FROM VHF data

TO safer, healthier OCEANS

  • SPACE MISSIONS

ORBCOMM & SAAB

Developing the next generation of maritime communications

More than 80% of all goods transported between countries are carried by ships, and maritime traffic is increasing: according to a study by the American Geophysical Union, traffic on the world’s oceans increased by 300% in the two decades to 2014.

As our oceans become more congested, we need better tracking systems and emissions management. Space is helping to provide the answer.

AAC Clyde Space is working with ORBCOMM, a leading provider of industrial internet of things solutions, and aerospace and defence company Saab to deliver improved safety and efficiency to seafarers worldwide. We are developing the first satellite of a future constellation to provide a Very High Frequency Data Exchange System (VDES) for two-way communication between satellites and the Earth’s surface.

This added space capability will increase VDES’s range from the shoreline to anywhere in the ocean, turning what is a largely coastal system into a global maritime system. With up to 32 times more bandwidth than the widely used Automatic Identification System (AIS) communication, VDES can also be integrated with e-navigation systems, esystems to improve navigation, increase safety and enable savings of up to 25%.

The first satellite of the constellation is expected to be launched in 2022. After demonstrating its VDES capabilities, it will be used to deliver AIS data to ORBCOMM, supporting applications including search and rescue, environmental monitoring and maritime intelligence.