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Communications Systems News

11 Oct 2023

Inmarsat to Move Shipping Comms from Netherlands to Greece

Credit: wanfahmy/AdobeStock

British satellite communications company Inmarsat said on Wednesday it is nearing an agreement to move some of its ground communications systems from the Netherlands to Greece, resolving a conflict over 5G bandwidth use.The systems based in Burum, Netherlands, use the 3.5Ghz frequency range for emergency communications with sea traffic. Their location has been in doubt for years as the Dutch government plans to use the 3.5Ghz range for 5G telecommunications.Inmarsat said it received…

06 Oct 2023

Anschütz Delivers Navigation Systems to Multi-Purpose Vessels

Copyright Abeking & Rasmussen

Anschütz is delivering advanced, customized integrated bridge systems (IBS) to three multi-purpose vessels for the German Waterways and Shipping Administration (WSV) built by Abeking & Rasmussen (A&R).The vessels will run exclusively on LNG, with sophisticated systems supporting a wide-ranging mission profile.The IBS consists of six Synapsis NX workstations with chart radar, ECDIS and conning, providing advanced features for precise and safe navigation, while using another ECDIS as a planning station.

19 Jun 2023

SeaARCTOS Emissions Monitor Secures LR Type Approval in Principle

(Photo: SeaARCTOS)

Lloyd’s Register (LR) has awarded type approval in principle to SeaARCTOS for its emissions monitoring technology ARCTOS-1, which monitors carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) exhaust levels with a dedicated sensor attached to a vessel’s exhaust stack.Designed to provide transparency on emissions monitoring and help support compliance with local and regional sulphur regulations, ARCTOS-1 enables ship owners and operators to understand their vessel emissions…

02 Jun 2023

Barge Completes Autonomous Navigation Test in Busy Belgian Waterways

Credit: Martin Giskegjerde

Kongsberg Maritime said Friday it had completed a live trial of autonomous shipping technology in Bornem, Belgium, demonstrating the company's progress in fully autonomous systems.The test vessel, Zulu 4, an inland waterway barge owned by Blue Line Logistics NV, is equipped for remote-operated and autonomous transport demonstrations for the AUTOSHIP project, which is part of Horizon 2020, an EU research program.As part of the test, Zulu 4 maneuvered and navigated on unrestricted waterways, and it demonstrated berthing and unberthing capability.

27 Sep 2022

US Coast Guard Decommissions Bahrain-based USCGC Baranof

Bahrain USCGC Baranof (WPB 1318) moored pierside in Manama, Bahrain, Sept. 26, 2022, prior to its decommissioning. (Photo: Noah Martin / U.S. Army)

The USCGC Baranof (WPB 1318) was decommissioned during a ceremony aboard Naval Support Activity Bahrain, Monday.“USCGC Baranof’s exemplary service to our nation is a testament to both the Island-class platform and the crews that have manned Baranof over the past 34 years,” said Vice Adm. Kevin Lunday, commander of U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area, who presided over the ceremony. “Whether it was conducting law enforcement and search and rescue in the Caribbean, or deploying to the present-day homeport of Bahrain to support U.S.

31 Aug 2022

Maritime Data Usage Soars, Inmarsat Says

Ben Palmer, President of Inmarsat Maritime - ©Inmarsat

Data usage on commercial maritime vessels has jumped more than threefold since 2019, according to new communications analysis by maritime comms specialist Inmarsat.Inmarsat said the study results underline the shipping industry’s reliance on digital connectivity to enhance operating efficiency and safeguard crew welfare during a period of unprecedented disruption to seaborne trade.The internal study undertaken by Inmarsat, which says it connects more vessels than any other provider…

05 Jul 2022

Maritime Communications: Easier, Faster, Cheaper

(Photo: David Clark Company)

In November 2021, GTMaritime published a white paper: “Maritime Communications - A look over the horizon.” The report, available here, is built around three broad Sections – 1. “Basics of marine Communications;” 2. “The connected ship;” and 3. “Special services.”Then, each Section presents a closer look at various topics. The “Basics” section, for example, covers regulatory issues established by IMO treaties and national agencies. It presents the terms and concepts that define satellite systems and networks…

20 Apr 2022

KVH Reflects on Five Years of Maritime Connectivity as a Service

(Photo: KVH)

For decades, the only way to bring global satellite communications onboard a commercial vessel was with a CAPEX-intensive equipment purchase or a long-term lease, inhibiting fleet managers’ ability to adapt to varied operational needs. That changed five years ago when KVH introduced AgilePlans Connectivity as a Service, an innovative, all-inclusive communications subscription service.“We set out to remove the CAPEX barrier and enable accelerated deployment of communications systems aboard vessels around the world,” says Mark Woodhead, KVH executive vice president of mobile connectivity.

