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News 2009
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News 2009
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October 2009
Closure of Low Power Broadcast - reminder!
Fugro Seastar product Guidance Note 6.0 of 23 July 2009 advised vessel managers that the
Low Power Broadcast of Differential Global Navigation Satellite Services (DGNSS)
was being phased out during the 4th Quarter of 2009
in all areas except for the Pacific Ocean Region.
Changeover to alternative High Power Broadcasts has progressed well,
and on this basis it has now been decided that the final Low Power transmission on AOR-W, AOR-E and IOR will be at
08.00 UTC on Tuesday 17th November.
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September 2009
AFSAT COVERING EUROPE AND AFRICA BEING REPLACED BY EUSAT.
Due to new frequency allocation from our satellite service provider, Fugro has been forced to change the Frequency of AFSAT.
The broadcast on the new frequency is named EUSAT and will contain the same data as AFSAT.
The broadcast of the new EUSAT has already started, and it is available as a choice in Fugro demodulators.
Users of AFSAT must change to EUSAT prior to final termination of AFSAT 31 October.
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July 2009
Closure of Low Power Broadcast
Summary: During the last part of 2009 Fugro will close down the majority of the Low Power Service.
This will affect SeaSTAR users with receivers which are connected to Inmarsat terminals.
A. Background
The Fugro N.V group operates a range of Differential Global Navigation Satellite Services.
These services are delivered by satellite communications broadcast using two different power levels:
Low Power – this is used to deliver data to onboard receivers which are connected to the vessel’s Inmarsat terminal.
The Inmarsat terminal must be of a compatible type such as Inmarsat B or Fleet 77. This delivery method is often referred to as Inmarsat Satellite Broadcast
High Power – here data is delivered to the onboard receiver via a compact, dedicated omni-directional antenna onboard the vessel.
This delivery method is often referred to as Spotbeam Broadcast.
In recent years there has been an increasing move towards the use of high capacity VSAT satellite communications,
especially in sophisticated vessel types which constitute the majority of our users.
Although there will invariably be an Inmarsat C terminal fitted for GMDSS safety purposes,
we can no longer be certain that one of the larger Inmarsat terminal types is both fitted and currently fully operational.
For this reason, and also to provide reduce SeaSTAR service dependence on other onboard systems,
new installations are frequently based upon dual ‘spotbeam’ antennas with no Inmarsat based SeaSTAR system installed.
As a consequence Fugro has moved towards providing duplicated high power broadcasts.
B. Closure of Low Power
The closure of the Low Power Broadcast is scheduled to begin 1 October 2009 with a final end date of 31 December 2009.
Our aim is to move all current users of this broadcast type to High Power Broadcast by 1 October.
C. Changeover Process
It most cases the change from Low Power to High Power Broadcast will be accomplished by simply selecting an alternative satellite which operates on high power.
Equipment specific instructions on how to select a new satellite can be obtained from Fugro Seastar AS Support Department. Contact:
Technical Support Phone: + 47 21 50 14 20
Technical Support Email: seastarservice@fugro.no
D. Hardware Implications
The existing receiver can normally continue to operate with signal reception via the Inmarsat terminal without modification. In some instances, such as high latitude areas of operation, reception will actually be improved by receiving the high power broadcast over a ‘big dish’ antenna.
In some few instances it may be necessary to fit a small in line attenuator. Fugro Seastar Support can advise on this and provide such a unit if required.
E. Questions
Any general or policy questions can be addressed to your usual sales account contact alternatively to Fugro Seastar AS Support (details above).
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June 2009
MarineSTAR: New Multifunctional Navigation and Berthing System
Fugro Seastar AS is pleased to announce the introduction of a new product designed to meet the requirements of large merchant ships for navigation and berthing in confined waters: the MarineSTAR Manoeuvring System.
In addition to position data, MarineSTAR can provide an alternative to conventional navigation aids such as gyro compass and rate of turn indicator.
As well as heading, the system displays and outputs speed over the ground in both the fore and aft and athwartships directions.
The system utilises differential navigation sensors located in the bow and stern of the ship to calculate full ship vector data.
This information is then displayed on marine approved displays, which can be located in the wheelhouse and on the ship's bridge wings, or it can be displayed within a ship's Integrated Bridge System.
Following successful engineering sea trials on Fugro's own survey vessel the Fugro Mercator, the system has been installed onboard a passenger cruise ship for trials.
In addition to installation on cruise ships it is expected that MarineSTAR will be suitable for other large ships such as crude oil tankers, large bulk carriers, container ships and car carrier's to assist navigation and berthing in confined waters.
Additional system functions still under development include quay distance measurement for berthing assistance and fore and aft trim measurement to aid in bunker fuel optimisation.
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March 2009
EASAT will be decommissioned 31 March 2009
Please be aware that the EASAT channel will be removed from service on the 31st of March 2009.
Users should move to the AFSAT high power channel.
All relevant reference stations for the European and African regions are now available on AFSAT.
Users in the Middle East should move to APSat.
To ensure continual use of our services please re-tune your receiver to the appropriate channel when operations allow.
If the alternate channel is not included in you channel list, the following frequencies and symbol rates can be input manually.
For users in Europe:
AFSAT 1535.0800 MHz 2438 symbols/sec
For users in the Middle East:
APSAT 1535.1375 MHz 2438 symbols/sec
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