The debut of the global personal phone

The heart of a GMPCS is a dual-mode handset, similar to a mobile phone, which uses dedicated satellites when out of range of landbased cellular sites, but can be switched to a landbased network when within range. In either mode, a small antenna is attached to the handset. The user has one phone number, and satellite and cellular calls are charged to one bill. The first provider of the service is US-based Iridium, and another system is being set up by UK company ICO Global Communications, one of the shareholders of which is Inmarsat.

Keeping an eye on your assets Tracking vessels on passage is possible either via a satellite service, or most recently, directly via the Internet.

Owners, managers, charterers, agents, and shippers can track their vessels/cargoes around the world with a global asset tracking and fleet monitoring service.

Among the companies providing a worldwide vessel tracking service via satellite is US company Comsat. The company provides what it calls polling and data reporting on any vessel equipped with Inmarsat C. This can give owners either the simple lat/long position of their vessel, or a report detailing position, course and speed, for a nominal cost of 4 cents and 8 cents respectively. The owner does not incur any setup costs or subscription charges for this service, says Tom Surface of Comsat. The company is also developing an internet interface, which will be available sometime in the future, he adds.

An interface with the Internet allows any company or individual, with permission from the shipowner or manager, to view the position of vessels in real time on his/her on shore PC, via a secure user name/password. All that is required is computer access to the Internet and the appropriate free web browser.

Remote reefer control via satcoms and Internet The ability to monitor and control the settings of a reefer container on a vessel on shore via a remote PC has come a step closer. The latest networking version of the GRASP onboard reefer container monitoring system from US company Refrigerated Transport Electronics (RTE) has the ability to interface via the shipÕs satcoms system and the internet with shore-based PCs, using the TCP/IP Internet communication protocols.

Therefore, as well as onboard monitoring, shore-based owners and container terminals will also be able to keep abreast of any problems which may occur with individual refrigeration units on board any ship which has the networked GRASP system fitted. This latest version of GRASP will be available in the second or third quarter of this year, says RTE.