Marine Tracking is often mandatory

Satellites make marine tracking possible

Marine tracking is different from GPS tracking on land. GPS works great at sea, because there are no (urban) canyons, nor trees that block the weak signals from the GPS satellites. But unfortunately there are no cell-towers at sea neither. So to communicate the output of a GPS receiver to a station on land, one cannot use cellular phone networks. Once a ship is 8 to 10 miles off-shore, any cellular phone ceases functioning. However there are many different satellite communication services that can assure the communication between the ship and land-stations. See Commercial Satellite Communication Services. For many ships a marine tracking system is mandatory.

To better understand the whole of regulations of which marine tracking is only one of the components, we have created a page concerning International Maritime Regulations.

Let’s summarize in short what is mandatory for which category of ships.

All ships over 500 gross tons are required to be equipped with a Ship Security Alert System (SSAS), which is capable of discreetly raising the alarm to the relevant authorities and tracking the vessel if the security of the vessel is compromised. This is part of marine tracking.

Under the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), all passenger ships, carrying more than twelve passengers, and all cargo ships over 300 gross tonnage on international voyages have to carry specified satellite and radio-communications equipment, for sending and receiving distress alerts and maritime safety information, and for general communications.

The exact suite of equipment depends upon the intended routes of your ship. A careful review of the new regulations is needed to determine the requirements applicable to each ship. A ship can sail in any of four sea areas, as defined below:
-Sea area A1. An area within the radiotelephone coverage of at least one VHF coast station in which continuous DSC alerting is available as defined by the International Maritime Organization.
-Sea Area A2. An area, excluding sea area A1, within the radiotelephone coverage of at least one MF coast station in which continuous DSC alerting is available as defined by the International Maritime Organization.
-Sea Area A3. An area, excluding sea areas A1 and A2, within the coverage of an INMARSAT geostationary satellite in which continuous alerting is available.
-Sea Area A4. An area outside sea areas A1, A2, and A3 (the sea around the North Pole).

Coastal vessels, for example, only have to carry minimal equipment if they do not operate beyond the range of shore-based VHF radio stations, but they may carry satellite equipment. However, some coasts do not have shore-based facilities, so although the ship is close to the shore, the area counts as Area A2 or A3. Ships which do go beyond Sea Area A1 have to carry MF equipment as well as VHF - or Inmarsat satellite equipment. Ships which operate beyond MF range have to carry Inmarsat satellite equipment in addition to VHF and MF. Ships which operate in area A4 have to carry HF, MF and VHF equipment.

SOLAS now requires that Inmarsat C equipment have an integral satellite navigation receiver, or be externally connected to a GPS receiver for marine tracking purposes.

Digital Selective Calling

The IMO also introduced digital selective calling (DSC) on VHF, MF and HF maritime radios as part of the GMDSS system. DSC is primarily intended to initiate ship/ship, ship/shore, and shore/ship radiotelephone and MF/HF radio telex calls. DSC calls can also be made to individual ships or groups of ships. DSC distress alerts, which consist of a preformatted distress message, are used to initiate emergency communications with ships and rescue coordination centers.

IMO and ITU both require that the DSC-equipped VHF and MF/HF radios be externally connected to a satellite navigation receiver. That connection makes marine tracking possible and will ensure accurate location information is sent to a rescue coordination center if a distress alert is ever transmitted.

The Coast Guard believes VHF, MF and HF radiotelephone equipment carried on ships should include a DSC capability as a matter of safety. To achieve this, the FCC requires that all new VHF and MF/HF maritime radiotelephones type accepted after June 1999 to have at least a basic DSC capability.

A DSC-equipped radio cannot be interrogated and tracked unless that option was included by the manufacturer, and unless the user configures it to allow tracking.

The Digital Selective Calling (DSC) radio is a component of GMDSS that may be used by recreational boaters. As of June 17, 1999, all new models of marine radios (other than hand-held) produced for sale in the U.S. were required to have DSC capability. Radio manufacturers may however, continue to produce non-DSC capable radios approved prior to this date.

DSC radios are readily identifiable by the distinctive, dedicated red button marked “DISTRESS”, many with a protective lid or cover.

To further enhance safety, interfacing a GPS or Loran with the DSC radio is highly recommended. The automated Distress message usually provides information as to the identity of the vessel, nature of the distress, location of the vessel, and sounds an alarm at other DSC equipped stations.

Once you have connected a GPS receiver or chartplotter to your DSC-equipped radio, you should also use it for navigation, of course, but marine tracking is the real goal.

Marine Tracking Solutions

Marine tracking for ships that have to comply with International Maritime Regulations is a matter for professionals and often requires important investments by the ship-owner. We will only mention some of the most important manufacturers of GMDSS compliant equipment.

GMDSS compliant radio-communication equipment

Well known are the Thrane & Thrane Capsat radio systems for SSAS, GMDSS, Inmarsat C and Inmarsat Fleet F77, F55 and F33 as well as Maritime Radio on Inmarsat Mini-M and Mini-C.

Furuno has several GMDSS Compliant Communications Consoles for Sea Areas A1/A2 and A1/A2/A3 as well as other GMDSS compliant devices.

