Vizada, an independent satellite communications provider, and CLS, specializing in sustainable management of marine resources, environmental monitoring and maritime security, have signed a partnership to jointly provide long range identification and tracking (LRIT) to the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) and other Flag States including Vanuatu and Chile.
Vizada is the first provider to have met the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) strict performance requirements for the delivery of LRIT, now mandatory for vessels on international voyages for security and search & rescue purposes.
Through a significant upgrade to its teleport in France, Vizada ensures the reliable and secure transmission of report data to its partner CLS. The upgrade involves the creation of full Internet Protocol (IP) access to the Inmarsat-C infrastructure, and the installation of Enhanced Pre-Assigned Data Report (EPADR) technology.
CLS recently completed the development of an LRIT data centre which processes the report information according to IMO standards and in turn delivers it to the relevant Flag Authority, in this case the EMSA.
LRIT obliges vessels to transmit an automatic position report (APR) with the ship’s identity and position a minimum of four times a day via a mobile satellite terminal such as an Inmarsat-C. Eligible vessels include passenger ships, cargo ships including high-speed craft of 300 gross tons and above, and mobile offshore drilling units.
The Vizada / CLS system is now operational and the two partners manage LRIT communications for the majority of the EMSA’s registered vessels, amounting to 10,000 by the end of 2009. The EMSA is responsible for the management of LRIT data on behalf of the 27 EU member states, as well as Iceland and Norway.
(www.vizada.com)