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Session 5 - A Global System - Roles and Responsibilities
Chairperson - James Taylor, NLB
We know where we are, what next? - J. Taylor, NLB
Building on the presentation from Nov. 2004, J. Taylor noted that humanity has moved from the use of instinct to the use of technology to 'know where we are'. This technology lets us know where we are - very specifically with high accuracy, integrity and availability of systems. However, if we know where we are, does it follow that we can go where we want?
Transportation systems such as cars and planes have moved from a 'go anywhere' attitude to the use of specified routes. Ships 'go' where they want, but are increasingly 'controlled' through various systems (ISM / ISP / etc.). The concept of waterway space 'management' is now a key point in discussion. Waterway space management is seen as a means of providing for safety and security of assets and there are existing forms of control with restricted areas, TSS, etc. - is the next step the establishment of 'highways' of the sea?
Following from this point, J. Taylor brought forward the separation between commercial and private aircraft. In the marine environment all share the same waters, but will it become suitable to restrict fishing grounds to fishing only, with no other transit?
The presentation concluded that seamless tracking from one existing regime to another (AIS, VTS, Satellite, etc.) is technically possible. Any approach to LRIT must supplement and mesh with existing VTS and waterspace management systems and, in time, it may replace them. J. Taylor noted that structures and organisations designed for a world of "traditional" marine navigation cannot survive in the e-navigation age unchanged. The old services - and the old service providers - must adapt, and the future will likely to see changing services, with increased co-ordination and co-operation between service providers.
Outcome of MSC Working Group - B. Mappblebeck, IMO
B. Mapplebeck provided a detailed review of the work underway at IMO with regards to LRIT.
The presentation noted the terms of reference of the group were to develop draft SOLAS amendments on the Long-range identification and tracking (LRIT) of ships taking into account the summing up by the Chairman of the MSWG at MSC 80, applicable to all types and sizes of ships, high-speed craft and mobile offshore drilling units specified in SOLAS regulation XI-2/2.1.1. In addition, the group was asked to note that the obligation to transmit LRIT information should be extended so as to include cargo ships engaged on international voyages with a gross tonnage between 300 and 500.
G. Mapplebeck noted that the group agreed that ships which are fitted with AIS, in compliance with SOLAS regulation V/19.2.4, and which are certified for operation exclusively within sea area Al should not be required to be fitted with additional equipment so as to provide LRIT information in accordance with the proposed SOLAS regulation. Some key points of the report were brought out in the course of the presentation:
・Information required to be provided - identity, location (latitude and longitude) and the time and date of the position (no other information needed);
・Administrations should be entitled to receive LRIT information about ships entitled to fly its flag irrespective of where such ships may be located;
・SOLAS Contracting Governments, in a Port State capacity, should be entitled to receive LRIT information about ships which have indicated their intention to enter a port facility or a place under the jurisdiction of that Contracting Government, irrespective of where such ships may be located;
・SOLAS Contracting Governments, in a Port State capacity, should not be entitled to receive LRIT information about ships, other than those flying its flag, when such ships are located within the internal waters of another Contracting Government and that an express provision to this end should be made in the proposed SOLAS regulation.
As the group consisted of 36 out of the 155 SOLAS Contracting Governments, and bearing the nature of the issues involved, it was decided that consensus on the draft text of SOLAS amendments on the issue was not possible.
To conclude, G. Mapplebeck noted that the results of the MSC Working Group were available as MSC81/5/1. A copy of the paper was provided to participants for reference, and included on the CD of the Seminar.
LRIT - Technical Requirements and Practical Solutions - B. Mullan, INMARSAT
The presentation focused on efforts in the past 12 months, noting that development was already behind the time-line proposed at the IALA Seminar in Nov. 2004, however progress had been made, with a clear 'FOCUS':
F - Fixed target date for agreement on LRIT - MSC 81 (May 2006).
O - Outcome of MSC inter-sessional meeting.
C - Clear understanding of what needs to be done.
U - Uniformity of approach growing, with support from Safety and Environmental interests.
S - system parameters more widely understood.
However what is missing is a proper plan to ensure the system is put in place. Elements of this include the:
・realisation that LRIT for maritime security alone is politically difficult - and may, in fact, not be possible,
・willingness to reach accommodation with more sensitive National interests,
・clarity of technical and operational realities of LRIT.
In describing what LRIT is (and is not) B. Mullan noted that LRIT is point-to-point only, not a broadcast system, and that it forms only one element of security. In addition, however, LRIT can augment many aspects of vessel transit, but it is essential that the data is managed and 'massaged' ashore.
The presentation urged participants of the seminar to resolve the key issues on LRIT before regional solutions, which are already developing, swell the scope of the work to develop a harmonized, internationally accepted system. The presentation noted specifically the requirement for an independent, credible and experienced oversight body.
In conclusion, B. Mullan stressed the importance of participating in the discussions underway at IMO. The aim of any LRIT system should be to track any ship, any time, any where.
LRIT - An Administration point of view - J.P. Hartmann, RDNAH and Ankerstjerne, Gatehouse
J. P. Hartmann provided the objectives and challenges of providing LRIT from an administrations point of view, with specific reference to the work done in the Baltic with the Helcom system.
The experience of Helcom identified a means of putting in place the international agreements required for information sharing, required in a global tracking system. At present, the system includes:
・A fully operational collection system of AIS data from all member countries, double-filtered,
・Storage of collected AIS data in a spatial database,
・Online AIS data accessible from the HELCOM system through a user defined filter and a supplied proxy,
・Presentation of stored data in an overview page accessible from a browser secured by login,
・Data presented in an overview page with clickable passage lines generating statistic reports,
・Statistic reports presented though diagram and text pop-up-reports sorted by user selection from a parameter form.
In discussing the realities of implementing such a system, J. P. Hartmann noted that the key issues encountered were policy related, not technical. When resolving these issues, items for consideration include the:
・Purpose of the system,
・Security of data (public / VPN (virtual private network)),
・Level of control of information,
・Need for speed (of data delivery),
・Need for accuracy,
・Standard requirements / special demands,
・Number of users,
・Service / maintenance / support,
・ Amount of data to be presented, and, above all,
・Cost.
The presentation was then handed to P. Ankerstjerne, who provided a demonstration of the Gatehouse software that is being used by Helcom in the overall system management. The demonstration provided live data from the Danish AIS base stations, and highlighted the flexibility of data acquisition, storage, retrieval and analysis. The real-time aspect of the information provided an opportunity to view existing tracking options, relating these to possible application in a global, rather than regional, environment.
Discussion - Session 5
It was observed that the experiences presented by JP Hartmann and P. Ankerstjerne provided a good basis to note that regional solutions are already being put in place, and that these could easily be adapted into a global system. It was also noted that the Helcom system is for SOLAS vessels only, at this time (does not include fishing vessels, domestic traffic or pleasure craft).
Discussion on the concept of an oversight body for LRIT included concerns on how information would be collected from different sources. It was noted that this is the practical level of collecting and assimilating the data - not technically difficult, but requires clearly identified policy on what data, how often, who has access, etc. The main point brought out was that the concept of a central data system is fundamental to the process.
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