From SEA Inc. comes the SEA 300 GMDSS Console System for Sea Area A3 as well as a full line of VHF and single sideband marine communications equipment.

JRC and SKANTI have GMDSS radios/phones for Sea Areas A1/A2.

The Tron TR20 from Jotron is a portable GMDSS VHF Transceiver for Sea Area A1.

The Barrett 980 DSC Class ‘E’transceiver is suitable for yachts and motor vessels that do not require compulsory fitting of Class A GMDSS equipment but want the safety coverage offered under the international GMDSS system.

Marine Tracking for the rest of us

Andronics' Ltd. marine tracking lets you access information on your vessel’s position, speed and direction of travel at any time by simply logging onto a dedicated, secure website. LEO-Marine equipment uses Low Earth Orbit satellites for communication, GPS and the Internet for a cost-effective, reliable, global fleet management system. Marine tracking for private yacht owners and commercial fishing fleets.

SASCO Inc. uses Orbcomm’s low earth orbiting communication satellites for an economical Satellite Communications and Marine Tracking solution for the Marine Industry. For Commercial Fishing/Shrimping Trawler Fleets, the Trawler Fleet Tracker enables you to get vessel positions, voyage tracking, and catch information. The built-in messaging system allows private communications between your office and the vessels in your fleet.

Affordable two-way e)mail communication (while at sea) enables you to stay in contact with your Yacht Delivery Crews. Advantages include: Weather reports and advisories, itinerary changes and instructions, safety purposes, and personal messaging.

On a Recreational Cruise you can send and receive text messages to and from your family and friends on the Internet. Positioning interval option would maintain your most recent position that may be forwarded to a designated recipient of your choice.

Satamatics’ technology and services provide seamless worldwide coverage for the remote marine tracking of maritime vessels, whether in port or on passage in any ocean. The on-board communications technology, which utilizes Satamatic’s ultra-compact SAT 101 satellite terminal, enables the location, speed and heading of vessels to be tracked and monitored from any desktop or laptop with Internet connection.

Information delivery is via Inmarsat’s constellation of communication satellites, providing operators, owners and crew with accurate reports of their vessel’s position and status, wherever they are. The service can include sending position reports to a marine tracking application, and the automatic delivery of programmed warnings to indicate alerts, alarms or incidents that warrant action.

World Communications Center (WCC) offers a marine tracking system that not only meets the Ships Security Alert System (SSAS) regulations, but allows for an end-to-end solution for possible policies to come. Using ASE’s MariTrack, monitor the transportation of your fleets via the Internet using Iridium’s truly global all-digital satellite technology.

Custom Tracking marine tracking solutions are designed specifically to address fishing fleet requirements. It combines GPS, satellite communication, instant messaging and web-based mapping, that provides the fleet manager accurate information about the activities of his vessels on a day to day basis.

If you are running a boating hire business, such as house boats or pleasure yachts, the Custom Tracking system will allow you to identify the exact location, travel speed and direction of each of your vessels. Additionally the system can report on the bilge pump, fuel levels and battery power so that your hirers never get stranded.

Vistar’s flagship product, GlobalWave, provides customers with satellite data communication service throughout North America, Mexico, Central America and the Carribean and around the globe. This GlobalWave service provides unparalleled marine tracking and management for mobile and non-mobile applications.

Vistar's GlobalWave system transmits, receives and collects vital information about your non-mobile and mobile assets; information that you request, either on an ad hoc basis or according to a schedule. Information will also be sent via alarm should your asset require immediate attention. Operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the GlobalWave service also offers you up-to-the-minute global position reports thanks to its GPS capability.

The rk3050si marine tracking system is specifically designed for ocean-going vessels. With satellite and SiRF GPS technology, the rk3050si by Remote Knowledge (www.rkiq.com) keeps you connected around the dock and around the world. While aboard your vessel, the rk3050si’s Easy-To-Use, Water Resistant User Interface Terminal (UIT) is intuitively programmed with pre-set options that address the most common problems boaters face on the water (i.e.: requests for marine assistance, low battery, high water). In addition to its short-text messaging capabilities, the UIT sounds an alarm to alert you when these common problems occur. The rk3000 series guards your vessel. With its optional onboard sensors it can monitor a range of important activities and functions. It can then send an alert to your service provider, marina or customized contact list, to notify them of any unauthorized movement of your vessel. You and your vessel can be connected to anyone of your choosing, through a network of leading satellite, cellular and GPS technologies. Communications Platforms: rk3010s – Sprint enabled; rk3050si – Iridium & Sprint enabled; rk3051i – Iridium enabled.

Omni Tracking Systems combined GPS, radio/satellite communications and graphical information systems into the real-time Vessel and Vehicle Monitoring System (VMS). Monitoring fishing fleets is an important application for VMS. In addition to tracking the position of each individual vessel, each vessel may also automatically transmit its fishing logs via Inmarsat-C enabling better understanding and management of ocean resources.

