Marine communication refers to information exchange between vessels at sea or between vessels and coastal authorities. Historically, flags and Morse code were used, but radio technology now dominates. VHF radio is widely used for ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore communication. Distress signals can activate search and rescue operations coordinated by organizations like INMARSAT and COSPAS-SARSAT using satellites. EPIRBs automatically transmit distress signals via satellite, providing location data using Doppler shift measurement which is relayed to rescue coordination centers. The GMDSS system divides ocean areas into categories to coordinate appropriate emergency communication equipment depending on distance from shore.

1. MARINE COMMUNICATION
“Short history”
• The correct use of marine radios
communication is paramount to safe
boating and in the right hands, a
marine radios can save life and
property.
Presenter: Sagun Subedi
MOKPO NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

2. It is necessary to understand difference the between the term marine and maritime communication.
There is very little difference. Both come from the Latin word for 'sea' which is mare, Maris. Thus,
'marine' directly relates to the sea, while 'maritime' relates to things associated with the sea.
Marine
• Marine is an adjective meaning
of or pertaining to the sea, as in
'marine biology,' the study of life
in the sea.
• He was a marine in World War II.
Maritime
• Maritime is an adjective meaning
pertaining to objects or actions
related to or conducted on the sea,
as in 'maritime history,' which is
the study of events that have
occurred on the high seas,
shipping, commerce, discovery.
• We enjoyed maritime activities
such as kayaking and deep sea
diving.

3. Marine communication
• As it is known that earth consists of 70% water and it can be predicted
that marine communication is vast than terrestrial communication.
• Marine communication refers to the Information exchange between sea
things as ships or other equipment floating or under seaocean.
• Initially for this communication flag semaphore were used.
Flag semaphore is the telegraphy system conveying information at a distance by means of visual signals with hand-held flags,
rods, disks, paddles, or occasionally bare or gloved hands. Information is encoded by the position of the flags; it is read when the
flag is in a fixed position.

4. • Earlier in the 17th century ship to ship or ship to shore communication was
watched by the skilled radio officers which latter was replaced by radio
telegraphy using Morse code.
• Marine communication between ship to shore and ship to ship is carried out
by very high frequency (VHF) radio. Digital selective calling (DSC) is now being
integrated with VHF as per SOLAS (safety of life at sea) convection.
• DSC come with digital remote commands to transmit or receive distress
alert, urgent or safety and routine priority message.

5. Progress in Marine Radio Communication
• Marine communication is believed to accelerate with the invention of the RMS Queen Mary(1936-
1967).
• A paper entitled “A survey of Marine Radio Progress, with special reference to RMS Queen Mary” was
presented at the meeting of the wireless section of the institution of Electrical Engineers. This paper
summarizes the progress such as radio equipment used in cargo and passenger vessels, radio
problems encountered , way to solve the problems and the actual radio station of the RMS Queen
Mary.
#Queen Mary constructed by john brown and company in Clydebank, Scotland route between Southampton,
Cherbourg and New York. Also serves as military ship for troops during WWII. Currently it is in New York as
Tourist attraction.
• This installation comprises four transmitters and nine or ten
receivers; the control room can handle four independent
duplex circuits, and provision is made for high-speed
transmission and reception, and simultaneously
communication on both telegraphy and telephony with both sides of the Atlantic.

6. Marine communication
INMARSAT
 It is British satellite telecommunication company, offering global
mobile services.
 The organization was created to establish and operate a satellite
communications network for the maritime community.
COSPAS-SARSAT
 The International Cospas-Sarsat Program is a
satellite-based search and
rescue (SAR) distress alert detection and
information distribution system.
 As of 2011, 26 country ( including republic of
Korea), regional governments and one
organization (Chunghwa Telecom) are providers of
ground segments.

7. Cell phones age:
• In early 70s, cell phones were developed, though they provide the
convenience of simple, easy-to-use, inexpensive, private and generally
reliable telephone service to home, office, automobile or other locations
yet they weren’t and still aren’t used as the mean of communication in
marine system. Here are some reasons behind them.
• Most cell phones are designed for a land-based service. Their coverage offshore is limited, and
may change without notice .
• If distress call is made on the cell phones only one party you call will be able to hear you.
• Locating a cell caller is hard to do. If you don’t know your location, the coast guard will have
difficulty finding your location on the water.

