SATCOMS NEWSPiracy calls on Iridium now free of chargewww.iridium.comwww.thrane.comAs part of its anti-piracy initiative Iridiumreports that it has made all calls from shipsequipped with its communications terminalsto the UK Maritime Trade Operations(UKMTO) centre free of charge, effectiveimmediately.The UKMTO office in Dubai is the primarypoint of contact between merchantshipping and naval forces patrolling thehigh piracy risk zone off the Somali coast.UKMTO has direct communication toall naval assets in the area and plays a keyrole in coordinating the naval responsewhen pirates board and attack ships.Under Iridium’s calling plan, all callsto the UKMTO +971 number will be connectedthrough the Iridium network freeof charge.“As a service to our important maritimecustomers, we strongly support theimprovement of communications for shipswho may encounter piracy,” said DanMercer, vice president and general manager,Europe, Middle East, Africa &Russia, Iridium.“Recognising that Iridium can providea critical communications lifeline in apotentially life-threatening situation, it isour responsibility to support the crew byremoving any barriers to free and opencommunication with authorities.”Iridium notes that it has been workingwith its partners to outfit an increasingnumber of ships with ‘citadels,’ wherecrews can take refuge and wait safelywhen pirates board.A key element in the citadel strategy isa stand-alone, secure communications linkto the outside world, so the crew can connectwith rescue operations.Thrane & Thrane has announced thelaunch of a non-SOLAS voice distresscalling system using FleetBroadband,via its ‘SAILOR 3771 Alarm PanelFleetBroadband’.Inmarsat says that the company’srecently launched Voice Distress (Non-SOLAS) Calling service provides full priorityaccess in both ship-shore and shoreshipcommunication in emergency situations,together with pre-emption for distresspriority calls initiated by activationof the ’red button’.The service is able to interrupt nonurgentcalls once the distress button hasbeen activated and give full priority tosubsequent emergency communications.A voice distress call from theFleetBroadband system will be connectedto an operator at an MRCC (MaritimeRescue Coordination Centre). EachInmarsat-4 satellite region has a nominatedMRCC; RCC Australia, RCC DenHelder (Netherlands) and RCC Norfolk(USA), which assesses the call and directsdetails to a suitable rescue co-ordinationcentre closer to the scene of the incident.The SAILOR 3771 Alarm PanelFleetBroadband has been designed for integrationwith Thrane & Thrane’s SAILOR150, 250 and 500 FleetBroadband terminalsand is the first system in the market to providethe Inmarsat Voice Distress (Non-SOLAS) calling functionality.“Inmarsat has, throughout its existence,strived to provide the broadest and mostefficient means of enabling the seafarer tomake contact with the appropriate authoritiesin times of distress or trouble,” saysPeter Blackhurst, head of maritime safetySeveral companies are now offeringcitadel communication packages with aconcealed external satellite antenna andcabling that cannot be easily disabled bythe pirates on the ship.“The anti-piracy patrol zone is solarge that naval forces are seldom able tocome to the aid of a vessel under attackbefore the pirates take over the ship,” saidMichael Capocchi, president and CEOof Beam Communications, one of thecompanies offering Iridium-based citadelsolutions.“It becomes difficult, if not impossible,for a rescue attempt to be made withoutendangering the lives of the hostages. Thisis why it is critically important for militaryauthorities to confirm that all crewmembersare safely barricaded inside thecitadel before any attempt can be made tostorm the ship.”Thrane & Thrane launches FB voice distress systemservices, Inmarsat.“The new voice distress service willenhance safety for any vessel where theoption is fitted to its FleetBroadband terminals.We are also working towardsbringing the system to the IMO in order toestablish it as a full part of GMDSS in thefuture.”The SAILOR 3771 has a ‘red button’ which will activate distress calling,with priority and pre-emption, on FleetBroadbandBroadband by Powerline for shipswww.gentay.co.ukBritish IT supplier Gentay has launched awireless network solution for vesselsusing ‘Broadband by Powerline’ (BPL)networking technology.Gentay says it has devised a system forestablishing a large, stable combination ofa wired and wireless network on board avessel, using power cables to carry networktraffic.The network system developed by thecompany was subsequently tested in collaborationwith Wallem Group, anddemonstrated during sea trials that theBPL technology was equal to conventionalnetworks with regards to speed, capacityand stability, according to Gentay.The aim of the technology is to removecertain disadvantages which Gentay hasidentified in the current wired or wirelessnetwork options usually used on board,such as time consumption in installation,and the expense or difficulties of repairingfaulty networks.“Low cost practical networking solutionswill open the door to many applicationsthat will be of great use to the maritimeindustry but have been unaffordablebecause of the prohibitive costs of installingthe required physical network on board,”said Martin Nygate, director of Gentay.Mr Nygate notes that IP CCTV could beone prime example of an application thatcould be easily installed and operatedusing the BPL system.Integrated FB andVSAT service fromTelemarwww.telemar.seTelemar has launched a new integratedVSAT and FleetBroadband service, namedSeaCall Duetto, offering global satelliteconnectivity for a fixed monthly fee.The service is managed via the TelemarOffice Connect onboard server, whichcontrols selection of the different systemsand the transfer of data between shipsand shore.This switching is done automatically,so the user does not have to manuallychoose the appropriate satellite communicationsoption for their particular location.Various communications optimisationoptions are also managed by this service.While the FleetBroadband service