Theme 1 – Maritime safety and security

High-speed data, video and sound transmissions can now be received virtually anywhere on a diverse range of platforms. This proves more problematic at sea, despite there being wide-ranging demands for such a service – maritime safety information portal, transmission of map and chart data, ship video surveillance, processing and relaying distress calls, messaging, etc.

Two major companies, Alcatel and Thomson-GrassValley, and two SMEs, C2 Innovativ’Systems and Morgan’Conseil, are working together on offering an IP which will combine the different types of radio technology available at sea – Wimax, Wifi, Edge and Satellite. They will be working in collaboration with ENSTB, whose expertise, particularly in turbo codes, is world renowned, and will carry out on-board trials with IFREMER and the shipyards, Chantiers de l’Atlantique. The requirements of such a service are quite challenging – continuous data streams whatever a vessel’s position, transmission security and optimization of costs.

As well as providing a response to safety and security issues, IP eX-TREME will offer a host of services to ships using an on-board platform – joint operations for cargo and fishing vessels, video streaming and cruise liner videoconferencing.

Ex-TREME project partners

Companies

• Alcatel Business Systems in Brest is one of the biggest suppliers of on-board telephony with over 120 000 lines installed on board cruise liners belonging to the largest of the global companies.
• Thomson-GrassValley in Brest is a major player in the field of voice, image and data transmission.
• C2 Innovativ’Systems in Saint-Malo specialises in new generation, high-speed interactive services, system interoperability and compatible telecom networks.
• Morgan’Conseil, based in Rennes, works on innovation management and new technology legislation.
• ALSTOM Marine - Chantiers de l’Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, as part of the “Intership” European consortium, is working on the technology which will shortly replace traditional telephony on board cruise ships.

Research centres

• ENST Bretagne in Brest and Rennes is responsible for devising the turbo codes capable of improving the robustness of satellite communications signals and is internationally recognised for its expertise in signal processing.
• IFREMER and its “Ships and on-board systems” department in Brest possesses considerable experience in data transmission between oceanographic vessels and on-shore laboratories and takes part in experiments conducted on board the vessel, Pourquoi Pas?

Partner by invitation

• Brest Iroise Technopole contributes expertise acquired in the field as the body responsible for managing the IROISE research project working on network continuity through high-speed technology coupling.

Contacts

jean-yves.eouzan@pole-mer-bretagne.com
ali.khenchaf@pole-mer-bretagne.com