Spanish technology group Satlink is the only foreign firm that has been certified and authorised by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) to supply systems for the UK’s inshore vessel monitoring scheme which is expected to be fully operational at the end of 2022
VMS has already been in place for some years for larger vessels, and the new iVMS will make it mandatory for fishing vessels under 12 metres to also be outfitted with systems that transmit course, position, speed and other data to the MMO.
Of the four approved suppliers, Satlink is the only non-UK company to be certified to supply the UK inshore fleet.
Satlink’s system has been developed, based on the company’s extensive experience in the installation of such systems on board more than 4,000 vessels of all sizes around the world. The Satlink device satisfies a range of requirements in terms of dimensions, power options and costs, among the MMO’s specifications that aim to tailor iVMS installations to the limitations and budgets of the UK inshore fleet.
A particular requirement is the capability to transmit data via mobile phone signal (2G/3G/4G) instead of via satellite. This reduces costs to user.
The MMO has also voiced its appreciation of the capacity to store historic position data, recorded at one-minute intervals, for up to a year. This functionality makes it possible to hold a continuous location record in areas without mobile coverage and subsequently transmit the stored information to the MMO, as soon as the vessel is within signal range.
The Satlink device also has an integrated rechargeable battery that provides a 50-hour autonomy and the option of power supply through a solar panel installed on board. This allows its operation with minimal impact on the rest of the electrical systems.
