Marine Communications News

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…

The Canadian Coast Guard's (CCG) annual icebreaking season on the Great Lakes, which provides assistance to the shipping industry, is underway. Working in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) District 9, the CCG has two icebreakers assigned to the Great Lakes for the entire winter season: CCGS Griffon and CCGS Samuel Risley. These vessels are supported as required by additional CCG vessels after the St. Lawrence Seaway reopens in March 2022.Although the St. Lawrence Seaway, Welland Canal and Sault Ste.

The Canadian Coast Guard’s annual icebreaking season on the Great Lakes, which provides assistance to the shipping industry, is underway. Working in partnership with U.S. Coast Guard District 9, the Canadian Coast Guard has two icebreakers assigned to the Great Lakes for the entire winter season: CCGS Griffon and CCGS Samuel Risley. These vessels are supported as required by additional Coast Guard vessels during the spring icebreaking season.Although the St. Lawrence Seaway, Welland Canal and Sault Ste.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) is co-organizing a workshop with the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) to support the operationalization of e-navigation solutions, the first since Singapore’s election to the IALA Council in 2018.E-navigation, a concept driven by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and like-minded nations including Singapore, aims to make marine navigation safer and marine communications more reliable, as well as to reduce accidents and damage to the environment.Quah Ley Hoon, Chief Executive of MPA, said, “As one the world’s busiest hub ports with some 1…

Among the most important considerations in outfitting any fast attack craft is the critical nature of crew-to-crew communications. With David Clark, MetalCraft has long had that box ‘checked.’There are many obstacles facing boat manufacturers involved in the design and outfitting of patrol interceptor type vessels. This workboat segment is characterized by incessant demands for advanced design and new technology to accommodate the requirements of high performance and increasingly complex mission protocols.

For a long time there has been a deficit of trained maritime officers in Brazil, as for decades the only accredited training institutes were run by the Brazilian Navy, where a very limited number of prospective maritime deck and engine officers could be trained at its two training institutes in the country. That's all changing now with the Institute of Nautical Sciences (ICN) leading the way.With the discovery of the pre-salt in 2007 and the continued growth of the maritime and offshore sectors, the lack of qualified Brazilian officers became acute. For many years, and even today, most offshore captains and officers are foreigners, while there is a more significant number of local captains and officers in the merchant fleet.

The NMEA (National Marine Electronics Association) 2000 standards helped create a framework for safer, more reliable marine communications by streamlining the connectivity of boat engines, navigation, control, power distribution, water, waste and other mechanical and monitoring systems. Onboard connectivity translates into improved operator safety, better diagnostics, simplified maintenance and lower lifetime costs. Manufacturers recognize the value of electronics to distinguish their brand—and satisfy customers seeking connectivity at sea.

On a warm summer morning last July, boat owners and passersby were drawn to a craft not often seen in the sleepy harbor of Wickford, Rhode Island. Tied up at the dock was the new, 37-foot, Multi-Mission Interceptor (MMI) recently produced by SAFE Boats International, where it was making a stop along its promotional run down the east coast. The craft features a sleek, state of the art design and is fully equipped with best-of-breed technology and products from a variety leading marine companies, including Mercury Verado outboard engines, Raymarine navigation system, SHOXS Shock Mitigating Seating and FLIR gyro-stabilized multi-sensor imaging systems, to name just a few. For critical communications, SAFE Boats partnered with David Clark Company of Worcester, Massachusetts.

The Port of Prince Rupert has commissioned a new shore-based radar regime designed to safely accommodate the port’s growth in vessel traffic and international trade. Shore-based radar builds on the existing vessel traffic service that provides active vessel monitoring and navigational information to vessels at the Port of Prince Rupert. Transmitting data from three tower sites across the port’s coastal shores, the system provides coverage ranging from the northeast of Haida Gwaii to the Alaskan border. “The addition of radar improves the capability of the port to proactively monitor and manage vessel movement in the harbor,” said Don Krusel, President & CEO of the Prince Rupert Port Authority.

Marine communications specialist Ocean Signal and VDR manufacturer AMI Marine will introduce a new float-free EPIRB with integrated voyage data recorder (VDR) memory capsule at this year’s SMM in Hamburg. The Ocean Signal E101V provides a reliable and innovative solution for commercial vessels of 3000+ gross tonnage to store recorded data in a float-free capsule within their VDR systems, as required for compliance with the revised recommendation on performance standards for VDRs. Developed by communication and safety at sea experts Ocean Signal in partnership with AMI Marine, world-leaders in VDR design and manufacturer of marine electronic equipment…

SpeedCast International Limited, a global satellite communications and network service provider, and Beijing Marine Communications and Navigation Co. Ltd (MCN), a subsidiary of the China Transport Telecommunications & Information Centre (CTTIC), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for Strategic Cooperation (MOU). Under the MOU, MCN and SpeedCast will form a strategic partnership by integrating MCN’s VSAT network in Asia Pacific and SpeedCast’s global VSAT networks to provide global connectivity to the maritime industry. This partnership aims to provide seamless connectivity for both MCN and SpeedCast customers wherever they are, as well as providing a wide portfolio of applications enhancing productivity, crew welfare and safety.

Rear Adm. June E. Ryan, commander of the U.S. Coast Guard Ninth District, was welcomed aboard the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Samuel Risley by Assistant Commissioner Julie Gascon and Captain Signe Gotfredsen of the Canadian Coast Guard, Central and Arctic Region Monday. After a relatively mild winter on the Great Lakes escorting ships through ice and preventing ice jams, the Samuel Risley was upbound through the Soo Locks and the St. Marys River to Lake Superior for further icebreaking at the Port of Thunder Bay and buoy-tending duties.

