Radio Technology News

Hamburg Süd is introducing its future use of Remote Container Management (RCM) with full transparency in real time as well as significantly increased efficiency for refrigerated transport chains.In recent months, all the reefer containers used by Hamburg Süd have been outfitted with RCM technology, said the international logistics service sector.Using satellite and mobile radio technology, RCM makes it possible to monitor the refrigerated container and the condition of the cargo inside it – including its location, temperature profile, relative humidity, and concentrations of oxygen and CO2 – around the clock and in real time. In addition…

Norwegian start-up technology firm ScanReach is set to redefine safety standards at sea with In:Range, a unique system capable of locating anyone on a vessel or offshore installation in real time. The plug and play technology is simple, easy to install, low cost and, according to the team behind it, could save countless lives at sea. With In:Range ScanReach has solved a problem nobody else has. The firm has created a system and technology capable of sending and receiving data signals wirelessly through any structure, including steel. Utilising a combination of advanced radio technology and intelligent software algorithms and protocols, signals sent from bracelets worn by crewmembers are picked up by sensors that simply plug into standard power points.

The risk of cyber attacks targeting ships' satellite navigation is pushing nations to delve back through history and develop back-up systems with roots in World War Two radio technology. Ships use GPS (Global Positioning System) and other similar devices that rely on sending and receiving satellite signals, which many experts say are vulnerable to jamming by hackers. About 90 percent of world trade is transported by sea and the stakes are high in increasingly crowded shipping lanes.

One of Australia’s most important economic gateways will soon house a state-of-the-art shipping management control system to be installed at Port Hedland, the world’s largest bulk export port. The system includes a command and control system integrated with advanced radar, long-range closed circuit TV and voice radio technology to safely manage and guide thousands of ship movements in and out of the tidally constrained port with pinpoint precision. The Vessel Traffic Service (VTS)…

The world of AIS can be confusing to newcomers and experienced professionals alike. What is AIS? What data does it gather? How can it help my business? Do I need AIS if I don’t have a business? Class A or Class B transponders? Do I actually need it? There’s a plethora of questions from those looking to get the most out of their tracking tools, or from those looking into entering the maritime industry. The following is a comprehensive guide to AIS that covers a wide range of topics from specific AIS units to getting the most out of the data gathered.

With most offshore wells in Brazil located between 30 and 300 km from the coast, communication with offshore assets has not always been straightforward or reliable. Some operators and service providers still use traditional maritime VSAT services for coverage offshore Brazil, yet the introduction of Microwave radio has led to a much better level of quality and reliability in high-bandwidth voice and data communications. Claudio Paschoa, Maritime Reporter’s correspondent in Brazil had an interesting conversation with Arild Fotland, head of Ceragon’s Oil and Gas Division, about the advantages of Microwave radio communications for offshore operations in Brazil. Fotland joined Ceragon in 1978 and has been stationed all over the world.

Cavotec says it has supplied an integrated system of radio remote control (RRC) units for a new ferry, 'Braheborg', on the Gränna-Visingsö service. The system will operate 8 lanes of traffic lights, a road barrier and hydraulic road decks on the Swedish car ferry. The ferry service links the island of Visingsö to the mainland at the town of Gränna in central southern Sweden, with some forty sailings daily. The Cavotec system consists of four MC-3200 RRC terminals  fitted with a radio link, and base units installed at Gränna and Visingsö.

Software Radio Technology plc (“SRT”} announce it has signed an AIS supply agreement with Transas Navigator (“Transas”) of Russia with an initial frame order for Class A products worth US$1.25 million which is expected to be delivered over the next twelve months in minimum call-offs of US$250,000. The Russian maritime authorities have recently announced a national mandate which is expected to require most commercial vessels to fit a Class A or Class B AIS device over the next five years. SRT understands that the initial requirement under the mandate is for Class A devices and that it will affect an estimated 4,000 vessels over the next one to two years with a further 25,000 vessels expected to require a mixture of Class A and B devices within the five year timeframe.

Clear-Com, a voice communication systems company, has announced that Broadcast Technical Services (BTS), an integrator of broadcast services for industrial marine ship suppliers, has selected the Clear-Com Encore™ partyline and Tempest®2400 digital wireless intercoms as its communication systems of choice for clients. The combination of the wired Encore system and 2.4GHz band wireless Tempest2400 is designed to help staff members complete tasks that run the gamut from standard oil rigging to environmental cleanup.

Dr. Ir. Sluiman, of eXpert ICT, is a naval reserve officer assigned to the Naval Cooperation and Guidance for Shipping (NCAGS) organization of the Netherlands. All analyses and views expressed in this article are those of the author. Communication between ship and shore is essential for the efficient operation and management of ships. The wireless systems to communicate from and to ships, however, are not always secure and the confidentiality of the communication may be invaded. Owners, operators, managers of vessels and shipmasters should be aware of this risk when using a communication system. Information theft by competitors may erode competitive advantages and could damage relationships with customers, information theft by pirates and terrorists may lead to attacks on ships.

VT iDirect, Inc., a company of VT Systems Inc, announced that Thrane & Thrane A/S has implemented the iDirect satellite communications platform to support its customers' growing need for high-speed connectivity at sea. Thrane & Thrane is a manufacturer of equipment and systems for global mobile communication based on satellite and radio technology. iDirect is a provider of satellite-based IP communications technology. Thrane & Thrane's newly launched Sailor 900 VSAT system provides a range of fixed broadband data packages, going up to 1024 kbps downlink/256 kbps uplink, and supports multiple voice channels at competitive rates. The system equips ship operators with always-on broadband connectivity to expand crew communications…

SeaWave LLC released its newest maritime communications software, SeaWave Navigator Version 1.1. SeaWave Navigator is a low-cost, user-friendly communications solution, providing Internet e-mail, NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) color weather charts, NOAA text weather forecasts, and other communication services to professional mariners. SeaWave Navigator is the software component of SeaWave’s marine communications system, which utilizes high frequency (HF) radio technology to securely transmit digital data to vessels at sea. Eliminating the need for costly capital investment, SeaWave Navigator employs standard Single Sideband (SSB) hardware and does not require specialized and expensive equipment.

After over 30 years of service to mariners across the United States, MariTEL is discontinuing Marine radio voice communications service, effective June 6, 2003, citing rising operating costs and declining service revenues. “MariTEL appreciates the opportunity to serve the marine industry over the years. I sincerely hope that MariTEL service has been useful and regret that this action is necessary,” said Dan Smith, President and CEO of MariTEL. “Over the past decade, the coastal radio station voice communications market has been eroded by the proliferation of public mobile services (cellular and PCS), satellite communications, and other commercial mobile radio services.