17 Feb 2022

Want to stop a Drug Smuggling Boat? Try out a High Power Microwave Weapon Systems

Nhan Bui, a statistician with the High Power Microwave (HPM) Weapon Systems Division at Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division, works on an HPM system. HPM is designed to be a safer alternative to other vessel stopping mitigations, using nonlethal methods.  Phouto courtesy Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division

Videos of U.S. military personnel stopping drug-smuggling boats are exhilarating and frightening. They are not Hollywood movies but real-life, dangerous encounters on the high seas. In each of those instances, the use of force applies. The High Power Microwave (HPM) Weapon Systems Division at Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) makes those encounters safer for everyone involved.“A significant portion of what we do focuses on vessel stopping,” said Kevin Cogley, HPM Weapon Systems Division head.

07 Apr 2021

OneWeb and The AST Group Partner to Broaden Access to Fast, Seamless Connectivity at Sea

(Photo: The AST Group)

Agreement marks next step in accelerating LEO connectivity for the global shipping and offshore industriesAs part of its mission to deliver low latency, ‘fiber-like’ connectivity to the maritime and offshore industries, Low Earth Orbit (LEO) broadband satellite communications company OneWeb, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with The AST Group (AST), a global leader in satellite communications systems.By working together, AST and OneWeb will offer fixed-land and maritime customers access to OneWeb’s fast…

30 Mar 2021

Mackay Marine to Rep Raytheon Anschütz in South Africa

Cape Town South Africa Peninsula and Port (Photo: Alain Proust, SA)

Mackay Marine said it finalized the agreement with Raytheon Anschütz GmbH, establishing Mackay Marine South Africa (Pty) Ltd. as a Raytheon Anschütz Sales and Service Distribution Partner.Although Mackay Marine South Africa is Mackay’s newest global branch (opened in September 2020), their technical and sales teams have long established relationships with marine customers in South Africa, formerly known as Dynamic Marine Systems.

12 Mar 2021

Huntington Ingalls Industries Wins US Navy ISR Contract

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) said Friday that its Technical Solutions division was one of 11 companies selected to provide development, technical, management and engineering services for Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Pacific’s Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) department. The indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity task order contract includes a three-year base term with a two-year extension option. HII will compete for task orders under the contract. The combined value of all potential task orders across the base and option years is $250 million.“This award reaffirms HII’s commitment to the Navy and NIWC’s ISR mission and the need for innovative and cost-effective solutions…

18 Dec 2020

Wakashio Owner: Mauritius Disaster Caused by Lack of Safety Awareness

Credit: ohim/AdobeStock

Japan's Nagashiki Shipping said on Friday the grounding of one of its large bulk carriers that caused an ecological disaster in Mauritius was due to a lack of safety awareness and a failure to follow rules as it pledged better training and oversight.The findings were assumptions based on interviews with crew members, the company said.A bulk carrier owned by Nagashiki and chartered by Mitsui OSK ran aground on a reef in Mauritius in July and began leaking oil, causing an ecological disaster in the pristine seas around the Indian Ocean island.

17 Dec 2020

KVH Partners with ioCurrents for KVH Watch Maritime IoT Solution

© EvrenKalinbacak / Adobe Stock

Data analytics firm ioCurrents will offer KVH Watch connectivity as part of its vessel maintenance and optimization servicesKVH Industries, Inc., announced today that ioCurrents, a provider of real-time, remote vessel analytics, has joined the KVH Watch Solution Partner program and will offer KVH Watch connectivity as part of its maritime services. The company is the creator of the MarineInsight platform, which uses machine-learning algorithms to support maritime maintenance and fuel optimization and has thus far relied on vessels’ existing communications systems for data transfer.

21 Oct 2020

Bandwidth Efficiency will Drive Maritime Digitalization

Applied Satellite Technology (AST)

Gregory Darling and Applied Satellite Technology (AST) works with shipowners to help them use their bandwidth more efficiently for ship business and crew needs.When Gregory Darling, Group MD, AST, worked in the marine industry in the 1980s with a marine survey company, he needed to get word to one of his ships off of West Africa to recalibrate its course and head off to a new job. But the ship had left port, and radio calls to the ship went unanswered, resulting in two days of lost time and revenue.“That was frustrating and costly…

