Offshore Communications Emergency and Personal

1
Offshore CommunicationsEmergency and Personal

• Bob Thompson
• March 2008

2
Agenda

• Types of Communications
• Safety
• Rescue 21 (formerly NDRS) US coastal and inland
  waters
• Rescue 21 How it will work and where we are
  today
• Global Maritime Distress and Safety System
  (GMDSS)
• How you can comply and fit into the network
• Personal
• Voice (Cellular/VHF/SSB/Satellite)
• Data (Cellular/SSB/Satellite)
• Internet (Satellite)
• What Types of Communications to Use Where
• Near Shore (up to 30 miles)
• Offshore (over 30 miles)

3
Agenda

• The Emergency Communications Plan
• How to Build Your Communications Requirements
  List
• Hot Comm Topics
• 406 EPRIB Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs)
• Automatic Identification System (AIS-B)
• A Lesson Learned

4
Safety Communications
5
Safety Communications

• Rescue 21
• Digital VHF land based system covering entire US
  coast out to 30 miles Great Lakes and rivers
  Alaska, Guam, Hawaii and Puerto Rico Managed by
  the USCG
• Channel 70 (DSC) and channel 16 VHF access
• Replaces NDRS 1970s system that is outdated
• Direction finding capability on channel 70 LOB
  from multiple stations and by GPS integration
  into channel 70 along with identification of
  calling station (MMSI)
• Six simultaneous emergency communications
  channels (70 and 16)
• Automated broadcasts (marine information)

6
Safety Communications

• Rescue 21 Coordination Centers
• Monitor VHF channel 16 and channel 70 (DSC)
• Coordinate search and rescue operations
• Communicate with commercial and recreational
  vessels
• Provide command and control for Coast Guard units
• Original date of full implementation 2006
• GAO report of 4/2006 estimates 2011 before
  completely implemented with reduced
  capabilities
• No asset tracking
• Less than optimum coverage (90)

7
(No Transcript)
8
(No Transcript)
9
Safety Communications

• Where does that leave us?
• If you are not in a Rescue 21 implemented area
  you cannot use channel 70 red distress button
  for mayday calling must use channel 16 voice
  call
• You can use DSC for ship to ship calling if you
  know the MMSI of the called party
• What is the schedule for other areas?

10
Safety Communications

• North East 2007 2010
• Mid Atlantic 2008 2010
• South East 2008 2009
• Gulf Coast 2008 2009
• West Coast 2008 2011
• Western Rivers 2011
• Great Lakes 2011
• OCONUS 2011

11
Safety Communications

• Global Maritime Distress and Safety System
  (GMDSS) International Maritime Organization
• Mandatory participation for all vessels of 300
  GRT as of 2/1/99 Must carry an Inmarsat or
  Iridium satellite GMDSS transceiver
• Recreational vessels can also participate carry
  a GMDS satellite transceiver
• Worlds oceans divided into four (4) regions
• A1 up to 30 miles offshore
• A2 30 to 150 miles offshore
• A3 Inmarsat system coverage areas
• A4 Polar regions
• Uses both terrestrial and satellite
  communications systems for rescue coordination
  through 22 Rescue Coordination Centers (RCCs)
  serving 15 NAVMET regions

12

• Search and Rescue Regions - US

13
(No Transcript)
14
Safety Communications

• GMDSS Communications System Requirements
• Area A1 VHF (DSC)
• Area A2 MF voice and VHF (DSC)
• Areas A3/A4 Satellite voice/data and VHF (DSC)
  plus Search and Rescue Transponder (SART)
• Complying with Area A3/A4 requirements will
  provide compliance with all areas
• In many areas of the world, A3 compliance is
  required up to the coastline No VHF (DSC)
  emergency service available
• Complying with Area A3 requirements with SSB
  (replacing satellite) will also provide the
  recreational vessel with access to global search
  and rescue services

15
Safety Communications
16
Safety Communications

• GMDSS Communications System Requirements
• VHF (DSC) with channels 70, 16, 13, and 6
• One search and rescue transmitter (SART)
• Portable VHF radio (DSC)
• Inmarsat C ship earth station (satellite data) or
  Iridium (satellite voice)
• SSB transceiver in place of required satellite
  system will not fully comply with GMDSS, but will
  provide the same capability for long range
  emergency communications (ship to shore)
• 406 MHz EPIRB (not 121.5Mhz EPIRB phased out by
  2/1/09)
• Having these systems would provide the
  recreational vessel with GMDSS communications
  capability

