2022.11.01
We have launched the Satellite VDES Consortium.
13th October 2022 – TST Corporation, IHI Corporation, MOL Techno-Trade, Ltd., Furuno Electric Co., Ltd., ArkEdge Space Inc., Japan Radio Co., Ltd. (JRC), Mitsui & Co., Ltd. and the Ocean Policy Research Institute (OPRI) of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF) have jointly launched the Satellite VDES Consortium. The Satellite VDES Consortium promotes social implementation of satellite VDES, the next generation maritime communications infrastructure.
VDES (VHF Data Exchange System) is a next generation of the AIS (Automatic Identification System: Automatic Identification System for ships), which is widely used for ship operations and maritime traffic management, with new channels allocated to increase information transmission speed. In addition to ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore digital communications, international efforts are underway to build a global network through the VDES satellite constellation, which operates a large number of satellites in a coordinated manner. IMO is currently deliberating on the next revision of the SOLAS Convention to include VDES as an equivalent equipment to the AIS that are required to be carried on board. In the future, AIS will be replaced by VDES, the more sophisticated AIS 2.0 (next generation AIS).
Communications between ships and a port radio will increasingly use digital information communications via VDES in addition to voice communications on the international marine VHF radio. The introduction of IT will be easier, so more advanced port services are expected to be provided. TST Corporation corresponds to the era of digital transformation with the widespread use of VDES.
For more information on the satellite VDES consortium, see this website.