Modernisation of GMDSS Equipment - by IMO

Indian Register of Shipping (IRClass), a leading classification society, has announced the formation of a special purpose vehicle –  ‘Centre of Excellence in Maritime and Shipbuilding’ (CEMS)  in association with Ministry of Shipping and Siemens.  In view of demand of various industries within the maritime sector, the current market scenario and the effect and needs of Sagarmala projects (to bridge the skill gap and for up skilling of the current workforce) the need for a Centre of Excellence (COE) in shipbuilding and maritime sector was strongly felt.  The Centre of Excellence will primarily cater to the need for design of commercial ships in India for seagoing, coastal and inland waterways operation. This would support various Indian shipyards for their ship design needs for basic design and detailed working design for production. The centre will also study the market needs and develop appropriate ship designs catering to the requirements for the developmen...

Consolidation in the maritime satellite communications sector has accelerated in 2017, with the latest deal involving OmniAccess being swallowed up by the owners of Marlink. These mergers and acquisitions mean there are fewer providers of VSAT than there were just two years ago. This restricts owners’ options for broadband communications at a time when the number of maritime VSAT units are rapidly increasing. But, it provides opportunities for the smaller players to gain market share. Marlink’s owners Apax Partners signed an agreement last week to acquire a majority stake in OmniAccess, which is a leading provider of VSAT to superyachts. Marlink is a leader in VSAT and IT network management to commercial shipping and passenger ships, but it was not strong in yacht satellite communications. The combined group supports more than 4,000 VSAT units and generates around US$500M annually. It also operators within seven teleports located in Norway, Spain, Germany, Hawaii, Austral...

Intelsat delivers more high-throughput maritime coverage Intelsat is preparing to bring its next EpicNG satellite into operation, which will provide new broadband VSAT coverage in the southern Atlantic Ocean. This will include an extension of broadband to seas that are increasingly visited by expedition cruise ships. According to Intelsat director of mobility in Europe Andrew Faiola, its IS-37e satellite will be commissioned in Q1 2018 with Ku-band widebeam coverage that is augmented with spot beams in both C-band and Ku-band. Some of this coverage will be over the Falkland Islands where there will be offshore projects in the future. There will also be connectivity from Argentina and Chile to Antarctica, specifically for research vessels and cruise ships to use. “Expedition cruise shipping is a fast-growth sector and it is important to connect these vessels,” said Mr Faiola. “It is something we have been thinking about for some time.” Intelsat’s 37e was successfully p...

Connected ships can act as catalysts of digital change towards smarter shipping and intelligent fleet management, believes Inmarsat CEO Rupert Pearce Inmarsat chief executive Rupert Pearce believes unprecedented change is coming to the global maritime industry from a worldwide technological revolution that is driven by broadband communications. He expects this will bring digital disruption and enable owners to develop smarter ships and experience intelligent fleet management. “The changes we are seeing are extraordinary and are being experienced across virtually every sector and every region,” he said in November, while opening a new Inmarsat service centre in Ålesund, Norway. He highlighted three technology trends that are driving these developments: the proliferation of smart devices, an explosion of cloud-based applications that serve these devices and the next generation of communications networks. “These forces are shifting the tectonic plates of our world,” said Mr ...

Saab has received an additional order from General Dynamics for delivery of its  Sea Giraffe AMB  naval radar for the US Navy’s Independence-class Littoral Combat Ships LCS 28 and LCS 30, the company announced on 23 November. Designated AN/SPS-77 in US service, the Sea Giraffe AMB is a multi-role, medium-range, 3D surveillance radar system for naval applications. It provides simultaneous air and surface surveillance, and is suitable for demanding naval environments from the littorals to blue water operations. The company has also received an additional contract from General Dynamics with options for delivery of another 11 systems in the LCS programme through 2024. Erik Smith, president and CEO of Saab Defence and Security USA, said: ‘The Sea Giraffe AMB is currently being delivered to five classes of US Navy surface ships as a part of three separate US Navy programmes, and this follow-on LCS contract further strengthens Saab’s position as a premier radar supplier for...

Cobham SATCOM has created an integrated below decks system to simplify Inmarsat Fleet Xpress installations that use dual Ka-band antennas to combat satellite blocking from the ship structure or other deck equipment. The new system can integrate two SAILOR 100 GX antennas on a single SAILOR GX modem unit (GMU) and automatically switch between those antennas, rather than requiring the installation of two modem units alongside a mediator to manage switching. The GMU also controls fail over to Fleet Broadband when out of Ka-band coverage. Cobham says that this set-up should significantly reduce the cost and complexity of dual antenna installations of this type, eliminating the need to add a 19-inch rack unit to house the below decks equipment previously needed to operate a multiple-antenna configuration. The new system has already received Inmarsat type approval for use with Inmarsat GX satellite systems, and supports the single cable set-up used for SAILOR antennas. “Mu...

Royal IHC Delivers Largest Dredger Under IRClass Shanti Sagar 17, the largest dredger under IRClass, was delivered to its owners by Royal IHC in the Netherlands on November 20. The 8,000 cbm vessel is a trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD) constructed for Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Limited under the special survey of Indian Register of Shipping (IRClass). All the statutory certificates are issued by IRClass on behalf of St. Vincent & Grenadines flag, IRClass said. The ship is built in compliance with the applicable IMO requirements including SOLAS, MARPOL, Loadline and MLC 2006. It is the first in the series of two dredgers – the second vessel is expected to be delivered this week. Launched in March this year, the vessel belongs to the shipbuilder’s IHC Beagle® series which is designed with a number of standard features, including  “high-performance dredge pumps, an innovative hull shape and an ergonomically designed bridge layout a...

