A new microprocessor based system that combines public address, alarm and communications capabilities for offshore operations has been introduced by U.S. company GAI-Tronics Corporation.  The MarinEx system is designed to meet the routine and emergency communications and safety needs of the offshore oil and gas production market. It will be exhibited at the GAI-Tronic DAC Limited booth [# 824-8] at the Offshore Europe 97 exposition in Aberdeen, Scotland, 9-12 September. 

"While communication systems have long been a part of all offshore facilities, MarinEx is the only one that offers the major benefit of combining intelligible voice messages with alarm capabilities," said G. Edward Smith, GAI-Tronics
President.
Based on the company's successful SmartSeries system introduced in 1995, the new system is designed and built to withstand the adverse environmental conditions that are typical of offshore installations. Its redundant
capabilities assure continuous operation even if a component or group of components fail.

Multiple Uses
The system allows routine announcements, emergency announcements, PABX or telephone announcements and alarm tone and/or speech activation.
Routine speech announcements can be directed to any or all areas of the installation. Emergency announcements may be accompanied by strobe light illumination in noisy areas to attract the attention of all personnel.
Announcements may be made from system control panels or from standard telephones through a dial-in feature.
An alarm can be activated at any of the control panels and broadcast to preselected areas or the entire facility. The alarm sounds and strobe lights flash until the event is
canceled.

Fully Modular Design
The MarinEx system features standard components that can be configured and reconfigured easily to meet the changing needs of a particular facility. Fully compatible with third party equipment and systems, and designed for easy
maintenance, these components include:
- control cabinets which serve as central points for audio control and are capable of prioritizing and routing live voice or prerecorded messages;
- speakers;
- strobe lights; and
- CENELEC-approved SmartSeries Stations, located in areas where other types of communication are not available, and used to call the control points to report
emergency conditions.
The equipment is UL and CENELEC approved and can be integrated to a PC control monitor to allow a system operator to monitor and manage real-time system
operations from an on-site or remote location.
First Installation on FSPO vessels
GAI-Tronics Corporation was chosen to design, build and commission the new system for two floating production storage and off-loading vessels (FPSO). The vessels are being converted from tankers to FPSOs by Hyundai Heavy Industries.
For over 50 years GAI-Tronics has designed industrial alarm and communications systems for hazardous environments.
MarinEx and SmartSeries are trademarks of GAI-Tronics Corporation.

Caption: The new MarinEx system from GAI-Tronics combines public address and alarm capabilities for offshore installations.

For more information, contact:
GAI-Tronics Corporation
400 East Wyomissing Avenue
Mohnion, Pennsylvania 19540 USA
Phone: +610-777-1374
Fax: +610-777-1871
http://www.gai-tronics.com