8. VHF radios
• VHF marine radios were designed with safety in mind, i.e. if you are in distress, calls can be received
not only by the coast guard but by ships which may be in position to give immediate assistance.
• A VHF marine radio also helps ensure that storm warnings and other urgent marine information
broadcasts are received.
• VHF radios can be used anywhere around the world.
“VHF radios”

9. “MSI- receivers” “S-EPIRB”

10.  For international operational requirements, the global
maritime distress safety system (GMDSS) has divided world
into four sub areas.
• Area A1: lies within range of shore-based VHF coast stations (up to about 20 NM);
• VHF equipment, S-EPIRB or VHF EPIRB, MSI receiver.
• Area A2: lies within range of shore based MF coast stations (excluding A1 areas) (up to about 150
NM) ;
• VHF and MF equipment, S-EPIRB, MSI receiver.
• Area A3: lies within the coverage area of INMARSAT communications satellites (excluding A1 and
A2 areas- approximately between latitude 70 degrees north to latitude 70 degrees south);
• VHF, MF and HF or satellite equipment, S-EPIRB, MSI receiver.
• Area A4: comprises the remaining sea areas outside A1, A2, A3 (the polar regions);
• VHF, MF and HF equipment, 406 MHZ S-EPIRB, MSI receiver.
# NM/M/nmi is unit of distance that is approximately one minute of arc measured along any meridian i.e. 1,852 meter or 6,076 feet.

11. “Marine communication over-view”

12. GENERAL
INTRODUCTION
Brief definition on EPIRB, signal processing at LOESAR
& LEOLUT and slight focus on Doppler’s shift.

13. EPIRBs/PLBs
SAR SERVICES
SATELLITES
INMARSAT COSPAS-SARSAT
LEO-SAR GEO-SAR
406 MHz
LUT/MCC
NATIONAL/INTERNATIO
NAL NETWORKS
COAST/RADIO
STATIONS
RESCUECOORDINATION
CENTER
EARTH’S SURFACE
850Km

14. Introduction to EPIRB;
• EPIRB stands for emergency position-indicating radio beacon. It is a
device that is designed to transmit signal if you get in trouble. No
matter where you are in the world, and EPIRB sends a signal to
emergency responders through a satellite system called COSPAS-
SARSAT.
• A modern EPIRB is a sophisticated device that contains:-
• Antenna
• Sea switch
• Activation switch
• Test button
• Lanyard
• Strobe light
• LEDs and BUZZER
• Internal battery supply for at least 48 hours
• GPS position fixing system.
• #EPIRB may either be portable and capable of being manually activated or they must be able to be deployed automatically without any operator intervention.

15. Working mechanism of EPIRB;
• On the activation of the EPIRB, it sends the signal (frequency varying from 406 to 406.1 MHz)
which is picked up by LEOSAR. This communication is rather one way.
• Each 406 MHz EPIRB incorporates a unique identification code (if it is properly
registered).
• Once the satellite receives the beacon’s signals, the Doppler's shift is
measured and the beacon’s digital data is recovered from the signal. The
digital data include a maritime identification digit (MID, a three digit
number identifying the administrative country) and either a ship station
identifier (SSI, a 6 digit number assigned to specific ships), a ship radio call
sign or a serial number to identify the ship in distress.
• # This data is then stored in DRU of the LEOSAR and then transmit back to the LUT/MCC for further processing such as
locating and sending rescue team (SARs) towards the vessel.

16. LEOSAR
• 406 MHz receiver
• The 406 MHz ELTs utilize a Bi-Phase-L type modulation (Manchester coding) transmitting for
500ms every 50 seconds.
• Bandwidth calculations for the 406 are slightly different since the transmitted signal uses
BPSK modulation. The modulation bandwidth (Bm) is the wanted input to the link budget and
is found using the spectral efficiency factor (η) for BPSK which is 0.5 bps/Hz. Solving for Hz in
the equation below, the modulation bandwidth is simple twice the maximum bit data rate(R)
of the 406, which is 404 bps.
• η = 1/2= R(bps)/ Bm(Hz)
• Bm = 2R= 2*404= 808hz
• Thus 808 Hz is the minimum noise bandwidth of the processed signal as input to the A/D. also
needed for the 406 MHz link calculations is the receiver IF bandwidth. For this BPSK signal the
minimum receiver noise is the modulation bandwidth plus the transmitter stability of current
ELT beacons, which is ±5KHz.

17. 406 Link analysis:
• Link calculations for the 406 receiver still utilize the S/N method even though the 406 MHz signal is Bi-Phase-L
modulation with a five year oscillator stability of ±5KHz, uplink side. This is because by applying similar FFT
processing to 406 MHz transmissions the signal recovery becomes more reliant on a relationship between the
signal strength and the noise floor.
• The calculation method in below table model the ground ELT as having an isotropic antenna with a power out of
5W.
Parameter AMSAT link calculator STK
Received power -150 dBw (decibel watt) -147 dBw
G/T -23.4 dB/K -23 dB/K
S/N 25 dB 25 dB

18. • Beacon’s signals aren’t time synchronized i.e. this signals received by satellite antenna are random. Hence
signals from different beacons may overlap, which is referred to as random access with time.
• 406 MHz i.e. the carrier frequency is assigned to particular frequency channel in accordance to frequency
management plan. Within this frequency channel, beacon frequency are distributed around the center
frequency due to variation in oscillator frequency, ageing and temperature. Moreover the frequency received
by the satellite may overlap thereby creating frequency overlapping also called random access with
frequency.

