MARINE

MARINE & PORT EQUIPMENT CONTROLLERS
AND DATA SOLUTIONS

INDUSTRY: Marine

OEM Controls designs and manufactures configurable industrial controllers and data-delivery solutions for marine vessels, onboard equipment, port machinery and terminal operations.

Marine and port equipment place very different demands on the operator interface. Common OEM Controls applications include propulsion and positioning, deck machinery, specialized work vessels, and port and terminal equipment.

Marine & Port Applications

OEM Controls supports configurable operator controls and data solutions across marine vessels, onboard equipment, port machinery and terminal operations. Requirements vary by equipment type, control functions, operator interface, system integration and operating environment.

Winches, Cranes & Deck Machinery
Specialized Marine Equipment
Propulsion, Steering & Positioning
Port & Terminal Equipment

Propulsion, Steering & Positioning

Configurable controls can support propulsion, steering, thruster, directional and positioning functions where predictable response and intuitive operator control are important.

Winches, Cranes & Deck Machinery

Single-axis and multi-axis controls can support hoist, winch, lifting, positioning and auxiliary machinery functions, with the operator interface configured around the commands required at the control.

Dredging & Specialized Marine Equipment

Dredging, excavation and specialized work vessels may require coordinated proportional functions, configurable operator interfaces and integration with hydraulic or electronic machine systems.

Port & Terminal Equipment

Port and terminal machinery can require precise movement, repetitive operation and configurable controls for cranes, cargo handling, yard equipment and other specialized applications.

Asset & Equipment Visibility

Some marine and port applications also require visibility beyond the operator control itself. OEM Controls Data Delivery products can support appropriate port, yard and terminal applications where equipment location, movement, utilization or asset identification needs to be monitored.

Find the Right Solution for Your Marine or Port Application

Start with the vessel, machine, port equipment or monitoring application.

Answer a few questions about the functions being controlled, operator requirements, electrical integration and operating environment to narrow the OEM Controls products that may fit your application.

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Talk with an Engineer

Engineering the Right Marine Control Solution

Marine and port equipment rarely requires a one-size-fits-all operator interface. Selecting or configuring the controller starts with understanding how the machine must operate.

Control Functions

Determine the motions and commands the operator must control: single-axis or multi-axis movement, proportional functions, switching functions, positioning, hydraulic control or other machine commands.

Operator Interface

Handle style, switch placement, detents, spring return, travel, mounting position and available console space can all affect how the controller should be configured.

Electrical & System Integration

The controller must also match the machine’s electrical architecture. Depending on the product and configuration, OEM Controls offers analog, Hall-effect, CANbus and other electronic interface options.

Operating Environment

Marine and port equipment may be exposed to moisture, salt, contaminants, vibration, temperature variation and repeated operating cycles. Environmental protection should therefore be specified for the actual controller, installation and application rather than assumed from the industry alone.

OEM Controls works with equipment manufacturers and system integrators to configure controls around these application requirements.

Real-World Port Application

Tracking Assets with Ports America

OEM Controls partnered with Ports America to use Bluetooth® tags to track shipping crates within a port environment.

Tags attached to individual crates allowed their movement and location within the port operation to be monitored as they entered, left or were stored within designated areas.

The application demonstrates how OEM Controls Data Delivery technology can extend the Marine solution beyond machine controls to port and terminal asset visibility.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Available interfaces depend on the controller and configuration. OEM Controls products can be configured with options that include analog and Hall-effect outputs, switching functions, and CAN-based communications such as CANopen or J1939 on supported products. Vessel-network requirements should be reviewed against the specific controller and system architecture rather than assumed to be universally compatible.

Environmental requirements should be defined for the actual installation. Consider exposure to saltwater or spray, washdown, vibration, contaminants, temperature, UV exposure, and whether the controller is installed in a protected console or directly exposed to the environment. Ingress-protection ratings and other environmental characteristics vary by product and configuration and should be verified before final specification.

Potentially, but a replacement should not be selected by model type alone. Mechanical footprint, lever travel, mounting, wiring, electrical output, connector requirements, control feel, and system or safety integration should be compared with the existing controller. OEM Controls can review these requirements before a replacement configuration is specified.

Yes. Marine applications can extend beyond onboard vessel controls to port and terminal equipment such as cranes, winches, hoists, cargo-handling machinery, and specialized mobile equipment. OEM Controls Data Delivery products can also support appropriate port and yard applications where asset identification, movement, utilization, or equipment visibility is required.

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Explore Marine Control Solutions

Joystick Controllers

Single- and multi-axis controls for proportional and coordinated machine functions.

Handles & Operator Interfaces

Configurable grips and controls for operator-accessible auxiliary functions.

Switches & Foot Pedals

Alternative input devices for switching, selector and specialized control requirements.

Data Delivery

Tags, trackers and gateways for equipment and asset visibility.

Need Help Defining the Right Marine Control Solution?

OEM Controls can help review the functions, operator interface, electrical requirements, mounting and environmental conditions of your vessel or port equipment application.