The Weather Channel Marine introduces new services

ANDOVER, Mass. – WSI Corporation, a provider of weather related services, said today that its new real-time marine weather and forecasting service, The Weather Channel Marine, will interface with select Raymarine electronic navigation systems later this year.

And WSI also announced a partnership to integrate the service with Maptech’s new i3 marine navigation system.

“We are pleased to be associated with such a well respected name in marine electronics,” marine product manager for WSI Reed Wilbur, said of the Raymarine deal. “Our combined product offering will provide convenient access to critical weather information for a greater number of boaters.”

Of the Maptech partnership, Wilbur went on to say, “WSI is pleased to have an outstanding solution for mariners to access The Weather Channel Marine’s high-quality data. The partnership with Maptech demonstrates our commitment to bring live marine specific weather graphics directly to the navigation station where boaters need it the most.”

H6 system may be first to be integrated

The release said the first system expected to be announced as part of the integration agreement is Raymarine’s H6 marine system.

H6 is Raymarine’s integrated marine navigation, radar, information and entertainment system that employs a user interface to bring together the information needed to navigate and maneuver a boat, along with an entertainment facility, CCTV camera coverage and ‘Lifeline’ – the first failsafe integrated ‘man overboard’ warning system, the release said.

Maptech customers who purchase the i3 display and The Weather Channel Marine will be able to view continuously updated WSI NOWrad weather radar, sea-state conditions, storm tracking and special marine weather forecasts directly on Maptech’s navigational charts and the i3 display, according to the release.

The Weather Channel Marine automatically delivers up-to-date marine weather information and near-term marine forecasts to any commercial or recreational vessel equipped with a special purpose marine antenna, data receiver and compatible Chartplotter or Windows PC, the company’s press release said.

The graphical marine information offers WSI’s full color, animated NOWrad® Doppler weather radar, sea state conditions, storm tracking and, most importantly, coastal and offshore forecasts. Forecast precision is aided by marine data gathered from a proprietary network of marine buoys, as well as island and coastal-based aviation weather forecasts.

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