When WSF decides it is time to update the bridge, they return to the name they have known and trusted for decades – Furuno.

Camas, WA, March 1, 2016 – Washington State Ferries (WSF) maintains the largest fleet of ferries in the United States, and the fourth largest in the world. With 23 vessels in operation and two more under construction, WSF transports over 23 million passengers and vehicles a year across 10 routes around the Puget Sound and San Juan Islands.

WSF has an unparalleled safety record, and their diligence can be attributed to professionalism, constant training, and reliance on the very best equipment available. To that end, when WSF decides it is time to update the bridge, they return to the name they have known and trusted for decades – Furuno. Their latest large-scale fleet modernization begins with the Issaquah 130 Class.

Built in 1979 and rebuilt in 1989 to increase capacity, the heart of the Issaquah’s newly-upgraded helm boasts the Furuno FAR3220BB Chart Radar. The FAR3000 Radar series features a host of new and improved features that WSF has come to rely on. One of the most useful new features, according to WSF, is the FAR3000’s Fast Target Tracking, which provides near-instant data on acquired targets. “The ability to track targets virtually instantaneously is a huge benefit. Where it can take up to three minutes for the ARPA to lock in, we now get that information very quickly. The accuracy of this initial information is higher than earlier target tracking,” commented Capt. Bill Hughes of WSF. This feature is of prime importance in the congested waterways near Seattle, where small and fast targets can appear with little notice.

Another of Capt. Hughes’ favorite features is the Advanced Clutter Elimination circuit, or ACE. ACE automatically adjusts the sea and rain clutter controls according to the current sea and weather conditions, giving operators the ability to optimize the radar with a single control. Utilizing the ACE feature, navigators avoid complicated adjustment processes and obtain a much clearer image with less effort. Additionally, the FAR3000 series’ advanced Interference Reduction (IR) function ensures that valid target echoes do not shrink, even with IR on. “The ACE Feature is very handy and is an extremely valuable tool for enhancing weak targets in fog or darkness. In side-by-side comparisons with sea conditions that create challenges in inland waters, excessive sea returns are easily handled. The target presentation of the FAR3000 appears to have crisper processing than the FAR2127,” stated Capt. Hughes.

Furuno has reliably updated its equipment and kept the design and setup simple. “Over the years, the product support and design have been consistent, resulting in easier maintenance and a quicker fix. Evolving from potentiometers to menu controls takes the refinement to a higher level of accuracy,” continued Capt. Hughes. “Furuno’s support is renowned in the marine industry and the quality of the product is excellent. The actual processors fail very rarely.”

When asked about how Furuno has supported Washington State Ferries in terms of product development and engineering specifically for WSF, Capt. Hughes had much to say. “The engineers, over the years, have been very responsive to our needs. They’ve taken a highly commercial deep sea product and adapted it into a premier harbor and inland radar. In our waterways, we’re always in collision avoidance mode in high density traffic, continuously. The way Furuno have helped to recognize our needs allows us to respond quicker and thus, more safely in dealing with emerging situations.”

Coming from the largest fleet of ferries in the U.S., their continued reliance on Furuno at the heart of the operation is high praise for the manufacturer. With the largest product line-up in the marine electronics industry, Furuno has the perfect navigation solution for all commercial and workboat vessels, from tug boats and ferries to tankers and cruise ships.

###