Pole Star Space Applications Ltd, provider of fleet management, ship security and asset monitoring systems, has released an upgrade to its DSAS Ship Security Alert System, featuring new hardware from SkyWave Mobile Communications.
The upgraded DSAS is designed to provide continuity of service and a smooth upgrade path for Pole Star SSAS customers as well as future-proofing their investment by routeing data traffic via the IsatData Pro network. The new Pole Star DSAS has been engineered to build on the quality of service provided by earlier transceivers, many of which are still in service from first installation. The new SkyWave IsatData Pro utilizes the global Inmarsat I-4 satellite constellation to provide remote management and communication with mobile and fixed assets worldwide.
Pole Star Product Manager, Commercial Shipping Paul Morter, said: “Since first release in 2003, our DSAS product has established an excellent reputation as a sturdy and robust unit and proven itself to be very reliable in service. A number of our clients have used this hardware in real-life threat situations and the equipment has always performed well. When we came to consider an upgrade it was critical to maintain the confidence of our customers as well as ensure that it met the requirements of SOLAS regulations.”
Pole Star worked with hardware manufacturer SkyWave to develop a DSAS unit which exceeded the previous models’ levels of performance and could provide class-leading reliability. IEC testing and fresh classification society Type Approval has been completed to ensure that the equipment meets regulatory approvals.
SkyWave Senior Vice President, Operations Dan Poirier, said: “We are delighted to partner with Pole Star and play a role in delivering SSAS connectivity to its customers world-wide. IsatData Pro is a robust and reliable machine-to-machine solution that provides the commercial shipping market with a stable platform for maritime safety now and in the future. We look forward to working with Pole Star to deliver on this vital service.”
The DSAS redesign process required Pole Star to produce a unit that could be retrofitted with the minimum of disruption, working to the same physical footprint as previous models, with no requirement for re-cabling or other structural modifications. “Pole Star wanted to be an early adopter of IsatData Pro technology and effective from May this year, all our DSAS units will employ the new transceiver. This makes the new DSAS effectively a future-proof option for Pole Star customers.” continued Mr Morter. “And because the shore user will continue to operate fleets with a mixture of old and new DSAS hardware in the short term, the Pole Star DSAS web application will support both systems with no software upgrades necessary.”
Installation of the new DSAS can be performed by the ship’s crew and the upgraded system promises faster message delivery. The unit continues to offer Pole Star’s market-leading product specifications, including 5-6 days of independent battery back-up and an interrupted alarm signal in the event of a security alert.