Finland-based technology group Wärtsilä has acquired Guidance Marine Limited in an effort to strengthen its position in vessel position technology.

Guidance Marine, a privately owned company with offices in the UK, Singapore and the USA, specializes in sensor solutions relating to dynamic positioning and other vessel control systems, such as collision avoidance and remote control operations.

The acquisition of Guidance Marine is expected to enhance Wärtsilä’s capabilities in the area of situational awareness and near-field measurement, both essential for more intelligent vessel navigation.

“Guidance Marine’s core competences are wide ranging and include the development of sophisticated positional measurement sensors and systems for high accuracy control applications. These competences complement our own activities in the field of radar technology, navigation and dynamic positioning, by joining forces we can certainly further accelerate the introduction of solutions that will take shipping into a new era of efficiency,” Maik Stoevhase, Director, Automation, Navigation & Communication, Wärtsilä Marine Solutions, commented.

“This partnership provides a significant step change in developing the future of maritime positioning and navigation where the integration of multi-modal sensor technologies is a key factor in the delivery of ‘intelligent’ vessels,” Jan Grothusen, CEO at Guidance Marine, said.