19. BASIC LEOSAR SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS
• Beacon transmission times are not synchronized and beacon message arrival times at the satellite receiver antenna are
random.
• Therefore, bursts from different beacons may overlap in time.
τ= duration of each beacon burst,
b= frequency bandwidth of each burst,
T= beacon repetition period (beacon can continuously burst for 40 hours).

20. Hence at period (t1 + T);
 Beacon overlap at frequency domain may disappear {which is true in every case} i.e. each beacon’s frequency is different
ranging from 406 MHz to 406.1MHz.
 Also, the message repetition period of both beacons may be slightly different, a collision in time domain maynot
necessarily repeat after few signal transmission.
 When any two beacon’s signal overlapped at time and frequency domain have equivalent signal power then both the
signals are lost which is worst case and probably never occurring one.
 If overlapped signal at [t and f] have different signal power than signal having high power is received correctly while the
weaker message is lost.

21. SARP AND SARR processing channel.
These are the two processing channels in the LOESAR.
• 406 MHz signal received through the SARP channel are processed on board i.e. information is extracted and stored on
board and continuously transmitted to LEOLUT.
• The LEOLUT processed the data to compute a Doppler position and generates a distress message for distribution to SAR services.
The SARP channel that includes a satellite memory unit, provides the system global coverage as simultaneous satellite visibility of a
LEOLUT.
#: In the SARP channel, 406 MHz signal is assigned to the real time specific processing unit. The data recovery unit (DRU) remains occupied by for a given processing time. If all the DRU are busy at
certain period of time, 406 signal arriving at the SARP may be lost. On the basis of the current characteristics of the SARP instrument and memory unit, and the number of LEOLUTs in the system, it is
assumed that no data is lost before its transmission to a LEOLUT.

22. Control unit
Receiver
DRU 1
DRU 2
DRU 3
Frame
Formatter
And
Memory
Mission
telemetry
RF input
Fig: SARP Block Diagram

23. • Whereas the 406 MHz beacon messages received through the SARR channel are only repeated by the
satellite SARR instrument and all the processing (data recovery, timing, shift measurement and Doppler
location computation) is carried out at LEOLUT.
Similarly in SARR channel, LEOLUT ground processing can be adapted as necessary to meet the required
traffic.

24. DOPPLER’S SHIFT;
• Doppler’s shift:
• As we know Doppler shift is given by the equation:
𝐹𝑟 = (1 +
𝑉𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑙
𝑉𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑝
) × 𝐹𝑡 ………. (1)
= 1 −
𝑉𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑙
𝑉𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑝
× 𝐹𝑡 … . . . (2)
• +,- signs are for observer moving towards and away form the transmitter.
• Change in frequency is given by:
∆𝐹𝑟 = 𝐹𝑟 − 𝐹𝑡
= ±
𝑉𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑙
𝑉𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑝
×Ft, v=f𝜆 → 𝜆=v/f
= ±
𝑉𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑙
𝜆
…………….(3)

25. With this equation we can plot the graph between frequency and time.
frequency
Time
Point of inflection
y
x
β
• Point of inflection in the curve represents where satellite was closest to the transmitter i.e. {EPIRB} also called time of
closest approach {TCA}.
• Slope of the curve at TCA determines the distance of the transmitter form the satellite.
• Slope (m) = tan β, where β must be greater than 6.80 , in order to locate the beacon.
Point of inflection

26. • After the determination of β, it is possible to locate two lines where
transmitter could have been. These two lines are parallel line to the satellite
track.
• Now, we could draw perpendicular line form the point on the satellite to
these line which represent the distance between the transmitter and the
satellite track.
• Thus, we get two possible location of the transmitter, one being real and
another being imaginary.
• We find the actual location of the transmitter by coordinating with other satellite.
• Another way to locate the real location is the rotation of earth, which speed is about 463 ms-1
.

27. Satellite tracking
OA=OB= perpendicular distance from the satellite
track to the parallel lines.
The beacon is either located at position A or B.
Rotation of the earth or synchronization with
other satellite gives the exact position. A B
O
Satellite track
β β
satellite

28. 감사합니다
THANK YOU