Operational and communication
challenges
An Antarctic perspective
e-Navigation workshop
Haugesund, 17-18 October 2012
Five years ago (Sep 2007)….
Antarctica
Highest, driest, windiest and coldest continent
Katabatic winds up to 327 kmph recorded
Elevation of South Pole is 2835 m
Size: ‘Twice Australia’
Surrounding sea freezes in
winter - for up to hundreds of
kms offshore
Lowest temp: Minus 89°C
Antarctica (contd.)
Almost entirely covered by ice
(can be 4 kms deep !)
Twelve nation signed
Antarctic Treaty (1959/61)
Fifty nations work consultatively
Use for peaceful purpose –
science & research
Avoid territorial disputes
..short and effective !
Activity on Antarctica
National programs
Research & other activities
Tourism & adventure
Growth since 1980s
Increased activity = increased risk
to environment
IAATO: 93 members promote
safe & environmentally
responsible tourism
Australian Antarctic Division
Division of the Commonwealth’s
environmental department
Headquartered in Tasmania (over 300
permanent staff)
Aim:
Advancement of Australia's strategic,
scientific, environmental and economic
interests in the Antarctic by protecting
administering and researching the
region
Australian Antarctic Division
Bases
Casey, Davis and Mawson
Heard Island and Macquarie Island
Presence in the AAT region:
• permanent continental stations
• provision of sea, air and land
transport, communication and
medical services
RSV Aurora Australis
Platform for large
annual marine
research effort
Resupply research
stations (in summer)
Jet aircraft links with
Hobart (3.5 km long
runway near Casey)
Arctic
Antarctic
Ocean - surrounded by
continents
Continent – 4 km thick land
(fresh water) ice
Sea ice - 2 metres thick
Research and tourism
Has ‘activity’ - ports,
people, assets & facilities
About 2000 people only (US
base alone has about 1000)
No ports, no aids to navigation,
no tugs, no ice breakers…..
Antarctica - operational challenges
1.
Need to minimize environmental impact
2.
Access - permit required
3.
Need to maintain contact with other ships
about 20 voyages (6 ships) p.a. from Australia / NZ
several hundred tourist voyages from South
America
Antarctica - operational challenges
4. Maintaining up-to-date information on location of
ships, aircraft & people
Communication and coordination
Knowledge of resources available at bases
5. SAR is a real challenge
6. Rough weather - tourists are always sea-sick !
Peninsula area (mostly frequented by tourists) has
sheltered spots
Search and Rescue
Vast (about 53 million sq. kms.) area of Australian
SAR responsibility - cannot afford to “search” in
the Antarctic !
Peninsula – naval vessels from Chile, Argentina and UK
All vessels should be tracked
Must have two way communications (between
ships and lifeboats / life rafts)
Search and Rescue
Five MRCCs (Argentina, Australia,
Chile, New Zealand and South Africa)
– formal agreement for maritime SAR
Australian based SAR aircraft –
restricted range
No ice capable ships
Australian Defence Force – limited
experience with operations in
Antarctic
Communication challenges
Diesel is main source of
power
HF - can be highly variable,
depending on propagation
conditions
Polar absorption (not yet fully
understood)
Communication challenges
Communication between bases
and field parties, aircraft and
ships
routine, back up and emergency
preferably two-way voice
GMDSS Communications
Sea Area A3: to roughly 76°S
Coverage by Inmarsat C, B & Fleet 77
MSI is via EGC (SafetyNET)
Sea Area A4: South of about 76°South (to
South Pole)
HF, basically
Sea Area A4 coverage
HF DSC stations
Argentina, Australia, Chile, New Zealand &
South Africa
MF & VHF: limited coverage from Chile stations
in Peninsula area
MSI broadcasts ??
…via AIS satellites in the future? (WRC-15)
Communications – what’s available
INMARSAT in Ross and Weddell Seas (about 80°S)
problematic due to extreme latitude
“Australian” coastline
About 67°S – so its bases are within INMARSAT coverage
Ship to shore VHF works well
HF (4, 6, 8 and 12 MHz) are used where available
99% of communications is now via the Internet (via
INMARSAT)
Communications – what’s available
Ships approaching Australian stations download to ground
station for transmission via satellite
South of 70°S - Iridium is key (but not very reliable) for voice
and data communications
Iridium network used to switch off power when in south transit to
conserve power (not commercially viable).
Emergency (one-way communications) – distress beacons
COSPAS-SARSAT 406 MHz & non C/S (e.g. ARGOS)
AGROS withdrew support for polar operations in 2007
Communications – what’s available
Alternative systems
GPS combined with short data bursts
via Iridium
Sky Trac (www.skytrac.ca)
Blue Sky
(www.blueskynetwork.com)
Others in development ….
Increasing use of commercial beacons
….for tracking and safety back up
Communications solutions
INMARSAT is the current best option (website says to 80°S)
“Intelligent HF” is also an option
Adequate number of channels are available
High speed data capability ( 20 kbps) is also available
Upgrade the GMDSS system to include high-speed HF
A hybrid-system (HF / satellite) solution is yet another option
Communications solutions
The Peninsula – a VHF
solution can cater to cruise
ships
Of questionable value in
other areas (not enough
base stations)
Communications solutions
Research and supply
vessels
Satellite solution is best if
available
Australia – working on
broadband via nano LEO
satellites for research
community
Communications solutions
VHF via satellite
Caveat - channel allocation is set up for terrestrial (not spacebased) use
Doppler Shift is also a problem
Investigate VHF Data Exchange
LRIT – increased frequency
IMO – Polar Code
Two tales !
Norway
Penguins to the north in the 1920s – did not work out
Reindeers in the Antarctic - worked !
Thank you for your
attention !
Mahesh Alimchandani
Head of Navigation, AMSA
Tel: + 61 2 6279 5927
E-mail: [email protected]