Easy Dock Steering™ , BLAST™, Lean Burn Control™ and a host of Honda-exclusive innovations.

Honda Marine University was produced in conjunction with Irvine, California-based Pacific Technology Solutions (PTS). Since its launch nearly two years ago for service education, more than 5,300 service professionals have embraced the Honda Marine University online curriculum - one that affords Honda the ability to train service professionals on an individual level while maintaining a consistent, customer-focused message across its dealer network.

Honda Marine University provides dealership staff with a timely education model that is available 365 days of the year, is available from any location and meets the challenges of dealership education scheduling. Earlier in 2009, Honda earned a MarCom Platinum Award for its computer-based dealer service training.

"Honda Marine's commitment to an outstanding customer experience is unparalleled, and providing excellent training tools to our marine dealers has always been a hallmark of Honda Marine's business model," said Scott Conner, assistant vice president, Honda Marine. "Our all-new Honda University training program offers an engaging, interactive and simple way for Honda Marine dealer personnel to maintain high training standards."

Honda Marine pioneered four-stroke outboard engine technology, setting a new benchmark for fuel efficiency, quiet operation, and low emissions. Honda's outboards share the same unparalleled durability, quality, and reliability of its legendary automobiles. With models ranging from 2 to 225 horsepower, the Honda Marine full line of current production models certify to California Air Resources Board (CARB) 3-Star standards, ensuring their availability and regulatory compliance in all 50 states.

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Today, STX Europe's shipyard in Turku, Finland will officially hand over Oasis of the Seas to Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCCL). The 360 metres long vessel is powered by Wärtsilä's most modern, high technology equipment. Oasis of the Seas is equipped with a total of six Wärtsilä 46 engines, three 12-cylinder and three 16-cylinder engines, generating more than 96 MW. The vessel is also equipped with four 5.5 MW Wärtsilä bow thrusters, which are among the largest in the world.

Wärtsilä's engines are equipped with common rail technology, which provides an important and very visible advantage. As the combustion and other process parameters can be adjusted for lower load ranges, smoke emissions can be reduced.
Wärtsilä continuously aims to improve the environmental performance of its products and solutions, with the main focus being on improving efficiency and minimizing emissions.

The Wärtsilä bow thrusters make the vessel easy to operate. They have a combined power output of 22 MW. In fact, the bow thrusters alone have more power than is installed on a normal cargo ship.

Pushing the boundaries of cruise ships

Royal Caribbean International, a brand of RCCL, is consistently pushing the boundaries of what is thought to be possible, offering more options and choices for its guests by introducing innovative amenities and a revolutionary design that achieves higher safety and environmental standards.

The cruise line's Freedom of the Seas was the largest passenger ship in the world when it was launched in 2006, and the largest ever built in terms of passenger capacity (3634) and gross tonnage (154,407), both records now shared by two other Royal Caribbean vessels of the same class.

And now comes Oasis of the Seas, with a passenger capacity of 5400 and a gross tonnage of 225,282. At 360 metres bow to stern, she is 23 metres longer than the Freedom class vessels and introduces even more innovative amenities than ever before. Oasis of the Seas has the first-ever living park at sea, with 12,175 plants, 62 vine plants, and 56 trees and bamboo. There's a full-sized carousel, rock climbing walls, and two surfing simulators that allow guests to surf on the deck and a spectacular amphitheatre-style AquaTheater at the stern of the ship.

Wärtsilä provides the power to meet the onboard energy demand

Propelling a vessel 360 metres long, 65 metres wide and carrying up to 8500 people - 2165 of them crew members - is no small achievement. The vessel's air-conditioning systems, production of 50 tons of ice cubes each day, and heating the water in the 21 swimming pools and Jacuzzis, together consume several megawatts of power. As does carrying all the supplies needed for a seven-day cruise.

The engines are essentially a power plant that produces electricity, which is then used to run everything on board. The majority is used for propelling the vessel, but this floating holiday destination also has many other energy users. 'After propulsion, air conditioning is next on the list of major onboard energy consumers,' says Fred Danska, Director, Cruise Business at Wärtsilä.

