Page 14: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (December 2015)

SATCOM UPDATE ability. For autonomous and drone ships, require? And at what cost? We can gain offer extensive satellite coverage, offer be most suitable for operating autono- with the costs of running of? cers and an indication by predicting that a 4Mb an extensive range of broadband packag- mously or as drones, must be those trans- crew gone, other operating costs will dedicated service in forward and return es, manage their own allocation of man- porting stable, non-hazardous cargo. So, signi? cantly rise, and communication directions will be required. Today, that aged bandwidth, and rely on their own taking the lead will be dry bulk cargo costs will be one of them. Anchoring bandwidth costs in the region of $60 - numerous ‘Teleports’ to connect vessel vessels with cargos, which will have nei- down those communication costs with 80k per vessel per month. That’s prob- networks to global internet services. Add ther maintenance or monitoring needs ? xed charges irrespective of ? uctuations ably the cost of employing six to eight to this, essential 24-hour dedicated sup- during transportation.

in the volumes of data transferred and re- European navigating and engineering port from network operation staff and Unstable, ? ammable and explosive quired to control a vessel, makes for an of? cers, including the Captain and Chief worldwide regional service centres. cargos such as gas, chemical and oil agreeable offering to ship operators. Engineer. Allowing for the fact that a Certain providers are now develop- products are unlikely to be considered

There are good reasons why VSAT shipping company probably employs 3 ing partnerships with satellite operators suitable. Not only do such cargos need communications has continuously grown of? cers per position to provide cover for to offer new High Throughput Satellite to be carefully monitored, but immediate in popularity over the past seven years. It 12 months, then the cost ef? ciencies of (HTS) services, improving bandwidth manned intervention on-board is essen- is precisely the ability to ? x communi- remotely controlling vessels can start to availability without increasing the ser- tial to manage any potential dangers that cation costs while being able to expand make ? nancial sense, despite consider- vice cost. may arise. and contract the amount of data used able supporting costs that will also have Additionally, continuous improve- Few companies will take on the li- on-board, which is so appealing, and the to be introduced. ments in the ? eld of data compression ability of transporting hazardous cargo broadband service lends itself to allow- are playing a part in improving data within unmanned shipping. The risk of ing shipping companies to extend their Broader Features transfer ef? ciency. litigation and negative exposure result- corporate IT networks to their ships. When considering a supplier for mari- ing from an environmental disaster fol-

But just how much constant band- time VSAT services today, ship opera- Initial Applications of Drone Ships lowing a collision or sinking would be width will an autonomous/drone vessel tors should look for providers that can The commercial ship types that will unthinkable.

But just how much constant bandwidth will an au- tonomous/drone vessel require? And at what cost?

We can gain an indication by predicting that a 4Mb dedicated service in forward and return directions will be required. Today, that bandwidth costs in the region of $60 - 80k per vessel per month. 14 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • DECEMBER 2015

MR #12 (10-17).indd 14 12/4/2015 11:25:42 AM