Modernisation of GMDSS Equipment - by IMO

Cyber security unveiled for ship bridge equipment Totem Plus has upgraded its bridge and automation offering by adding cyber defence from Naval Dome. The two companies have an agreement to provide cyber security to PC-based navigation and automation, including radar, ECDIS, integrated alarm monitoring, voyage data recorder (VDR) and bridge alert management systems. These two Israel-based companies have supplied Naval Dome security on a series of systems installed on a 5,000 TEU container ship, including an integrated monitoring, alarm and control unit, VDR and ECDIS. Totem Plus chief executive officer Azriel Rahav said this is the maritime multi-layer cyber defence solution for its navigation and automation systems. “I do not think any other ECDIS provider can offer this level of security without impacting performance,” he claimed in a statement. Naval Dome can also be offered as a standalone device, “It does not have to be integrated, so it can be used with any ...

The GMDSS Manual provides, in a single comprehensive publication, an explanation of the principles upon which the GMDSS is based, the radiocommunication requirements and recommendations for its implementation, the operational performance standards and technical specifications to be met by GMDSS equipment, and the procedures for and method of operation of the various radio services which form the GMDSS and the Master Plan for the GMDSS. A description of the development and the concepts of the GMDSS  • A description of the components of the GMDSS, the carriage requirements and the operational procedures  • Excerpts from the relevant SOLAS regulations for the GMDSS  • Supporting resolutions and circulars relevant to the GMDSS  • The IMO performance standards and related ITU -R Recommendations giving the technical detail of the radio equipment • The Joint IMO/IHO/WMO Manual on Maritime Safety Information (2015)  • The NAVTEX Manua...

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), in collaboration with Japan Radio Co (JRC) and JSAT MOBILE Communications, reports that it has successfully tested a new system to share shipboard data contained in the Voyage Data Recorder (VDR) with shore based offices, connecting the ship with shore via Inmarsat Fleet Xpress. MOL conducted the test using one of its operated vessels, and was able to receive and monitor information collected by the VDR on shore, including data from a variety of onboard systems, engine performance data, and vessel positioning data using the ECDIS. The Japanese shipping company says that any past data stored on the VDR can also be accessed and transferred to shore as required using the vessel satellite communications system. MOL expects to use this new facility to enhance safety by providing decision support from shore, and to improve incident response by being able to reproduce a vessel’s movements prior to an incident in a land-based ECDIS, alongside its v...

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 ...