New space services for maritime users: the impact of satellite technology on maritime legislation

Encouraging results leading to operational use (GEOSS and GMES initiatives) have been established in research and environmental studies and also in areas more closely connected with industry such as fishing.

Background

The purpose of the conference “New space services for maritime users: the impact of satellite technology on maritime legislation”, which will be held in Paris at the UNESCO on 21-23 February 2005, is to bring together scientific and technical experts, the legal and administrative experts and the user community to express their needs and possible solutions, look at what is available already and what new developments will be arising in the near future, review the status of implementation in the light of technical developments and see what new legislation at regional and national level may be needed to implement and expand the recommendations made at the Vigo Conference.

This Symposium indeed follows the conference jointly organised by EURISY and INTA in Vigo, Spain, in 2003, that formulated a series of Conclusions and Recommendations addressed to the decision-makers of the European Union, its Member States and relevant international organisations. These Recommendations included the development of an appropriate legal framework including legislation admitting space-based information in court, and ensuring better law enforcement across national boundaries.

The Symposium focuses on two objectives:

• Assessing the state of the art: using remote sensing technologies for maritime transport security and safety and resources exploitation;
• Providing recommendations for the preparation of a legal updating on maritime transport in Europe.

Assessing the state of the art

Remote sensing satellites are generating information for the benefit of maritime users: transport companies and operators, public authorities, coast-guards and fisheries. These data are merged with data from other sources: satellite navigation systems (GPS, Galileo) and traditional maritime security and safety data gathering. Satellite communication links connect the data sources in real-time.

The symposium will focus on scientific research in the maritime milieu and will contribute to identify the space facilities and systems, which could be used in the future in order to control the compliance with legislation, and the way they are integrated into global information systems like a global automatic identification system (AIS), vessel traffic monitoring systems, long range identification and tracking of vessels (LRIT), or systems aimed at mapping underwater obstacles, preventing collisions, monitoring living resources of the ocean, prospecting new non-renewable resources.

A new legal framework on Maritime transport in Europe

New space services can be provided in the legal context of maritime transport. In Europe maritime transport policy is oriented towards Safety, Security, Efficiency and Environment in Shipping and the use of space instruments to enhance and control its enforcement. Other countries like Canada and USA are thinking along the same lines. The Symposium will reflect the activities to be developed in the coming years by the space actors and users for the benefit of the public authorities in charge of the application of the regulation as well as the expectations of the other users of space services.

Practical Information

The Symposium “New space services for maritime users: the impact of satellite technology on maritime legislation” , co-organised by EURISY and the IAF, will be held in Paris from 21 to 23 February, at UNESCO Headquarters. It is cosponsored by ESA, UNESCO, CNES, EUMETSAT and EADS. Registrations form and a detailed programme can be downloaded from the EURISY and IAF websites. Press interviews will be organised at UNESCO, on 23 February.

In order to participate, please contact:
Mary Fouassier
EURISY
Tel: + 33 (0)1 47 34 00 79
+ 33 (0)1 53 69 80 33
eurisy@wanadoo.fr