Classification society Indian Register of Shipping (IRClass) has received approval to undertake statutory surveys and certification for US and the EU. IRClass gained recognitions from US Coast Guard as well as European Union close on the heels of its accreditation for EU MRV services from RvA, an EU notified body. Having received recognition from European Union in August 2016, this recognition from US Coast Guard  “is a major step forward signifying its growing global recognition,”  the classification society informed. “This USCG recognition represents a major step forward for IRClass as we strive to join the ranks of truly global classification societies. With its stringent monitoring processes and focus on high performance and quality, USCG sets high standards of safety and quality in the global shipping industry,”   Arun Sharma, Executive Chairman,  said. Additionally, the IRClass received the authorisation from European Union Marine Equipment...

During their Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC), starting from September 1st and ending on November 30, the two major Port State Control regimes – Paris MoU and Tokyo MoU – will focus on navigational safety. USCG suggests ways for compliance in case vessels have not complied with the recommended ECDIS IHO standards, now that the CICs have begun.  According to the ECDIS Guidance for Good Practice, it is important where an ECDIS is being used to meet the chart carriage requirements of SOLAS and also to be maintained so as to be compatible with the latest applicable International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) standards. U.S. vessel owners/operators were encouraged to follow this guidance until end of August, before the commencement of CICs on navigation. However, these U.S. vessel owners/operators that have not met the recommended ECDIS IHO standards by Aug. 31, 2017 may wish to take the following steps when engaging on international voyages Obta...

IMO has published  Resolution A.1106(29) which includes the  revised guidelines for onboard operational use of shipborne automatic identification systems (AIS) These are operational guidelines, developed to promote the safe and effective use of AIS, and in particular to inform crews about their operational use, limits and potential applications. They should be taken into account when operating AIS. to know more on the IMO resolution, visit here.

DNV GL: New requirements for authorized service providers DNV GL announced that IMO has introduced new requirements for the maintenance, examination, operational testing, overhaul and repair of lifeboats and rescue boats, relevant for shipyards, suppliers, owners/managers, flag states of all ship types. From 1 January 2020, personnel carrying out maintenance, thorough examination, operational testing overhaul and repair of the following items shall be certified by an authorized service provider: Lifeboats (including free-fall lifeboats), rescue boats and fast rescue boats Launching appliances as well as on-load and off-load release gear for lifeboats, rescue boats, fast rescue boats and davit-launched life rafts An authorized service provider is an entity authorized by the flag administration in accordance with the requirements. The certification programme requires authorization for each make and type of equipment to be provided. It is important to note that t...

One thing that struck me were the similarities between the challenges maritime cyber is facing now and the challenges industrial controls security in utilities started addressing several years ago. Back in the day, ICS ran on dedicated, isolated networks. Network protocols were custom and arcane, security was non-existent in these safety critical systems. But it didn’t really matter that much, so long as physical security of the endpoints and comms was good. The threat vector and attacks seen were mostly grumpy, knowledgeable ICS/SCADA engineers. Now ships: complex industrial controls, but floating. Traditionally isolated, now always-on, connected through VSAT, GSM/LTE and even Wi-Fi. Crew internet access, mashed up with electronic navigation systems, ECDIS, propulsion, load management and numerous other complex, custom systems. A recipe for disaster. Yet there still seems to be an attitude of ‘it won’t happen to me’. So I took my talk down the route of exploiting satcom te...

Warning: Position-fixing is vital to ship navigational safety Bridge teams not fixing ship positions on charts often enough are putting their vessel and the environment at risk. Ships have been grounded partially because navigation officers use excessive onboard position-fixing intervals, according to insurers. This may not be an issue in open oceans, but it can be a problem if ships are sailing close to coastlines and islands. According to London P&I Club, infrequency of position-fixing has been a contributory factor in some recent costly claims. Loss prevention manager Carl Durow said officers of the watch may not detect an error in navigation early enough if they extend intervals of position-fixing. He said that this can be due to issues with ship safety management. “Club inspectors continue to note a lack of guidance in passage plans for the frequency of position-fixing necessary on individual legs of each voyage,” Mr Durow explained. “This is often accompanied ...

SafetyNET moves to the web Inmarsat has launched SafetyNET II, a service for Maritime Safety Information Providers (MSIPs) that forms part of an upgrade programme for the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS). The new broadcast and automatic reception service for Maritime Safety Information (MSI), extensively tested with six host countries before launch, enables MSIP’s to transition their communications to web-based messaging. As a web-based service, SafetyNET II will allow for broadcast scheduling, continual monitoring, message cancellation, multiple text input methods, and other usability improvements. Also now included are read-receipts, to allow Search and Rescue (SAR) personnel to know whether messages responding to distress calls have been picked up. “SafetyNET II is an important and highly effective, next generation safety service,” said Peter Broadhurst, senior vice president, safety & security, Inmarsat Maritime. “Direct input from MRCCs a...

SOLAS - Chapter II-2 - Maximise safety on board  BE READY Don't let your fleet be detained SOLAS Chapter II-2 requires every SOLAS-regulated ship built after 1st July 2014 to have the right fire safety equipment in place by 1st July 2018. Non-complying vessels can be detained, incurring significant costs and delays to their shipping schedule. Each Fire Party on board must have at least 2 dedicated UHF handheld radios All firefighting radios must meet SOLAS regulatory standards Failing this can result in ports detaining each contravening vessel Port fees can exceed $20,000 - $30,000 USD per day Cost of delays to shipping schedules can exceed USD$100,000 per day Fires can occur anytime, so you need the right equipment on board right now BE CERTAIN - Specifications of UHF Radio to be onboard When it comes to fire safety, leave nothing to chance Heavy-duty IP67 portable UHF radio ATEX Class II 2 G Ex ib IIB T4 IEC 60945 maritime approved Easy-to-read ...