107
1 INTRODUCTION
Inland waterway freight transport is an important
fieldoftransportofgoodsinEurope.
The European Commission Directives on inland
waterway transport are intended to strengthen the
competitiveness of inland shipping in the transport
systemandfacilitateitsintegrationintothemaritime
transportintheintermodallogisticschain.[1],[5]
Inland navigation has immense potentia
l and
ensuresahighlevelofsafety,especiallywithregard
tothetransportofdangerousgoods.[6]
Rapid development of communications
technologies, such as digital transmission of signals
and satellite systems, has contributed to the
introduction by the European Commission of new
data exchange and processing standards to be
implemented in the operation of the RIS (River
InformationService)Centres.[2]
RIS Centres ma
nage, process and transmit
information which supports shipsʹ captains in their
navigationdecisions.
Dynamic transmission of data processed at the
IntegratedCommunicationsPlatformrequirestheuse
ofmaximumchannelthroughputandbitrateinallthe
systemscollaborat
ingwiththeRISCentre.
Themodulewhichsupportsverificationofingoing
and outgoing data at the RIS Decision Centre is
thekeyelementofthesystemintegration.
ImplementationoftheIntegratedCommunications
Platform, which combines modern terrestrial and
satelliteradiocommunications,willfacilitateeffective
andefficientma
nagementofdatatransmission.[9]
Integrated Communications Platform for RIS Centres
Supporting Inland Navigation
A.Lisaj
M
aritimeUniversityofSzczecin,Szczecin,Poland
ABSTRACT: This article looks at the architecture of the Integrated Communica tions Platform for the RIS
Centressupportinginlandnavigation.
It analyses the feasibility of application of satellite‐based telecommunications, localization and navigation
systems in inland navigation, and presents methods of integrationofradiocommunicationssystemswhich
carryoutdistresscommunicationsalgorit
hmsandproceduresininlandnavigation.
FeasibilityofintegrationoftheAIS‐SARTandAIS‐Satellite,guidanceandpositioningsubsystemsintotheRIS
Centreisexamined.
ThetechnicalspecificationsoftheFleetBroadbandandMini‐VSATsystemsareexaminedforusabilityinthe
multifunctionalinformationserviceoftheRISCentreCommunica
tionsPlatform.
http://www.transnav.eu
the International Journal
on Marine Navigation
and Safety of Sea Transportation
Volume 11
Number 1
March 2017
DOI:10.12716/1001.11.01.12
108
2 INTEGRATEDCOMMUNICATIONSPLATFORM
ARCHITECTUREFORTHERISCENTREIN
INLANDNAVIGATION
Data transmission and integration of harmonised
servicesandfunctionsperformed byRISCentresfor
inland navigation requires the application of digital
and analogue radio communications systems and
satellitetransmissionchannels.
In order to ensure compatibility of information
exchange
ininlandnavigation
andonmaritimeshipsinareaswhereseaandinland
waterways intersect, e.g. in countries such as the
Netherlands, Germany, Poland, France or Croatia,
immediate implementation of a universal radio
communicationsplatformsupportingdata streaming
isrequired.[10],[11].
Ensuringsafetyofverificationandtransmissionof
navigational
dataisthekeydriverofthedevelopment
of inland navigation. Communication between
captainsofsea‐going
andinlandwaterwayvessels,aswellasbetweenthe
Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) and the RIS must be
supported with state‐of‐the‐art data transmission
solutions.The applicationof innovative technologies
ensures real
‐time data processing and transmission,
andguaranteeshighqualityofdata.[3]
For many years, communication on inland
waterways has been executed by means of VHF
radio‐telephony. The proposed Integrated
Communications Platform has been designed to
supportthetaskscarriedoutbytheRISCentresinthe
Europeancountries.
The architecture of the Integrated
Communications Platform comprises the following
subsystems: of the terrestrial communications
segment – the VHF, MF/HF radio telephony, VHF,
MF/HF Digital Selective Calling, NAVTEX, NBDP,
EPIRB SART and AIS‐SART (components of the
GMDSS)[10]; of the satellite systems segment –
INMARSAT, EGC,and COSPAS‐SARSAT
(components of
the GMDSS); as well as satellite
navigation systems, satellite telecommunications
systems, and Satellite‐Based Augmentation Systems
(SBAS),whicharenotpartoftheGMDSS.[12],[13].
The Integrated Communications Platform, which
transmits data to the RIS Centres, collaborates with
navigational bridges on inland waterway vessels in
theperformanceofthefollowing
functions:[7],[8]
position fixing by the radio navigation and
satellite‐basedmethods;
determining the parameters of movement of
inlandwaterwayvessels;
obtaining data on the shipʹs own movement
vector;
vessel traffic imaging, supported by electronic
ECDISandInlandECDISnavigationalcharts;
collision avoidance imaging,
supported by the
radar/ARPA and the Automatic Identification
System(AIS).
The architecture of the Integrated
CommunicationsPlatformisshowninFig.1.