Choosing next generation communication systems for professional marine operations can be a daunting task. Not to worry: John Haynes provides a primer. Over the past decade we have come to expect fast, seamless global communications from a single device that fits in our pocket. The age of the smart phone and tablet enables multiple voices talking in a conference call and real time transfer of data, ranging from documents to photos and videos. In the modern bridge, most crew members have a GPS in their pocket which can identify where that person is on the planet.

in Lloyd’s Register announced the appointment of Nick Brown, previously Director Business Development & Innovation, as the group’s new Marine Chief Operating Officer. Reporting to Marine Director Tom Boardley, Nick will be responsible for LR’s four global operating regions – Asia, Americas, Northern Europe and Southern Europe. David Barrow becomes Regional Marine Manager (RMM) for a new Northern Europe region while Apostolos Poulovassilis is RMM for Southern Europe, Middle East and Africa. Iain Wilson and Tim Protheroe remain in their Asia and Americas roles.

Citing a lack of preparation, bad weather and a mechanical breakdown as three important factors, the TSB today released its investigation report (M13N0001) into the loss-of-tow by the tugboat 'Charlene Hunt' of the [passenger ship] 'MV Lyubov Orlova' in waters off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador (NL). On 23, January 2013, bound for the Dominican Republic, the tug Charlene Hunt departed St. John's harbour towing the cruise ship Lyubov Orlova. The tug and tow travelled for approximately 19 hours, until they hit winds estimated at 40 knots and seas of 5 to 6 m. The heavy weather persisted and, at approximately 14:45 on 24 January, the towing arrangement between the tug and tow failed off Cape Race, NL.

KVH provides and Harvey Gulf employs possibly the most sophisticated on-board SATCOM and related service package on the water. That’s no accident. If quality service, high tech hardware and quality personnel are the common bonds shared by marine communications provider KVH and its customer Harvey Gulf International Marine, then the relationship is probably a match made in heaven. Harvey Gulf, already a long-time user of the KVH suite of services and equipment, is today converting every vessel in their rapidly expanding 60+ fleet to the latest and greatest equipment standard. From where they sit, that means KVH. For its part, the business relationship allows KVH to showcase to every other customer and potential user as to what is actually possible at sea in today’s environment.

Largest ever Marintec China 2013 hits New Records over 1,700 exhibiting companies and attracted 13% more trade visitors Hong Kong – December 23, 2013—Marintec China 2013, organized by UBM Asia and the Shanghai Society of Naval Architects and Ocean Engineers, was a tremendous success over the four days of the show from December 3-6, 2013. With the blowing of a whistle and pushing of the actuating lever, Marintec China 2013 officially began. The four-day exhibition and conference was unveiled and officiated by senior officials from the industry…

Utility, functionality, and safety all come together in David Clark’s wireless headset communication systems. For the soon-to-come North American Offshore Wind boom, there are lessons to be learned here, from across the great pond. When Mantsbrite became the sole U.K. distributor of the David Clark Marine Wireless Headset Communications Systems in 2012, one of the first users was Tidal Transit, a fast growing North Norfolk company providing a new generation of personnel transfer vessels for use by offshore wind farm developers. That’s because Tidal Transit selected Mantsbrite their first two state-of-the-art, purpose designed and built vessels with the best navigational aids available to enable the vessels to function safely and efficiently in the unfriendly waters of the North Sea.

Beam Communications Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of World Reach Limited, has entered into an agreement with Beijing Marine Communications & Navigation Company (MCN) for the supply of an initial $1M of Beam Inmarsat marine satellite terminals. This initial order follows the trial and now acceptance of the Beam terminals after MCN committed in July 2012 to undertake a trial deploying 200 Beam Oceana 400 and Oceana 800 marine communications terminals on fishing vessels in China, using the Inmarsat FleetPhone Service.

Maritime Broadband Inc. has announced  that Nordic IT has been appointed as agent of the Company’s groundbreaking C-Bird VSAT in Germany. Mary Ellen Kramer, CEO of Maritime Broadband, is very pleased to have Nordic IT Marine Communications (Germany) as an agent. “Working with Nordic IT offers Maritime Broadband the very best foothold in the important German marketplace. The company is extremely well respected in the shipping community in Germany. Nordic IT has over 800 vessels and shore-side users taking advantage of their optimized software and hardware solutions.

Maritime Broadband Inc. has appointed Nordic IT as  agent of the Company’s groundbreaking C-Bird™ VSAT in Germany. Nordic IT will use more than 10 years of knowledge in sales and support in the maritime industry to introduce the C-Bird™ system to their existing and new client base. C-Bird™ offers ship managers and owners a comprehensive solution with unlimited data and voice communications, providing a cost effective and unique alternative to existing systems. “Working with Nordic IT offers Maritime Broadband the very best foothold in the important German marketplace. The company is extremely well respected in the shipping community in Germany. Nordic IT has over 800 vessels and shore-side users taking advantage of their optimized software and hardware solutions.

Beam Communications receives an initial order for USD 170,000 from a China based satellite communications company. This initial order follows a commitment by the Chinese entity to undertake a short trial deploying 200 Beam Oceana 400 and Oceana 800 marine communications terminals on fishing vessels in China, using the Inmarsat FleetPhone Service. The trial will deploy 100 of the Beam Oceana 400 terminals and 100 of the Beam Oceana 800 terminals. The terminals were specifically designed to support the voice…

Alphatron Marine introduces the Alphaconnect Hybrid, a type-approved on board Telephone System (PABX) with integrated IP facilities. The new Alphaconnect 48/128 hybrid uses well known Alphaconnect technology in combination with cable saving IP technology to provide internal marine communications. A dedicated app is available, to allow a smartphone to integrate with the communication system on board.