willcome into effect in areas where Ku-bandcoverage is unavailable, Telemar says that,in its overall experience testing the newservice, the vessels using the system onlyneeded to switch over from the VSAT fora few hours over a period of some months.Telemar also says that it will soon beoffering the Duetto product with a numberof additional optional extras, such asits SeaView IPTV@sea and Vision@seaservices.These applications allow crews to viewmultimedia content from PCs or TVs andallow officers to communicate via videocalling through the use of video-ondemandand secured satellite capacity.Modular maintenance contracts canalso be included with the satellite communicationspackage.Elektrikom toexpand VSATcapacitywww.vsat.euwww.telenorsbc.comTelenor Satellite Broadcasting (TSBc) hassigned an agreement with maritime VSATprovider Elektrikom for the provision ofsatellite capacity from its 1°West orbitallocation.Utilising capacity on TSBc’s IS 10-02Spot 1, Elektrikom will manage and deliverVSAT services throughout Europe."The additional capacity on IS 10-02Spot 1 will be used for maritime VSATservices, providing shipping vessels,specifically in the Mediterranean, withmuch needed capacity to support additionalbroadband communication services,demanded by crew to stay connected at alltimes, whilst at sea," said Andre Eerland,CEO of Elektrikom."This is the first contract we have signedwith TSBc and look forward to workingwith them in the very near future to growour capacity requirements at 1°West."TSBc says that its next satellite, THOR7, due to commence commercial service in2014, should also expand the satellite servicesavailable to maritime customers via itsnetwork.<strong>Digital</strong> <strong>Ship</strong> June/July 2011 page 8
Integrated communications at Port of Antwerp<strong>Digital</strong> <strong>Ship</strong>www.portofantwerp.beThe Port of Antwerp has launched theAntwerp Port Community System(APCS), a collaborative venture providinga network of systems and solutions forelectronic communication in the supplychain.APCS is a project governed by theAntwerp Port Authority and Alfaport,covering the entire port, with the aim ofwww.vizada.comVizada has announced the launch ofVizada XChange, a new platform designedto provide a secure communications environmentthat integrates voice and broadbanddata for ship operations and crew.The platform supports data, voice,VoIP and local networks. The companyclaims that it enables ships to become ‘virtualmobile offices’ encompassing localarea networks and dynamic intranets foradministration and crew.Vizada XChange consists of a wall orrack mounted box component whichinterconnects on board IT with the corporatenetwork as well as a web portal. Theplatform incorporates voice, VoIP andbroadband data and is compatible withmaking the supply chains that interactwith the port more efficient, transparentand reliable.Various companies within the Antwerpport have, over the years, developed awide range of IT applications which havenow been brought together under APCSin an attempt to offer customers bettertransparency and efficiency in their supplychain.APCS, available for containers, break-Vizada launches XChangeother maritime communications connectivityservices (including InmarsatFleetBroadband, VSAT, etc.).<strong>Ship</strong> administrators can use the VizadaXChange portals to choose their connectivity,configure access for crew and captains,re-bill and split costs.“We’ve already seen some solutionsreleased in recent years, but VizadaXChange is so much more than just a box,”says Patrick Decool, director of new products,Vizada.“This is a complete service offer that wehope will change the way people managetheir maritime communications. VizadaXChange is not only versatile in its simplicity,but incredibly performant and Ireally believe that the end-users are goingto enjoy using it.”bulk and bulk, merges different IT applicationsinto one solution, which simplifiescommunication between Port Authority,Customs & Excise, shippers, forwarders,rail carriers and logistic service providers.“(The new system is) creating morewww.globalstar.comGlobalstar has announced that six newsatellites are being prepared for the secondin its series of launches under itssecond-generation satellite constellationprogramme.Launch services provider Arianespaceand satellite manufacturer Thales AleniaSpace have begun the necessary testingand integration process in preparationfor a July liftoff, which will use the Soyuzlaunch vehicle.Globalstar plans to conduct twoadditional launches of six satellitesper launch in 2011. Globalstar plansto integrate the 24 new secondgenerationsatellites with eight firstgenerationsatellites that were launchedin 2007.The new satellites are designed tosupport Globalstar's current line-up ofvoice, Duplex and Simplex data productsand services.transparency, along with faster and moreefficient exchange of information. APCSsupports part of the supply chain andbrings visibility to cargoes within ourport,” explains Alfaport chairman, WalterVan Mechelen.Globalstar plans launch of new satellitesGlobalstar’s planned July launch will bethe second in a series of four, with thefirst (pictured) successfully completed inOctober 2010. Photo: ArianespaceThe world’s most powerful alliance for FleetBroadbandAt the forefront ofMobile SatelliteServices for 30 yearsInnovative solutions toenhance standardsatellite communicationsOffering customers the mostcomprehensive productportfolio on the market• On-demand solutions for any size or type of maritimeoperation, anywhere in the world• 24/7 global customer support• World-leading suppliers through one of themost trusted and experienced providerswww.marlink.comSee how we can enhance your maritime satellite communications experience – contact MarlinkTel (24/7) +32 70 233 220 · Fax +32 2 332 33 27 · information@marlink.comOSLO • LONDON • HAMBURG • BRUSSELS • ATHENS • DUBAI • MUMBAI • SINGAPORE • TOKYO • WASHINGTON DC • HOUSTON<strong>Digital</strong> <strong>Ship</strong> June/July 2011 page 9
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