Norway’s Kongsberg Maritime has rolled out two water jet control systems, the JCS Compact and JCS Extended. Based on the new JCS (jet control system) technology program, the two systems use standard components for lower costs and simpler operations.

The JCS Compact is for small- to medium-sized boats, with a custom control system to manage steering as well as reversing bucket and other options. The system works in tandem with the waterjets to provide smoother, more accurate control of the vessel.

According to Kongsberg, the Compact “can be used with either one or two control stations and a single waterjet propulsion unit or, for full redundancy and operational safety in the event of unforeseen issues, a dual-waterjet configuration.”

The Compact and the waterjet unit and hydraulic components are tested and calibrated before being sent to the buyer. The simple, small unit also features plug-in assembly and easy instructions for installation and startup. A 2.8-inch display screen shows steering angle and reversing bucket, with a high-contrast display that is visible even in glaring sunlight.

The JCS Extended is similar to the compact but on a larger scale. With a capacity of three control stations and four waterjet propulsion units, the system can increase the maneuverability of larger workboats by providing more precision in the waterjet hydraulic valves.

The Extended can also be hooked up to an optional GNSS antenna, with a number of other possible applications, like Auto Positioning, Anchor Point, Auto Heading and Trim Assist, as well as Park Mode. According to Kongsberg, Park Mode “enables hydraulic cylinder rods to be withdrawn to prevent fouling when vessels are docked in areas with a high concentration of bio-organisms.”

Control stations for the Extended have 7-inch display screens, with ergonomically updated design touches.