- The joint solution will aid early warning and management of adverse shipping conditions, maritime and environmental incidents, as well as assisting in rescue operations at sea
Alcatel-Lucent and Indra, the premier IT company in Spain and a leading IT multinational in Europe, have been co-selected by the Polish Maritime Office, Urząd Morski Gdynia, to provide a system that will enhance and provide safe and efficient vessel navigation and traffic services in one of the most heavily trafficked waters in the world, the Baltic sea area around Poland. The new system will provide early warning of safety, security and environmental threats in and offshore of Poland’s Baltic Sea ports, which handle over 80 million tonnes of cargo per year. It will also fully integrate support functions, including a crisis management center to aid rescue operations.
The new National Maritime Safety System will include an integrated network of marine sensors and secure and reliable communications equipment. Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) operators will be able to monitor sea traffic and weather conditions in real-time and identify and track vessels using sensor systems such as radars and the Automatic Identification System (AIS). VTS operators will use this intelligence to notify authorities and vessels of potential threats and prevent incidents such as collisions.
A crisis management centre will provide authorities with access to the data delivered by the system as well as integrated communications support in the event of an incident. This includes speedy notification, control and identification of the source of pollution, as well as accident investigation support. Search and rescue teams will be equipped with a new radio communications system, in accordance with the current regulations of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS).
Jan Młotkowski, Deputy Director of the Maritime Office in Gdynia, said: “Defining the assumptions for development of the maritime security and safety system for the Polish sea areas have taken the Maritime Office in Gdynia several years. Multiple scientific analyses and examinations were undertaken, and then made into technical assumptions during meetings with prospective contractors, within the scope of the tendering procedure in progress. The new system will streamline the acquisition and exchange of information among the maritime security forces. In turn it will ensure more efficient prevention of undesired events, such as vessel collisions and resulting environmental disasters, by streamlining the ongoing analysis of the area and easing the decision making process. The project is financed with the support of the structural funds acquired within the scope of the Operational Program "Infrastructure and Environment”. The project will deliver a unified maritime security management system for the entire maritime administration authorities, including the Ministry of Infrastructure responsible for the Polish maritime administration, as well as the Polish search and rescue forces.”
Andrzej Dulka, head of Alcatel-Lucent in Poland said: “We have brought together Alcatel-Lucent’s expertise in communications and systems integrations with Indra’s experience of delivering integrated state-of-the-art Vessel Traffic Control and Monitoring Systems and sensors. What we are putting in place is a system that seamlessly integrates systems already in use with new equipment to give the Polish Maritime Office much greater visibility into possible threats or unusual situations that could impact shipping and travelers in and around Poland’s waterways.”
Manuel López Sastre, Maritime Traffic Director of Indra, said “Indra’s solutions are based on a family of advanced maritime applications designed to provide full operation support from the ports to the National VTS Systems. Its modular component-based architecture based on COTS hardware and software platforms and extensive use of open standards, makes the system highly flexible in relation to functionality, scalability and maintenance Our work with Alcatel-Lucent will help us to improve the efficiency and security of maritime transportation around Poland.”
Under the agreement, Alcatel-Lucent will provide a communications network of packet microwave radio transmission equipment, IP routers and switches, marine sensors (closed circuit TV, meteorological stations and radio direction finders) and VHF radio access to connect sensors, sites and personnel. In addition, Alcatel-Lucent will provide civil works and site infrastructure as well as solution integration, installation and commissioning, extensive training and design.
Indra will deliver its maritime platform solutions including radar equipment and software. This platform constitutes the core of the project, permitting integration of all remote sensors in order to provide authorities with a real-time picture of the vessel traffic situation and potential risks. Indra will design a turnkey solution for the Gdynia, Szczecin and Słupsk Maritime Offices and provide a unified view of sea traffic along the whole Polish coast, incorporating the feed from other Polish authorities’ applications. In order to meet or exceed the customer’s expectations of the project, Indra's solution will take advantage of its recent experience in Vessel Traffic and Coastal Surveillance systems and the Maritime sector, including successful installations in Portugal, Morocco, Spain, Latvia, Romania or Hong Kong.
About Indra
Indra is the premier Information Technology company in Spain and a leading IT multinational in Europe and Latin America. It is ranked as the second European company in its sector according to investment in R&D with nearly € 500 M during the last three years. In 2010 revenues reached € 2,557 M of which a 40% came from the international market. The company employs more than 31,000 professionals and has clients in more than 110 countries.
About Alcatel-Lucent
The long-trusted partner of service providers, enterprises, strategic industries and governments around the world, Alcatel-Lucent is a leader in mobile, fixed, IP and Optics technologies, and a pioneer in applications and services. Alcatel-Lucent includes Bell Labs, one of the world's foremost centres of research and innovation in communications technology. With operations in more than 130 countries and one of the most experienced global services organizations in the industry, Alcatel-Lucent is a local partner with global reach. The Company achieved revenues of Euro 16 billion in 2010 and is incorporated in France and headquartered in Paris.
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