Telecommunications
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- WATERCOM Telecommunications System To Be Fully Operational This Year Maritime Reporter, Mar 1986 #8
The first phone call through the revolutionary WATERCOM® Automated Maritime Telecommunications System was placed by Ron VonColln, program manager at Tracor Applied Sciences, Inc., aboard a boat on the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., to Rick Baker, executive vice president of Waterway Communications System, Inc., in his office in Jeffersonville, Ind. The call demonstrated the system hardware and operations control that will form a new communications network to provide voice and customized data services between inland river towboats and their central offices. Full service on the network will be available at mid- 1986.
Tracor Applied Sciences, a subsidiary of Tracor, Inc., has a turnkey contract from Waterway Communications covering the design, construction, and installation of the WATERCOM system.
The new system, through a series of 54 shore stations, will provide continuous coverage of approximately 4,000 miles of inland waterways.
It will serve the Mississippi River from south of New Orleans to Minneapolis/St. Paul, the Illinois River from the Mississippi to Chicago, and the Ohio River from Cairo to Pittsburgh. On the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, coverage will extend from Apalachicola, Fla., to Brownsville, Texas, with incidental coverage on the Gulf of Mexico.
WATERCOM will provide service comparable in quality to that of the National Telephone Network, and in fact will connect to NTN lines just like any other telephone network.
A barge company operator direct-dials the boat number he wishes to reach and is connected automatically. Operator assistance is available only when requested by the user.
The WATERCOM system consists of three major components: vessel telephones, shore stations, and the Operations and Control Center at the home office in Jeffersonville.
Vessel telephones consist of a radio transmitter and receiver, a microprocessor-based phone control unit, and the main telephone handset.
An optional extension phone may be added to provide credit card calls from facilities in the crew's quarters.
Each of the 54 shore stations serves compatible equipped vessels within its operating range, thereby providing continuous telephone service.
Each station is interconnected with the local area central control office, from which incoming and outgoing calls are routed to and from the vessel.
The Operations Control Center and its mainframe computers are the heart of the WATERCOM system.
It provides the principal automatic switching and routing functions for all long-distance calls entering the system. Through fullperiod leased data lines, the OCC monitors and controls operations at each of the shore stations and acts as a highly sophisticated telephone system, with additional data-processing capabilities.
The concept of WATERCOM started in the 1970s when 16 major barging companies joined together to improve inland river telecommunications, a need supported by indepth research of their industry. In 1981, American Commercial Lines, Inc. acquired WATERCOM from the barging group. That same year the Federal Communications Commission allocated frequencies for automated marine communications systems. WATERCOM applied for license authority, which the FCC granted in 1982. The elements of the system development included marketing research, system design to meet communication needs, and acquisition of properties and construction along the inland waterways.
Finally, in the summer of 1985, construction of the Operations and Control Center building in Jeffersonville was completed.
For further information and free literature on the WATERCOM system, Circle 53 on Reader Service Card
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- Trends in Marine Services for Subsea Telecoms Marine Technology, May 2021 #46
The market for marine services in support of the installation and maintenance of undersea telecommunications cables has matured over a period of more than 100 years to reach its present state of development. The largest providers of marine services (companies such as the Global Marine Group, SubCom, Alcatel
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- 1983 RTCM ASSEMBLY Maritime Reporter, Mar 15, 1983 #12
. During the Assembly there will be special committee meetings and some 26 technical papers will be presented, based on the theme "Maritime Telecommunications— Today and Tomorrow." The RTCM was established in 1947 as a government/industry organization under the aegis of the Department of State
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- 1984 RTCM ASSEMBLY Maritime Reporter, May 15, 1984 #16
privately supported organization, RTCM's goals remain the same: ". . . to advance the technical quality and professional application of maritime telecommunications for the benefit of all concerned . . ." "Telecommunications" as used by RTCM means any transmission, emission or reception of signs, signals
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- Anixter Bros. Publishes New Buyers Guide Of Products For Business Communications Maritime Reporter, May 15, 1984 #44
Anixter Bros., Inc., Skokie, 111., has published a new telecommunications catalog: "A Buyers Guide of Products for Business Communications." The buyers guide features a full line of business communications products for every facet of industry and commerce that uses telecommunications products for
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- Joel Alper Appointed President Of COMSAT World Systems Division Maritime Reporter, Jan 15, 1984 #18
, succeeding Dr. McLucas. COMSAT World Systems Division, the company's largest business, principally consists of units that provide international telecommunications services through the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (INTELSAT); maritime communications services through the Internation
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- Lundberg Reappointed Director General Of INMARSAT Maritime Reporter, May 15, 1985 #16
