NEWS   NEWS   NEWS

Russia to Expand Glonass by Year End  - 18/04/2007 
Russia will increase the number of satellites comprising its Glonass navigation system to 18 by the end of 2007, the head of Russia's Federal Space Agency (Roskosmos). Two carrier rockets are planned to be launched by the end of 2007, to put in orbit six Glonass navigation satellites. As a result, the Glonass orbital group will comprise 18 satellites. A full orbital group of 24 satellites will be ready for global coverage by the end of 2009. The head of Roskosmos also said that Glonass will be fully integrated with the U.S. GPS and European Galileo satellite navigation systems. The satellites currently in use are of two modifications - Glonass and its updated version Glonass-M. The latter has a longer service life of seven years. A future modification, Glonass-K, is an entirely new model based on a non-pressurised platform. Glonass-Ks' estimated service life has been increased to 10-12 years, and a third L-range frequency has been added.

NI Explosives Market - First Competition in 30 Years 
For the first time in over thirty years, quarry operators now have a choice of explosives suppliers. Its a limited choice but BQS can now offer operators site mixed Ammonium Nitrate. Boosters and Dets must still be purchased from your usual supplier for now.........

Sceptics & Experts 
They said it couldn't be done. Its over four years now since BQS offered its customers a low cost site mixed ANFO. OK, we all know its not waterproof but we will pump and if necessary, line blast holes, to maximise the use of ANFO - and reduce your costs. Roy Wallace, BQS Senior Partner explains, "This is the fifth year we've worked with site mixed ANFO and consumption hasn't reduced through the wet winter months. If anything , its increased".

We're Land Surveyors Too
Many of our Quarrying customers will not know that we have our own Survey Department. We've carried out land surveys for Odyssey and the Waterfront and undertake work for NIGEN, NIE, DOE, IDB, Water Service and the Rivers Agency. We've just completed a survey of the experimental wave power electricity generating station on the island of Islay, Scotland.

...and Minerals Surveyors...
We regularly undertake quarry reserve estimates, mineral valuation, minerals planning applications and environmental impact assessments.

...and Hydrographic Surveyors...
Using our 17 foot Orkney 520 or our 11 foot survey dingy, we've surveyed Bangor, Carrickfergus and Portaferry Marinas, Strangford Harbour. and positioned Drogheda Port new navigation light and Belfast Lough new navigation piles. Queens University are using our recent survey of Loch Ryan to study the effects of fast ferry wash.