Broadband Communications Are Far From All-at-Sea with GVF Maritime Insight Agenda

by Martin Jarrold

London, UK, June 4, 2012--Seventy per cent of Earth is covered by the oceans, but, although only very few of us occupy this part of Earth’s surface except on a temporary basis, we increasingly look to the seas as a resource for industry, commerce and leisure. Thus, the comparative hostility of the seas, in contrast to our populated land masses, does not diminish their vital, and increasing, importance as a means of transport for our globalised trade goods, as an important source of food supplies and of vital energy resources, as well as an environment for our entertainment pursuits. Indeed, it is a combination of its hostility and the increasing importance of the sea which now renders our ability to communicate effectively whilst on its surface of paramount importance.

The technology of communications and the exchange of information which it facilitates, continues to undergo accelerated development, and with the availability of advanced communications at sea it is now the case that the maritime communications environment is progressing fully, from a mainly narrowband communications arena, and into the broadband age.

The only way to communicate effectively whilst at sea is via satellite, and the technologies and services to support the increasingly sophisticated information and communications applications required – just as much afloat as on land – have become more widely evident in the communications solution marketplace.

Currently, the maritime communications environment can be fairly characterized as “highly dynamic”. Not only do we observe increasing numbers of ESV (Earth Stations on Vessels) supply contracts, many extending to maritime fleet-wide installations, but the deployment of VSAT systems – working in different parts of the frequency spectrum and using smaller antennas – and services – employing least-cost routing solutions – designed to support a myriad of applications: for fleet, vessel, and cargo management; for crew welfare and retention solutions; for charting and navigational requirements; and, for safety at sea, and other critical industry areas and requirements.

Against this backdrop, the GVF-EMP Conference Partnership– extended to include a collaboration with, and the participation of, InterManager, the international ship management association – has organized “Maritime Insights Europe 2012: Expanding Communications with Fixed & Mobile Networking Solutions to Further Horizons”,the 7th in a series of conferences to take a comprehensive overview of the multiple segments, and multiple facets, of the maritime communications market as it inevitably and progressively occupies the satellite broadband space.

Following InterManager’ssignificant contribution to the program of the 6thconference in the GVF-EMP Broadband Maritime Series in Singapore in February 2012, the Association brings to the program of the London conference the unique perspectives of the professional sea-faring community. These maritime sector perspectives, which will reflect the views of the InterManagermembership – managing more than 4,370 ships and responsible for some 250,000 seafarers– will also incorporate the contributions of other invited maritime organisations, such as InterCargo, InterTanko, and BIMCO, and will comprise one-half of a conference dialogue which will also include representatives of the broad satellite communications solutions sector.

The two-day conference program, taking place on 27thand 28thJune, will provide a comprehensive overview and analysis of various topics comprising the service provision and technology deployment of satellite-based narrowband and broadband communication solutions, including:

  • ‘Maritime Communications Demand & Supply: Understanding the Sector’s Dynamics’
  • ‘Segmenting Maritime Sector Communications Services: Who Wants What and Where?’
  • ‘Spectrum Shift: Satellite Operators, Network Providers & Deployment of New Global Broadband’
  • ‘Evolving the “Unlimited Broadband” Bandwidth Equation: New Evolutionary Trends in C, Ku, Ka & L Frequency Footprints for the Maritime Space’

The program will also examine the role of satellite communications in shipping fleet and vessel management, and crew management and welfare:

  • ‘Maritime ICT & Cost-Saving Integrated eProcurement Strategies’
  • ‘The Ocean-Going Office on the Bridge: Integrating Operational Ship Management Applications & Communications’
  • ‘The Communications Key to Efficient Fleet Management in the 21st Century: From Vessel Chartering to Capturing & Sharing Data Ship-to-Shore’
  • ‘VSATs at Sea & Designing Dedicated Targeted Solutions for Multiple Parameters: The Vessel Type, Company Type, Data Volumes, and Crew Requirement’
  • ‘Is Cloud Computing Part of the Future of Maritime Industry Satellite Networking?’

Also featuring in the program will be topics related to vessel safety, weather and navigation systems, including the implications for satellite communications of new maritime routing opportunities through northern/Arctic regions:

  •  ‘The Satellite Navigation and Satellite Communications Interface’
  • ‘Safety and Distress Maritime Communications Systems & Satellite Broadband: GMDSS in the Fixed & Mobile Environment’
  • ‘Weather Data Streams: Real-time Access & Dissemination of Local, Regional & Global Information’
  • ‘Satellite Networking & Expanding Maritime Communications for an Arctic Horizon’

Plus we will be including a focus on cutting-edge maritime satellite communications technology advances, through:

  • ‘New Maritime Antenna Technologies & Installation Training Resources: The Multi-Band Challenge in a Stabilised Market’
  • ‘High-Seas Networking and Hybrid Communications Solutions: Systems Resilience Profiles & Case Studies’

‘Evolution of Maritime Satcoms Service & Equipment: Technical Innovation for an Expanding Market’

And, other topics covering regulatory issues, and the development of an improved dialogue between communications solution buyers/end-users and solution providers will form part of the program:

  • ‘Regulatory Open Forum - Communications Inshore & on the High Seas: Who Makes the Rules? Who Enforces the Rules?’
  • ‘Shipping Key Performance Indicators’
  • ‘The Satellite & Shipping Industries: Enhancing the Supply & Demand Dialogue’

I have the pleasure of chairing “Maritime Insights Europe 2012: Expanding Communications with Fixed & Mobile Networking Solutions to Further Horizons”on 27thand 28thJune, which results not only from my connection with the GVF-EMP Conference Partnership, but also my role as Co-Chair of the GVF Maritime SatCom Forum (MSF), membership of which is open to all members of GVF active in the maritime communications space. A report and update on the active agenda and ongoing objectives of the MSFwill also feature in the conference program.

For further information about the conference, please contact the following representatives of GVF, EMP, and InterManager: Martin Jarroldof GVF and Chair of Maritime Insights Europe 2012 at martin.jarrold@gvf.org; Paul Stahl, Managing Partner of EMP at paul.stahl@uk-emp.co.uk; Capt. Kuba Szymanski, Secretary General of InterManager at kuba.szymanski@intermanager.org.

Readers may like to note that at time of writing the conference program is still open to proposals for speakers to explore the above topic areas. Interested individuals/companies engaged in the provision of maritime communications equipment and service solutions should contact the author at martin.jarrold@gvf.org.

----------------------------------

Martin Jarrold is Director of International Programs of the GVF.  He can be reached at martin.jarrold@gvf.org