3 APPLICATIONOFSATELLITESYSTEMSIN
INLANDNAVIGATION
In recent years, the position of an inland waterway
vesselhasbeenfixedonanongoingbasiswiththeuse
oftraditionalmethods.However,thedevelopmentof
and widespread access to state‐of‐the‐art radio
communicationstechnologieshavefacilitatedtheuse
ofsatellitesystemsinpositionfixing.Atpresent,GPS
and GLONASS are the most advanced systems.
However, they will soon be surpassed by the
EuropeanGalileo.[10]
Satellitesystems
supportvisualisationofavesselʹs
position in real time, on a screen displaying Inland
ECDIScharts.[7]
Figure1.IntegratedCommunicationsPlatformarchitecture.
Source:Ownwork.
The position of a vessel navigating on an inland
waterwayshouldbeinterpretedasthelocationofthe
vesselʹs waterline rather than as a point. Navigation
inrestrictedinlandwatersconsistsinmaintainingthe
vesselʹs position on the right side of the safety
contour. The use of modern position
fixing
instruments, such as satellite systems, is the key
driver in the improvement of navigation safety
standards.[8]
In order to increase the accuracy of positioning
data, the EGNOS satellite‐based augmentation
system,whichatpresent covers theentireEuropean
continent, is being developed to include Europe’s
inlandfairways.[7]
The accuracy of the position of an inland
waterwayvesseldeterminedwiththeuseofsatellite
systems depends on the number of visible satellites
whosesignalreachesthereceiverantenna.
109
Inlandnavigationisimpededbysuchobstaclesas
elevatedbanks,hills,buildingsandurbanstructures.
Therefore,inordertofacilitatethereceiptofasignal
transmitted by a satellite at a lower topocentric
altitude,antennasoninlandwaterwayvesselsshould
belocatedpossiblyhighabovethewatersurface.
4 DISTRESS
ALERTINGININLAND
NAVIGATIONWITHTHEUSEOFSATELLITE
SYSTEMS
AspartoftheGMDSS,theInmarsatMini‐Coptionof
the Inmarsat satellite system is used in distress
communicationsininlandnavigation.[3],[4]
A small antenna, easy to use interface, energy‐
efficient power supply and low cost encourage
enthusiasts of inland navigation to equip their
watercraftwiththesystem.
Another Inmarsat module used in inland
navigationisFleetBroadband.Apartfromthealerting
functionality, it supports message priority
assignment.
IntheFleetBroadbandsystem,alertingprocedures
canbedeployedbytwostate‐of‐the‐artmethods:
1 Selecting the 505 Emergency
Calling button – an
innovative solution for inland waterway vessels,
whichsupportsvoicealertstotheRISCentreand
theMRCCinsituationsofdistressandrisktolife;
2 SelectingtheredDistressCallbuttonontheVoice
Distress Services module deployed on board
inland waterway vessels and at
the Integrated
Communications Platform module at the RIS
Centre.
The function of alerting in distress on inland
waterways is also performed by the Emergency
PositionIndicatingRadioBeacon(EPIRB),whichuses
thesatellite‐basedCOSPAS‐SARSAT.[9]
5 AIS‐SARTANDAIS‐SATELLITESUBSYSTEMS
INTHEINTEGRATEDCOMMUNICATIONS
PLATFORM
AIS‐SART
isaradio‐baseddevicewhichsupportsthe
positioning of vessels in distress. It operates at
frequencies within the VHF band, and sends its
position via the Automatic Identification System
(AIS).ThepositionisprovidedbytheGNSSreceiver
embedded in the device. The transmission of VHF
radio waves is
significantly restricted by the Earthʹs
curvatureandthehorizontalrangeofpropagationof
theVwave.[11]
Usingthelatestsatellitetechnologysolutions,data
sent by AIS‐SART is received by Low Earth Orbit
satellites implemented in the ORBCOMM satellite
system.[2],[12]
Another solution is the Satellite AIS (SAT‐AIS),
where the shipʹs identification and identity are
recordedanddecodedbyasatellite.
IntegrationoftheAIS‐SARTandAIS‐Satelliteinto
the Integrated Communications Platform at the RIS
Centre increases the efficiency and minimizes the
time required to locate a vessel in distress by the
searchandrescue
centre.[6]
6 FUNCTIONALUTILITYANALYSISOFTHE
FLEETBROADBANDANDMINI‐VSATSYSTEMS
INTERMSOFTHEIRINTEGRATIONINTOTHE
MULTIFUNCTIONALINFORMATIONSERVICE
OFTHEINTEGRATEDCOMMUNICATIONS
PLATFORMATTHERISCENTRE[2],[10]
Mini‐VSAT and FleetBroadband systems are
currently two leading systems which ensure
communications in distress and comprehensive
communicationsamonginlandwaterwayvessels.
The main difference between the devices
implementedinthesystemsistheirefficiency.
The V11‐IP modem, implemented in Mini‐VSAT,
providesthemaximumdatadownload/uploadspeed
of1Mbps.ItisintegratedintotheRISCentresystem
bymeansoftheCommBoxV11modem.
The
FB 500 TracPhone modem, implemented in
FleetBroadband,providesthe maximumdata
download/upload speed of 432Kbps. It is integrated
intotheRISCentresystembymeansoftheTracPhone
modem.