London. He has been director general of INMARSAT since its creation in 1979. Prior to joining the Organization he was with the Swedish Telecommunications Administration in various capacities, and was actively involved in developing new telecommunications services. INMARSAT provides satellite commu
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- COMSAT To Sponsor Maritime Satellite Seminar On April 29 Maritime Reporter, Mar 15, 1981 #41
European Marine & Machinery Agencies. 60 Brookley Hoad. Brockenhurst Hants, S047RA, U K Telex 47509 time communications equipment suppliers and telecommunications carriers on planning for the transition of the MARISAT system to the international INMARSAT system in suburban Virginia on April 29. The
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- TeleSystems MCS-9100 Receives Japanese Type Acceptance Maritime Reporter, Feb 1986 #13
, Inc. announced recently that its MCS-9100 maritime communications system has received Type Acceptance from the Japanese Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications. The MCS- 9100 is one of the smallest, lightest, and most technologically advanced ship earth stations available today. It is also the only
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- Inventory Locator Names Jim Bross Sales Director Maritime Reporter, Apr 1991 #52
, Inc. (ILS), it was recently announced by ILS president Fred Meyer. Mr. Bross will be sales director for the aviation, marine, power and telecommunications data base services. Mr. Bross was the manager of marine and aviation industry marketing for ILS. Prior to joining ILS in 1990, Mr. Bross
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- Watercom Names Gerald A. Motta VP, Operations Maritime Reporter, Jul 1988 #7
., is responsible for the development of Watercom, a new directdial telephone service for the marine industry. Mr. Motta brings over 23 years of telecommunications experience to Watercom. He has extensive senior level management experience with marine electronic systems, including radar, RF/VHF/UHV sys- tems
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- IDB-A Joins Cruisephone To Offer Services To Leisure Markets Maritime Reporter, Jan 1991 #63
services via Inmarsat satellite to the maritime industry, has signed a contract with Cruisephone, Ltd., a leading supplier of cellular telecommunications to the cruise industry, for the exclusive provision of services to the pleasure cruise and private yacht markets worldwide. Cruisephone
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February 2024 - Maritime Reporter and Engineering News page: 42re- workforce. The U.S. Gov- threats that could be delivered through port found that the Coast Guard’s ma- T ernment Accountability the internet, telecommunications net- rine inspection program has had similar Of? ce (GAO), the non-partisan, fact- works, and computer systems. GAO’s recruitment and retention
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November 2023 - Marine News page: 54New Zealand speci? cally for site development and the speci? c survey environment and then wrapped around the cable surveys for offshore wind and telecommunications for ideal sensors for a speci? c set of missions,” said Chris Free- extended 12- or limited 24-hour operations, the newbuild le- man, SVP at
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August 2023 - Marine News page: 26was later informed that some had been in- systems, featuring advanced Digital Enhanced Cordless jured and even killed by propellers and jet intakes. Telecommunications (DECT) technology, provide users Months later, while visiting the home of David Clark, with all the communication advantages of wired systems
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May 2023 - Marine Technology Reporter page: 41Can you talk about the technical aspects of sub- sea ? ber optic cables? How do these cables differ in diameter, capacity, length, material, cost etc.? How is this technology evolving? © Pioneer Consulting Much like standard telecommunication systems, offshore energy cable systems typically consist of a
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May 2023 - Marine Technology Reporter page: 40Fiber Optic Cable Systems for Offshore Energy Projects: Q&A with Pioneer Consulting’s Austin Shields Pioneer Consulting, a subsea ? ber optic telecommunications consulting and project management company, was last year awarded a contract by Zemax-Planova Consortium to provide expertise related to the
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March 2022 - Marine Technology Reporter page: 12France to overseas call is a misnomer. Because the vast majority of in- Cape Cod. In 1883, news of the eruption of the Krakatoa vol- ternational telecommunications — 99 percent — is carried by cano in Indonesia was being followed in near real-time all over cables under the sea. Let that statistic sink
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March 2022 - Maritime Reporter and Engineering News page: 12France to overseas call is a misnomer. Because the vast majority of in- Cape Cod. In 1883, news of the eruption of the Krakatoa vol- ternational telecommunications — 99 percent — is carried by cano in Indonesia was being followed in near real-time all over cables under the sea. Let that statistic sink
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September 2020 - Marine Technology Reporter page: 24be smaller) is due to start and Atmospheric Association, but also deepsea submersibles out there and have in Lake Travis and then the US Gulf of telecommunications ? rms and others. Mexico closer in October. Tank testing There’s also potentially salvage hunters. them map the ocean.” The other side of
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September 2021 - Marine News page: 16ships and can haul deep draft vessels as well. We have just completed a $6 million infrastructure improvement project a technologically advanced telecommunications testing fa- at our Port Saint Joe facility to allow for vessel out? tting cility called a Production Facility (PF) This asset ensures to commence
