Fugro upgrades emergency communications on supply ship

Bahamas-flagged Fugro Revelation’s existing Intellian C700 above-deck and below-deck units, cabling and antenna were retained.

A safety display, handset and approved installation components were added to the bridge, while the standard SIM card was replaced with an Iridium GMDSS SIM card.

Regulatory type-approval documents were granted to specify that existing C700 terminals can be upgraded to SOLAS approved GMDSS modules.

“We chose to upgrade an installed Intellian C700 Certus terminal by adding a safety display terminal, extending its capabilities to include Iridium GMDSS,” said Mr Blankert.

“The installation process was straightforward and completed without complications,” he said.

Fugro Revelation has an overall length of 72 m, a beam of 16 m and was in the Port of Rotterdam during September, according to automatic identification system data.

Its upgraded C700 terminal supports three simultaneous non-GMDSS voice lines and commercial data connectivity and will support long-range identification and tracking (LRIT) and the ship security alert system (SSAS), subject to activation, configuration and testing.

“The potential to combine GMDSS, LRIT, SSAS, commercial data and voice through a single platform could simplify our onboard communications and safety environment while offering a more cost-effective alternative to operating and maintaining several separate systems,” said Mr Blankert.

By retaining the existing antenna and associated cabling, the upgrade avoided more extensive physical modifications to the vessel, reducing installation time, complexity and disruption to operations.

“Safety communications must be reliable, resilient and integrated with the vessel’s wider communications environment,” said Marlink president of maritime, Tore Morten Olsen.

“This project shows how proven technology and specialist expertise can deliver that,” he said.

“By building on existing investment, the upgrade both strengthens onboard safety communications and simplifies the vessel’s communications environment, while supporting longer-term operational needs.”

Iridium GMDSS provides global maritime distress and safety communications over Iridium’s second-generation LEO network, including polar coverage, and it is recognised by the IMO, along with another satellite constellation owner, for GMDSS services.

“This world-first C700 GMDSS upgrade demonstrates how shipowners can build on their existing Iridium Certus infrastructure while adding global GMDSS capabilities,” said Iridium Maritime vice president and general manager, Wouter Deknopper.

“We worked with Marlink, Intellian and Fugro to demonstrate this practical modernisation path for the maritime industry.”