10 Sep 2020

Rimfrost Taps Kongsberg for Krill Vessel Design and Equipment

Credit: Kongsberg Maritime

RLS PhotoNorway-based krill extraction and processing company Rimfrost has awarded Kongsberg Maritime a contract to design and equip a new 120-meter krill harvesting vessel destined for operations in Antarctica.The vessel will be built by Westcon in Norway, and Tersan Shipyard in Turkey. Westcon will complete the vessel at its facility in Norway after initial construction at the Tersan Shipyard in Turkey. It is expected that the 120m ship will be ready to begin operations in 2022.Kongsberg Maritime said that the contract has been awarded in several stages during 2020…

02 Jul 2020

Fincantieri Acquires Comms Equipment Supplier

(File photo: Fincantieri)

Fincantieri said it has acquired a majority share in communications equipment supplier Support Logistic Services (SLS) as the Italian shipbuilding group continues its push to diversify and expand its product and service portfolio.Rome-based SLS, which produces, installs and maintens radar, satellite and radio communications systems for military and civil applications, will be added under Fincantieri's information technology and electronics subsidiary INSIS, part of the group's newborn Electronics, Systems & Software Division.

30 Apr 2020

Fincantieri Wins $795 Mln US Navy Guided Missile Frigate Contract

An artist rendering of the guided-missile frigate FFG(X). The new small surface combatant will have multi-mission capability to conduct air warfare, anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare, electronic warfare and information operations. (U.S. Navy graphic)

Fincantieri Marinette Marine shipyard has been selected to build a class of up to 10 multimission guided-missile frigates (FFGs) for the Navy’s FFG(X) program, the U.S. Navy announced on Thursday.The Navy awarded a $795 million contract to the Marinette, Wis. shipbuilder for the design and production of one base ship plus nine option vessels, as well as post-delivery availability support, engineering and class services, crew familiarization, training equipment and provisioned item orders…

14 Apr 2020

Stena RoPax Ferry to Become a Hospital Ship

Stena Saga (Photo: Stena Line)

Stena RoRo said it is preparing to convert an out-of-work vehicle and passenger ferry into a hospital ship to assist in response to the coronavirus pandemic.The large roll-on/roll-off passenger vessel Stena Saga previously sailed on Stena Line's Oslo–Fredrikshamn route from 1994 but has been idled since the service was permanently suspended in March due to the COVID-19 outbreak and travel restrictions imposed by several countries.Seeking an alternative use for the vessel, Stena…

03 Feb 2020

BAE Systems Wins Navy Contract

British multinational BAE Systems was awarded a pair of contracts worth $300 million that will support the Navy in digital endeavors.The first is a $212 million contract from the Navy’s Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division to integrate and sustain critical communications systems. As per contract, BAE will design, acquire, integrate and test radio systems for new guided missile destroyers specifically, as well as other unspecified Navy and Coast Guard ships.Additionally, the company was awarded a separate $104.7 million contract by NAWCAD to provide engineering and technical services to support production, lifetime-support, and in-service engineering for the radio communications C5ISR (command…

21 Jan 2020

Kongsberg to Test Autonomous Ship Technology

Eidsvaag Pioneer, which will be equipped for remote-operated and autonomous transport as part of the AUTOSHIP project Photo: Kongsberg

Norwegian technology firm Kongsberg announced it will install and test autonomous ship technologies on two vessels in Europe's inland waterways and short sea coastal shipping routes.The AUTOSHIP project will aim to test and further develop key technology linked to fully autonomous navigation systems, intelligent machinery systems, self-diagnostics, prognostics and operation scheduling, as well as communication technology enabling a prominent level of cyber security and integrating the vessels into upgraded e-infrastructure…

08 Jan 2020

Telemar Launches BridgeLink

Photo: Marlink Group

Telemar, the Marlink Group company, launched its BridgeLink solution.Telemar engineers will use the BridgeLink Smart Maintenance Application to provide pro-active support to reduce potential down-time and increase efficiency of Bridge Electronics hardware as well as associated software maintenance and repair.“BridgeLink will enhance our efficiency in servicing our customers’ needs in terms of bridge electronics maintenance,” said Giorgio Santantonio, General Manager, Telemar Italy.

21 Nov 2019

Inmarsat, IT Partners Bring IP-based Broadband to Fisheries Market

Eric Griffin (Photo: Inmarsat)

Real-time fisheries management and governance to ensure robust quota compliance and safeguard sustainable fishing.Inmarsat, along with its partners Addvalue Innovation Pte Ltd (Addvalue) and Network Innovations, have launched a type-approved IP-based terminal and Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) for fishing vessels operating in United States (U.S.) waters. The Addvalue iFleetONE communications terminal and proprietary VMS have been type-approved in four of the five U.S. Fisheries Management regions, as required by the U.S.