European Datacomm offers high quality, cost effective worldwide voice and data communications next to tracking, tracing and monitoring of fixed and moving assets using satellite and GSM based communication networks. Ideal for fleet management, the world wide marine tracking and tracing satellite services provide fully-featured sensor-based monitoring and communication services.

A small communicator attached to your mobile equipment, vehicles, vessels or remote sites allows you to keep track of their movements and status, anywhere in the world.

Comtech Mobile Datacom uses small satellite transceivers (MT-2011) to provide communications service between remote, fixed-site or mobile locations and customer ground facilities. Comtech Mobile Datacom offers two-way data communication and Global Positioning System (GPS) geolocation services worldwide.

SARS is a platform-agnostic software solution, meaning it can be configured to work with any communications service or data communicator hardware. A small, shoebox-sized piece of hardware connects your assets with the communications provider of your choice.

SARS can interface with your existing hardware or will connect you with a hardware partner that can communicate seamlessly with SARS infrastructure. The hardware can stand alone and submit basic GPS-based location data, or can interface with an on-board computer to transmit more complicated information.

Pole Star Space Applications Limited is the proprietary provider of PurpleFinder, the leading web-based solution for maritime fleet management, maritime security and maritime domain awareness operations.

The specific products include DSAS, a SOLAS XI-2/6 compliant Ship Security Alarm System (SSAS) and Reporter, a ship/vessel marine tracking and emergency SOLAS XI-2/14 compliant Long-Range Identification and Tracking system (LRIT).

The SYSM system is an alarm and monitoring service using satellite communications to increase the security of your vessel both when you are onboard or away from the vessel. The SYSM system itself is comprised of the ‘Control Module’ with a number of owner specified sensors connected to it.

If you wish to expand your system to monitor and view certain events on board, a PC can be connected. Position of the vessel can also be monitored via the Internet.

SkyWave provides global asset tracking, monitoring and control solutions over land and at sea using Inmarsat’s low cost, ‘SMS’ satellite service (D+). SkyWave’s transceivers are the smallest Inmarsat satellite transceivers in the world.

A key feature of the SkyWave DMR family of transceivers is the configuration and programming capabilities that allow them to operate autonomously and be configured either locally or over the air.

The Star-Tracking Ocean Security System is a yacht surveillance system combined with a marine tracking and tracing system. It uses GPS data and GSM and/or satellite communication, combined with advanced computer technology, to monitor a boat’s condition as well as its crew and owner, 24/7.

The Invisible Monitor monitors practically everything on a boat. And no matter where you are in the world, simply get on a PC, connect to the Internet and you can get a full status report, including the exact location, speed and heading of the boat, 24/7.

If there is a problem, the Invisible Monitor will automatically alert you, or your designee by phone, fax, e-mail, cell phone, pager or a monitoring station. It will even generate an automatic ‘Theft Alert’ if the boat leaves the programmed ‘Safe Zone’.

Marine Track offers security for your yacht when ashore, and safety when at sea. Marine Track is leading edge technology in Marine Telematics. Functions include marine tracking, remote control of onboard functions, remote monitoring and data transfer between ship and shore and via the Internet.

Cell phone use on board of ships

As there are no cell towers in the middle of the oceans, normally one could not use his mobile phone at sea. But all ships that cross the ocean do have mandatory satellite communication equipment on board. If one cell phone base station would be placed on board of the ship that could use the satellite communication channels to communicate with a cellular network on land, every cell phone on board could function normally.

Geolink’s OceanCell was the first GSM solution to be used onboard ships, making it possible to telephone using a mobile phone from the middle of the ocean. OceanCell offers:
-access to the GSM network (incoming and outgoing calls)
-simultaneous use of the telephone from fixed phones
-Internet access.

MCP is the global maritime cellular operator focused on providing cost effective GSM and CDMA communications solutions specially created to fulfill the requirements of the shipping industry. MCP provides seamless connectivity via personal mobile phones to both passengers and crew onboard cruise-ships, ferries and other vessels worldwide. MCP enables cell phone coverage by installing and operating the ship borne radio networks, linking the vessels with public networks via satellite. MCP operates its mobile services via roaming agreements with cellular operators throughout the world. As a fully recognized international cellular operator, MCP handles all legal and regulatory challenges associated with the unique technology and service solutions that it provides to its customers.

Tracking of individual containers ON and IN vessels at sea

Many containers are already equipped with tracking devices. Almost without exceptions these devices use GPS and wireless cellular technologies. However this means that, as soon as a ship with containers goes offshore, these devices do not function anymore. For position tracking this is not so important as the position of the ship will be known, but for security reasons these devices often track whether a door is opened, watch the temperature inside containers, etc.

AltoBridge has brought to market the AM Gateway Platform that provides ubiquitous coverage for containers, general cargo, RFID tags, eSeals etc. across all ships, enabling two-way communications to/from existing surveillance centers. It enables eSeals, sealed hatches, container doors, container walls, temperature monitors or even the new generations of smart bomb detectors to communicate directly with and/or be interrogated by terrestrial based information management centers e.g. Government Agencies. If a security infringement occurs then the relevant authorities will be immediately informed no matter where the vessel is on the high seas.

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