17
Personal Communications

• What You Will Need Depends on Where You Will Be
  Going and What You Want To Do
• Voice Systems
• Inshore (within 30 miles)
• Cellular (with cellular booster antenna)
• Offshore (outside 30 miles)
• Single Side Band (SSB) FCC license required -
  no need for Morse code test
• Satellite
• Iridium (voice and low speed data)
• Inmarsat Mini-M (voice/fax and 2.4kbps data)

18
Personal Communications

• Data Systems for Email and Internet Access
• Inshore/Onshore
• Cellular email, Internet and short messaging
  service (PDA)
• 3G cellular broadband services will greatly
  improve data throughput
• Wireless PC for use at wireless hot spots
  onshore
• Growth of WiMax services will increase coverage
• Offshore
• Single Side Band (SSB) email/Internet/weatherfax
  and broadcasts)
• Inmarsat C email/weatherfax (600bps low data
  rate)
• Inmarsat Mini-M email/weatherfax (2.4 kbps low
  data rate)
• Iridium email/weatherfax (9.6kbps low data
  rate)

19
Personal Communications

• Expected Costs of Equipment and Voice/Data
  Service
• Single Side Band
• Equipment - 1,000 - 2,000
• Service Voice varies with connection charges
  and where call is to be placed (comparable to
  satellite)
• Email service very economical Winlink or
  Sailmail
• Has broadcast radio capabilities
• Amateur ham radio license is required for access
  to all frequencies no Morse code test
  requirement
• Satellite
• Equipment - 1,000 - 5,000 (Iridium or Inmarsat
  Mini-M)
• Service - 1.50 - 2.50 per minute for voice (no
  extra for email)
• Service contracts are available that allow the
  user to tailor a monthly plan that will minimize
  costs
• VHF
• Equipment - 500
• Service Cost of call plus a completion charge
  for using the marine operator (where available)

20
Personal Communications

• What About Broadband Systems?
• Inmarsat Fleet 55
• Voice and data (64Kbps)
• Inmarsat Fleet 77
• Voice and data (128Kbps)
• KVH Tracphone V7 Ku Band
• Launched in June 2007
• Caribbean, North America, North Atlantic and
  Europe
• VoIP and high speed data (512Kbps transmit/3
  5Mbps receive)
• This will be your home DSL line at sea
• All of these system have high initial cost and
  monthly recurring service fees based on usage

21
Suggested Comm Outfits

• Coastal Waters (out to 30 miles)
• Safety Communications Coastal Waters
• VHF (DSC) (Ship Mounted) Provides channel 70
  (DSC), 16 and 13 communications for emergency
  (NDRS), bridge to bridge and rescue coordination
  communications
• 406 EPIRB (121.5 EPIRB service is being
  cancelled)
• Handheld VHF (DSC) For use in cockpit, life
  raft or small boat
• Personal Communications Coastal Waters
• Cellular Provides voice, Internet and data
  communications plus short messaging service and
  small emails
• Wireless PC for use at shore based hot spots

22
Suggested Comm Outfits

• Offshore (over 30 miles)
• Safety Communications Offshore
• VHF (DSC) (Ship mounted) Provides channel 70
  (DSC), 16 and 13 communications for emergency
  (NDRS), bridge to bridge and rescue coordination
  communications
• 406 EPIRB plus SART
• Handheld VHF (DSC) For use in cockpit, life
  raft or small boat
• Single Sideband Transceiver Long range
  emergency communications with global Rescue
  Coordination Services
• or
• Satellite System Voice or data communications
  with global Rescue Coordination Services
  (probably Iridium)

23
Suggested Comm Outfits

• Personal Communications Offshore
• VHF (DSC) Provides voice service for telephone
  calls through the marine operator (where
  available)
• Voice and Data (Email) Communications plus
  broadcast radio entertainment
• Single Side Band (SSB) Provides very economical
  voice and low rate data services
  (email/Internet/weatherfax and broadcasts)
• or
• Iridium or Inmarsat Mini-M Provides voice and
  low rate data services (email) and fax (Mini-M)
• or
• Inmarsat C Provides email and data messaging
  (plus GMDSS)

