Communication systems for safety and security of ships

The article assesses the technical and operational possibilities of the marine communications systems to ensure the safety and security of ships. The basic functional requirements for marine radio communication to ensure the safety and security of ships, resulting from the provisions of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), have been described. The article presents the marine radio communication systems responsible for the distress alerting. The operation and ways of alerting used in Inmarsat satellite systems, Cospas-Sarsat systems and Digital Selective Calling system (DSC) have been described. The analysis of the systems responsible for broadcasting to the vessels the Maritime Safety Information (MSI) has been made. In this context, the operation, methods and ranges of broadcast of the Maritime Safety Information by the NAVTEX system and Inmarsat SafetyNet system have been described. The systems performing the function of ships security have also been discussed. The operation, application and basic properties of the Ship Security Alert System (SSAS) and Long Range Identification and Tracking system (LRIT) have been presented. In the subsequent part, the article outlines the future of maritime communications systems used to ensure the safety and security of ships. In this context, two projects currently being implemented in the framework of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) by the Sub-Committee on Navigation, Communications, Search, and Rescue (NCSR) have been presented. The first of these projects under the name of e-navigation refers to the use of the latest information and communication technologies in shipping. The second one concerns the modernization of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS).