Page 26: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (October 1989)

AT&T Radiotelephone Service

Helps You Keep In Touch

On The High Seas

By Pete Scott, Product Manager

AT&T High Seas Service

AT&T High Seas Radiotele- phone Service is a two-way opera- tor-handled service that provides voice communications between ships on the high seas (or aircraft) and land telephones or other mobile single-sideband radio stations. The communications link between ship and shore is via high-frequency (HF) single-sideband radio with coast station equipment provided and operated by AT&T, and ship equipment provided and operated by the customer or agent.

Traffic volume has been growing over the past few years, and it appears that the growth will contin- ue, fueled by the tremendous in- crease in the cruise ship industry.

AT&T Radiotelephone Service provides passengers on cruise ships (and other ships and aircraft with

SSB radio), via the ship's radio room, a way to keep in touch with friends, relatives and associates ashore.

Depending on location, season, and time of day, a ship's radio offi- cer will choose from a number of assigned single-sideband frequen- cies and announce the call sign of the ship and the AT&T receiving station he is attempting to reach.

The signal will bounce between the earth and the ionosphere—an electrically charged atmospheric layer that surrounds the planet at varying distances from 30 to 300 miles—until it is snared in a web of high-frequency antennas at the re- ceiving site.

Hearing the call through one of several speakers mounted on a con- sole, a communications technician types the vessel's call sign into a computer terminal, which immedi- ately displays the name of the ves- sel, the frequency on which the call was placed, and the antenna on which it was received.

The technician then establishes contact with the ship and asks where it is located.

At Manahawkin (WOO), New

Jersey, and Point Reyes (KMI), Cal- ifornia (two of three coast stations used), the technician then pushes that geographic point on a comput- erized, touch-sensitive map, and a transmitting antenna designated for that region of the world is automati- cally selected, thus establishing the best possible communications link.

The third station, at Fort Lauder- dale (WOM), Florida, uses a differ- ent system but contact is also estab- lished automatically.

The technician then routes the call to the International Operating

Center in Pittsburgh, where an operator makes a connection to the desired domestic or international number.

To place a call in the opposite direction, a caller dials a toll-free

AT&T 800 Service number (1 800

SEACALL) and requests, through an operator in Pittsburgh, to place a call to a particular ship.

Every half hour, each high seas station broadcasts a "traffic list" of ships for which calls have been de- signated. The ships then call in and a connection is made between the party that placed the call, and the person on board. Calls are handled as efficiently as possible.

With a ship-to-shore call, a pas- senger may: pay for the call on board the ship; place the call collect; charge the call to a third number (i.e.—residence, business, etc.) pro- vided someone answers for verifica- tion billing; or preregister prior to sailing for billing to your home, business or AT&T Card by dialing 1 800 SEACALL (723-2255).

Cruise passengers are encouraged to utilize preregistration without cost or obligation. It is for their con- venience.

Currently 80 cruise ships are us- ing AT&T's Radiotelephone Ser- vice. And thousands of commercial and private boats are registered for the service.

The service is generally used when a ship is more than 50 miles offshore, where other forms of short-range radio transmission be- gin to fail.

AT&T provides free weather broadcasts through the service and gives special priority to calls from ships in distress, making fast con- nections to rescue authorities and holding the line until all is safe. The cost of the service is $14.93 for the first three minutes (three-minute minimum) and $4.98 for each addi- tional minute or fraction thereof.

The charge for a High Seas call is the same whether the call is placed to a specified person, a specified telephone number, or a specified ship or aircraft radio call sign. Col- lect, AT&T card and third-number billed calls are permitted between ships or aircraft served through

High Seas Service stations, and sta- tions located in the following coun- tries or areas: Bahamas, Canada,

Dominican Republic, Jamaica, the

United States, Puerto Rico, and the

U.S. Virgin Islands.

For free literature about AT&T's

High Seas Radiotelephone Service, call 1 800-874-4000, ext. 376.

MARINE DIVISION

ASEA HAGGLUNDS, INC. 50 CHESTNUT RIDGE ROAD

MONTVALE, NJ 07646

TEL: (201) 391-8930

FAX: (201) 391-8694

TELEX: 6818098

PRESIDENT: JOHN ALBINO

SERVICE COORDINATOR: TARMO MAGI

SERVICE SPELLS ECONOMY

ASEA HAGGLUNDS After-Sales Service Team has been providing expert service on HAGGLUNDS Marine Cranes, Winches, and Systems since 1972. Our service stations in New York, Los Angeles, Fort Worth, and Van- couver, B.C. , are superbly equipped and staffed by experienced, HAG-

GLUNDS-trained specialists. We provide the right resources for efficient crane servicing and carry a carefully selected stock of parts. Proper maintenance, expert service and genuine spare parts always pays.

We stand ready to perform: • Emergency Repairs—24 hours a day • Inspection and Surveys • Installations and Commissionings • Overhauls and Retrofits • Factory Spare Parts Support • Customized Crew Training (A <

A WISE BUYER BUYS

BAIER HATCHES tested and guaranteed watertight

OVER THE YEARS, WE HAVE

LEARNED THAT PRODUCING

A GOOD PRODUCT AND

GIVING CUSTOMER SERVICE

IS THE BEST ADVERTISING. • Material: aluminum, bronze, galvanized steel. • SAFETY: never iced in as the t wrench is removable. • TAMPER PROOF: you lock it and It stays locked until you unlock it. • MAINTENANCE: only two moving parts. • APPROVED AND USED: ABS, USCG,

US Navy, Corps of Eng., Canadian Dept. of Transport • SHAPES AND SIZES: flush round 8, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, ovals flush plain or hinged, 13K X 20)4, 15 X 24. Coamings available for all sizes.

We take this means of thank ing our many customers for their past business and trust we can continue to serve you.

For a free engineering catalogue write or phone:

LSBaier]

S ASSOCIATES 7527 NE 33rd Dr

Portland, Oregon 97211 503 287-8885 Fax (503) 281-5091 26

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