Page 24: of Marine News Magazine (December 2015)

23 25

WIRELESS/ON BOARD COMMUNICATIONS

Workboat

Communications

Evolve to Meet

Myriad Missions

Choosing next generation communication systems for professional marine operations can be a daunting task. Not to worry, MarineNews provides a primer.

By John Haynes ver the past decade we have come to expect fast, lack of uniform menus, commands and controls across dif- seamless global communications from a single de- ferent navigation systems. Commercial objectives drive in- vice that ? ts in our pocket. The age of the smart novation in design, but the danger of ‘feature creep’ can be

O phone and tablet enables multiple voices talking in a con- adding functions to an electronic device for no reason. On ference call and real time transfer of data, ranging from a dark and stormy night, or at high speeds, a navigation documents to photos and videos. system that delivers the minimum amount of relevant and

In the modern bridge, most crew members have a GPS clearly presented information should be the design and us- in their pocket which can identify where that person is on ability objective. How the navigator or captain transmits the planet. For the traveling mariner, communication de- information externally and onboard to various crew mem- vices such as the iPhone or iPad can be loaded with ‘naviga- bers from engine room to deck crew can also be critical.

tion’ apps. However, there are distinct differences between having vast amounts of data and knowing where you are Marine Communications Evolve & Adapt in real time, to actually navigating and passage planning. The traditional system for external marine communica-

A challenge when the marine sector moved from paper tion is VHF radio. Combined transmitters and receivers charts to digital charting was too much complexity plus a operate on standard international frequencies or channels.

Image above: Marine Alutech Watercat M18 AMC is the Finnish Navy’s new U700-class amphibious assault craft.

December 2015

MN 24

MN Dec15 Layout 18-31.indd 24 11/24/2015 9:56:16 AM