Australian code for US Coast Guard cutters

Brisbane software maker Absolute Data Group will provide e-learning, maintenance and electronic manuals systems to the US Coast Guard aboard its Sentinel cutters.

The 47-metre boats that reach speeds of 28 knots and are armed with .50-calibre machine guns perform at sea for five days or more and log about 2500 hours on patrol a year.

"It's always exciting to see Absolute's technology being used around the world for very important projects," said Tammy Halter, chief executive officer of Absolute Data, which includes the US Air force, Boeing, and the Australian Department of Defence among its customers.

"Large and small industries that have high-risk environments and defence departments internationally are choosing ADG because our systems are cutting-edge, cost-effective and quick to implement.

Louisiana maritime logistics company CHAND is handling the integration.

Using the ASD S1000D specification for technical data, Absolute Data's product stores and manages technical data and illustrations as objects in a common-source database for reuse in maintenance, logistics and training content.

It enables the Coast Guard to extend from its traditional, high-quality printed manuals to more efficient, interactive, e-manuals that are linked to parts and training data.

"An integrated software suite works together to provide technical and procedural information, maintenance planning data and integrated training packages that will reduce operational costs while providing field personnel easy access to real-time technical and safety information," said Dan LeBlanc, technical writing and training manager.

CHAND will train cutter maintainers and operators through Absolute's Skills M5 e-learning system, supplementing printed and field training. This will give personnel access to training information from any internet-enabled PC, it said.

The Sentinel Class Cutters, are made by Bollinger Shipyards. The lead cutter is due in 2011.