FINAL REPORT - Stakeholders - Ofcom

6 Maritime Communications
6.1 Introduction
The requirements of the maritime industry depend heavily upon the economic
development and activity within this industrial sector. In recent years the sector has
shown some slight economic and industrial growth. Profit margins have improved and
financial investment in the sector is increasing. Developments and implementations of
new technologies have generally been restricted to the minimum needed to comply with
administrative and safety requirements.
In the short term most companies are likely not to have ambitious plans for the
implementation of new technologies for radiocommunications; however some small
projects might be initiated which are aimed to improve efficiency in the movements of
vessels, passengers, and freight.
Most freight and passenger operators agree that in the long term there is the need for the
further integration of maritime transport with inter-modal transport. This applies
particularly to freight transport and requires that no intermediate handling of goods takes
place at the modal switch, thereby reducing the total transportation time of cargo and
reducing errors in handling at intermediate steps.
Both in freight transport and in passenger transport, the trend towards the development of
inter-modal, door-to-door, services is one of the most important issues. This development
of inter-modal services, together with the enlargement of ships to gain economies of scale
advantages are probably the most important developments envisaged for the maritime
industry. Information is essential for the efficient planning and co-ordination of land
transport with maritime transport. Delays will increase the turnaround times of vessels in
ports, thereby decreasing the efficiency of the vessel and resulting in an increase in the
cost of transportation.
Efficient ship-shore communications and the availability of electronic navigational aids
can facilitate efficient planning of port activities and could help ensure that ships are
managed within designated time slots.
Developments in the integration of land-based information (fleet owner, freight operator
and fishing agency) with maritime/vessel-based information are required to achieve
optimal operational efficiency. This will lead to the creation of “integrated ship
management systems” and will improve efficiency of ship operations, which in turn will
reduce turn-around times in ports and therefore reduce operational expenses of fleet
owners.
Maritime transport has always been important to the United Kingdom as an island nation.
In general, the development of the transport industry depends heavily on the development
of the economy as a whole. Transport demand, for both cargo and passengers, for all
modes of transport has shown uninterrupted growth since 1970.
Maritime transport, and in particular maritime cargo transport, experienced a growth of
35% in the late 1970’s and the start of the 1980’s, but has diminished in absolute terms
slightly in subsequent years. Maritime transport is very important for trade between
Europe and America/Far East countries and for transport between the different European
countries.
Within the EU the European Commission has developed and is maintaining a Common
Transport Policy, which has been implemented in order to ensure that the transport sector
can take full advantage of the implementation of the Single Market.
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