By Melvin Onwubuke
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Sternula Denmark on full-scale Very High Frequency Data Exchange System space capabilities.
This was revealed in a statement by the Assistant Director of Public Relations, NIMASA, Osagie Edward, according to The Punch.
According to him, this development would make NIMASA Africa the leading maritime administration in Africa, with seamless communication between the shore and the ship, thereby improving the safety of life at sea.
Meanwhile, the Director General of the agency, Dr Bashir Jamoh, while signing on behalf of NIMASA noted that the international partnership to enhance vessel-to-vessel/land communication in Nigeria would not only promote the safety and security of navigation in Nigerian waters but also enhance the productivity of seafarers.
Sternula-1 and the built-in AIS 2.0 technology, also called VDES, is a new communication solution for implementing a global e-navigation strategy.
By using special satellite channels, which means that every ship with a VHF antenna will be able to communicate globally, AIS 2.0 is an extension of AIS and adds twoway data channels over VHF.
The Memorandum of Understanding, signed by Jacob Weibrent, and witnessed by the Danish Consul General in Nigeria, Jette Bjerrum, will allow connectivity of the VHF Data Exchange System via Sternula’s fleet of micro satellites.
Jamoh described the development as a boost to the agency’s digitalization efforts.
He emphasized, it would further provide alternative communication channels for vessels in line with provisions of the International Maritime Organization, and the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities.
Jamoh noted “Access to timely information is key to a viable seaborne transport, particularly in this dispensation of blue economy. In this new reality, there is a need for ship managers to gain access to quality data, which is essential for ship managers to make decisions, while also acting on market opportunities.
“A well-digitalized system leads to faster access to information, improved customer experience, increased productivity, lower operational costs, improved decision making, improved information security, higher mobility, and automation of business processes amongst others.”
He explained that the International Maritime Organization sets the requirements for the e-navigation strategy implementation plan while International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities, develops the technical solutions such as AIS as part of measures to ease and promote digital communication in the maritime industry.