Long-term cooperation between Wärtsilä and Royal Caribbean

'This is a quantum leap in terms of development,' says Fred Danska, who has worked closely with Royal Caribbean for many years. 'We've been working with Royal Caribbean on this project for several years, but our relationship goes all the way back to the '70s.'

Most of the Royal Caribbean ships have featured Wärtsilä equipment, and Oasis of the Seas is no exception.

The size of the vessels isn't the only thing that has changed in the 40 years Wärtsilä has been working with Royal Caribbean. The engines have undergone continual development, as have customer preferences and choices. What was important in the 1980s is less important today.

In the mid-1990s, suppliers of gas turbines made moves to replace diesel engines on cruise ships. Wärtsilä came up with a solution that reduced emissions. This was common rail injection technology, now also fitted to Oasis of the Seas. 'Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. has selected Wärtsilä's common-rail-type engines for its other brands in the past. This is however our first common rail delivery to Royal Caribbean International,' says Danska.

The highest standards of service and technology

'Studies indicate that cruises have higher customer satisfaction ratings than any other form of vacation, higher even than trips to Las Vegas or Disneyland, and that's their primary competition. Cruise companies are in the leisure business, not the shipping business,' says Danska.

'There's still a lot of potential for growth in the cruise business,' says Danska. 'Even if the vessels get bigger, they'll continue to fill them. We haven't reached any upper limit yet.'

Progress is continually being made below deck as well, and future cruise ships will be even more environmentally sound, thanks to Wärtsilä's work on SOx scrubbers and LNG (liquefied natural gas)-fuelled engines. Using LNG will eliminate all SOx emissions, reduce NOx emissions by 80 per cent, and CO2 emissions by more than 20 per cent.

Wärtsilä in brief
Wärtsilä is a global leader in complete lifecycle power solutions for the marine and energy markets. By emphasising technological innovation and total efficiency, Wärtsilä maximises the environmental and economic performance of the vessels and power plants of its customers.

In 2008, Wärtsilä's net sales totalled EUR 4.6 billion with 19,000 employees. The company has operations in 160 locations in 70 countries around the world. Wärtsilä is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki, Finland.

www.wartsila.com

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Waterloo, Iowa . — John Deere Power Systems (JDPS) is pleased to announce a revised free extended warranty program for recreational marine customers. The recreational yacht extended warranty program will offer eligible marine customers a 5-year/2,000-hour extended warranty at no additional cost.

This program, available worldwide through John Deere engine distributors, their respective marine dealers, OEM boat builders and OEM boat dealers, is applicable to new propulsion engines installed in newly constructed or repowered vessels.

The JDPS free extended warranty program is only valid for engines installed in non-revenue-generating recreational applications. New JDPS marine engines used in non-revenue-generating applications are eligible for both the free standard and the extended warranty programs.

"Our marine engines continue to build upon John Deere's strong reputation of performance, durability and reliability because we're committed to ensuring our marine customers experience the same confidence in their engines that our agricultural and construction customers have enjoyed for decades," said Dave Flaherty, marine marketing manager for John Deere Power Systems. "We believe that our free 5-year/2,000-hour extended warranty will provide our recreational marine customers with additional value and years of worry-free cruising."
Warranty details:

* The recreational yacht extended warranty program is intended for vessels that are owned by individuals and used strictly for personal recreation. Recreational vessels used for chartering, touring or ferrying passengers — where passengers are charged a boarding fee — are not eligible for the program.

* The warranty covers John Deere marine engine components, electronic control unit (ECU) and John Deere-supplied accessories. Maintenance and third-party parts are not covered under the extended warranty program.

* Engine installation and performance must be consistent with John Deere's application guidelines, and verified by sea trial. The engine must be operated within its intended duty profile with a correctly sized propeller, and customers are required to perform scheduled maintenance.

Extended warranties up to 5 years are also available for commercial applications worldwide; conditions apply. For more information, contact the John Deere Power Systems distributor or marine engine dealer that serves your area.

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