Inland waterways (e.g. the River Danube) run
through restricted areas, such as e.g. mountainous
terrains, where ground‐based Internet signal is
unavailable,
orthroughareaswheremobilenetwork
accessisrequired.
The modules of both systems, being part of the
Integrated Communications Platform at the RIS
Centre and deployed on inland waterway vessels,
provideaccesstobroadbandInternetonboardinland
waterwayvesselswhichoperatealsoinseaareas,in
countriessuch
astheNetherlands,Germany,Poland,
CroatiaandFrance.
Owing to an antenna of a diameter of 1.1m for
Mini‐VSAT and 66cm for FleetBroadband, deployed
at the RIS Centres and on board inland waterway
vessels, bidirectional services providing the radio
telephony signal, broadband Internet and text
messagefunctionalityarerealizedsafely
andwithout
anydisruptions.
The Mini‐VSAT system, which supports higher
speedofdatatransmissionandalargerbandwidth,is
more efficient than FleetBroadband in terms of
downloading patches for Inland ECDIS devices and
handling email services on board inland waterway
vessels.
One of the key prerequisites for efficient
collaboration
ofthemodulesintegratedwithintheRIS
Centre is their reliability. Compared to Mini‐VSAT,
FleetBroadbandoffersgreaterreliability,owingtothe
support of the L band frequency range, where
precipitation and variability of the atmospheric and
meteorological conditions does not have a material
impactonthesystemoperation.
The components
of the collaborating systems
presented above ensure stable operation of the
110
multifunctionalinformationserviceattheRISCentre.
[15]
7 SUMMARY
An analysis of the technological solutions of data
transmission via ground‐based and satellite systems
within the Integrated Communications Platform at
the RIS Centre has been performed, taking into
consideration the specific character of inland
navigationandthetopographyof
inlandwaterways.
[9].
In areas where maritime and inland waterways
adjoin, integration of the RIS and VTS systems is
essential.
The proposed Integrated Communications
Platform for the RIS Centre performs the following
functions:
data transmission in compliance with the
ElectronicDataInterchangestandard;
information exchange between partners in
inland
navigation;
inlandtrafficmanagement;
services for passengers of inland waterway
vessels;
exchangeofelectronicdataamongtheauthorities
oftheEuropeanUnionMemberStates.
The presented model of Integrated
Communications Platform for the RIS Centre is part
of the navigational decision support systems being
developed,whichimprove
thesafetyofnavigationon
inlandwaterways.[14]
At the next stage of the planned development of
the inland navigation management system,
aharmonised system of cooperation of the RIS
Centres andthe maritime VTS centres with the
modules supporting the decision‐making process,
coordinated with the Maritime Rescue Coordination
Centres(MRCC),willbedeployed.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
[1]Directive2005/44/ECoftheEuropeanParliamentandof
the Council of 7September 2005 on harmonised river
information services (RIS) on inland waterways in the
Community(O.J.L255,30/09/2005).
[2]Guidelinesfor planning, implementationand operation
of River Information Services.Official Journal
CommissionDirective(EC)no.414/2007of
13.03.2007.
[3]Radio Regulations.International Telecommunication
Union.Geneva,2009.
[4]Lisaj, A., “Navigation data transmission in the RIS
system”. 9
th
International Navigational Symposium
TransNavGdynia,Poland,15‐17June2011.
[5]Directive2002/59/ECoftheEuropeanParliamentandof
the Council of 27 June 2002 establishing a Community
vesseltrafficmonitoringandinformationsystem.
[6]SOLAS (2009) Consolidated edition, International
MaritimeOrganization.
[7]Weintrit, A., “Założenia projektowe zintegrowanego
mostka
nawigacyjnego jednostek wżegludze morsko‐
rzecznej”.Logistyka2010v.4.
[8]Januszewski, J., Wawruch, R., Weintrit, A., Galor,
W.,”Zintegrowany Mostek Nawigacyjny jednostek
żeglugi morsko‐rzecznej.” ZeszytyNaukowe Akademii
MorskiejwGdyni,No.63,Gdynia2009.
[9]Lisaj,A.,“TheMethodoftheNavigationDataFusionin
Inland Navigation.” In. A.
Weintrit (ed.), Navigational
Problems, Marine Navigation and Safety of Sea
Transportation,CRCPress/Balkema,London,UK,2013,
pp.187‐193.
[10]Lisaj, A., Majzner, P., “The architecture of data
transmission in inland navigation.” VIInternational
Conference on Maritime Transport MT14, 25‐27 June
2014,Barcelona.
[11]Weintrit, A., Neumann, T. (eds.), “Information, Com
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munication and Environment, Marine Navigation and
Safety of Sea Transportation”, CRS Press/Balkema,
London,UK2015.
[12]Czajkowski, J., Korcz, K., GMDSS dlałączności
bliskiegozasięgu.Gdańsk,2006.
[13]Lisaj,A.,Majzner,P.,AModelofRadiocommunication
Events Management System, Scientific Journals of the
MaritimeUniversityofSzczecin,
No.38(110),Szczecin.
[14]http://www.ris‐odra.pl.
[15]www.ris.eu