24
A Communications Plan

• Prepare a comms plan for crew use
• Laminated plan for use with grease pencil
• Easily changed information
• Contains instructions for using the communication
  systems
• Location of vessel/frequencies to use/what to say
  and how to say it
• Locate at Nav table, or where the radios are
  located
• Include radiotelephone procedures canned Mayday
  calling procedures, yacht call sign, position
  reporting, type of assistance required, etc.
• Make sure the crew knows how to use the radios in
  an emergency

25
Your Communications Requirements?

• Comply with safety communications requirements
• Have the right radio equipment for the areas you
  will be cruising
• Prepare an emergency communications plan and make
  sure all crew members know how to use the
  equipment to make emergency calls
• Determine what you want to do for personal
  communications
• Voice?
• Data (Email/weather/entertainment, etc.)?
• Internet?
• Fax?
• Where are you going to go?
• Coastal cruising only (within 30 miles)
• Offshore sailing (over 30 miles offshore)
• How much do you want to spend, especially for
  ongoing service?

26
Hot Comm Topics

• Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs)
• Same principle as a 406 EPIRB (406MHz and
  121.5MHz)
• Small size
• 24 hour transmission time
• Send GPS position and emergency signal
• Waterproof and small
• SPOT Messenger
• Emergency transmission with location
• OK button with location
• Tracking function
• Small, light and inexpensive to own and operate

27
Hot Comm Topics

• Automatic Identification System (AIS-A/B)
• AIS-A A global cooperative system that transmits
  vital ship navigation statistics (course, speed,
  location, MMSI, ETA, destination) to all ships
  and shore receivers in the area
• Used for vessel tracking systems in ports
• gt65 or 300GRT required to carry
• Can be interfaced with radar, chart plotters,
  navigation displays
• Uses VHF transmitter and receiver
• AIS-B Same as AIS-A but transmits a smaller data
  set of information (Would be ideal for pleasure
  craft)
• AIS-B receivers Receive only function that will
  display data of all ships in area transmitting
  (Used by many offshore sailors)

28
Hot Comm Topics

• AIS-B systems (transmit and receive) are not
  allowed in US waters
• Safety at Sea Committee (SASC) is lobbying FCC to
  change the AIS rules to allow AIS-B operation in
  US waters currently allowed in other areas of
  the world
• Draft rule change under advisement at FCC
• AIS-B cost
• About 1K to 2K per installation, depending on
  the number of displays integrated

29
A Lesson Learned

• Cruising World November 2007
• Communications Are Critical for Rescue Nick
  Barran
• The Story
• ILC 40 with four onboard leaves Honolulu for
  delivery to West Coast US
• Approximately 400 miles NE of Honolulu at 0800 on
  a calm morning boat gets rammed and holed by a
  large sperm whale
• Captain has the following comm gear onboard
• SSB Sends one mayday with no answer.
• EPIRB Lights off EPIRB.
• Iridium Calls friend in Honolulu/no answer.
  Calls son on aircraft in San Francisco and he
  gets pilot to patch him into USCG/confirms EPIRB
  signal.

30
A Lesson Learned

• Coast Guard calls wife after they receive EPIRB
  signal to confirm husband is at sea
• Crew gets in life raft with the following comm
  gear
• Iridium phone
• EPIRB
• Handheld VHF
• USCG using AMVERS system diverts three ships plus
  a C-130 to sinking crew picked up before dark
  that same day
• Lessons Learned
• Sat phone They are vital to safety. Program
  emergency numbers into the phone before
  departing.
• EPIRBs and PLBs Take them in the raft with you.
  Make sure they are all registered with updated
  information and phone numbers.
• Handheld VHF and GPS Invaluable for
  communicating with rescuers.

31
How to Start

• Some Useful Websites
• www.winlink.org (SSB email service)
• www.Sailmail.com (SSB email service)
• www.iridium.com (Iridium equipment and service)
• www.stratosglobal.com (Iridium and Inmarsat
  equipment and service)
• www.telenorsatellite.com (Iridium and Inmarsat
  equipment and service)
• These websites will provide you with information
  on equipment and service