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July 2021 - Marine Technology Reporter page: 48Subsea Telecoms Pioneer Consulting team member oversees the landing of subsea cable. on overlapping skills. This means that the prospects for the telecommunications services marine sector is signi? cantly in? uenced (and could be dominated) by the same factors im- pacting the oil, gas, power cable, and
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July 2021 - Marine Technology Reporter page: 47are very clear, and must be met every time. Services Submarine cable services exist within the larger network of The market for marine services for telecommunications ca- cable system manufacturers, maintenance providers, and car- bles continues to mature. In addition to highly visible large riers – who are
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July 2021 - Marine Technology Reporter page: 6recognized MacPherson Thompson expert in optical transmission and Donald MacPherson is Technical Director Oliver Thompson is Market Intelligence telecommunications networks, having of HydroComp, a consultancy specializing Manager at Archer Knight. He has worked authored several technical papers. in applied
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February 2021 - Maritime Reporter and Engineering News page: 39case of learn- and inspection, especially from wind farm, offshore energy ing, as in any new business, and it’s an area Hook says the and cables – telecommunications and power.” company is keen to work with industry jointly on. It’s also been revealed that the ? rm is working with Shell Another area that
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January 2021 - Marine Technology Reporter page: 28need. – Dan Hook tion, especially from wind farm, offshore energy and cables miniaturize is a satellite dish and the truth is a larger satellite – telecommunications and power.” dish gives you more bandwidth. Because we have larger ves- It’s also been revealed that the ? rm is working with Shell to sels
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January 2021 - Maritime Reporter and Engineering News page: 22ship in port, they would go a friend introduced me to a company called MTN, Maritime out to a bodega or a remittance place, take out the cash that Telecommunications Network, which was a South Florida they just received, and send money home. So I made contact based satcom company. MTN managed Internet Café’s
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October 2020 - Marine Technology Reporter page: 43Photo: ARL A Flying Node twin deployment cage. In 2019, a seismic ? eld trial successfully demonstrated the cations, “which can make use of the node’s ability to carry a node’s ability to acquire high quality OBN seismic data, says sensor payload to the seabed where it can remain covertly ac- Grant.
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Sep/Oct 2019 - Maritime Logistics Professional page: 23C i s n e r o Think cybersecurity doesn’t apply to the s maritime industry? Think again. tries, cybersecurity in the maritime industry has not been taken ple, threat identifcation should seriously enough, and it has been within the scope of regulators include activists, disgruntled and industry stakehold
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June 2019 - Maritime Reporter and Engineering News page: 12vessels); and with other USG agencies, is respon- Traf? c in Arms Regulations which are to see if an export license is needed. CCL categories 5 (telecommunications), sible for export licensing and controls. listed on the United States Munitions Screen all the parties to your transaction. 6 (acoustic sensors)
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April 2019 - Marine Technology Reporter page: 10inertial sensors) and XX (submers- and controls. BIS export licenses ible vessels); and CCL categories 5 may be required for items (com- (telecommunications), 6 (acoustic modities, software, or technology) sensors), 7 (inertial sensors and navi- with proliferation, military, or terrorist gation)
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May 2019 - Marine Technology Reporter page: 60operational challenges re- the following websites: ciation of Lighthouse Authorities), and garding the maintenance, positioning ITU (International Telecommunications and monitoring of AtoN infrastructures. www.l3t.com Union). A paper (A New Generation of All SABIK MARINE beacons meet www.sonardyne.com DGPS
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October 2018 - Maritime Reporter and Engineering News page: 14the are in alignment with those International Standards. To be more speci? c about one aspect of design, the RDC followed the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) recommendation: a) that the use of a universal shipborne AIS allows ef? cient exchange of navi- gational data between ships and
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September 2018 - Maritime Reporter and Engineering News page: 38PORT & SHIP SECURITY United States Coast Guard Navigation Center The U.S. Coast Guard’s Navigation Center (NAVCEN) is involved in a number of activities that have an impact on all Americans, even if they don’t realize it. From motorists checking directions with their Global Positioning System (GPS) to
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Mar/Apr 2018 - Maritime Logistics Professional page: 63, which is invaluable for diagnostics, before making the decision to leave for HMA. Børge has an engineer- ing education within electro technics and telecommunications from GTI optimization and bug-fxing. The data gleaned from automa- in Gothenburg and an MBA from BI in Oslo. tion systems can also be used to
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Mar/Apr 2018 - Maritime Logistics Professional page: 4products and service line including Port- HMA. Børge has an engineering education within Vision360 Asset Protection. electro technics and telecommunications from GTI Subscription in Gothenburg and an MBA from BI in Oslo. Kathleen Hickey [email protected] 3 Martin Killian is the Senior Director