The Maritime LOPOS EGNOS Test Bed (MARLET)
Introduction
It will soon be much safer for ships to enter and move around narrow harbours with help from a system that will enable accurate navigation information to compliment radar signals.
Ships currently enter harbours relying on just radar images and verbal information from the team on the adjacent tug boats. A harbour in Hamburg, Germany tested the MARLET (the Maritime LOPOS EGNOS Test Bed) system developed by Lopos Technologies GmbH, who initiated the project with sponsorship from the European Space Agency (ESA).
Objectives
The aim of this project was the demonstration of the European Geostationary Overlay Service (EGNOS) in the maritime environment in two domains: Hamburg port operations and in the context of the forthcoming installation of AIS transponders aboard seagoing vessels.
In particular, the following tasks were performed:
- An examination of integrity for the LOPOS-generated GPS / GLONASS correctional data
- A performance comparison between local production of correction data and use of EGNOS
- A test of the operative use of EGNOS for commercial applications in shipping
- An investigation of the suitability of EGNOS for alternative navigational solutions – namely AIS – for the intelligent and selective reduction in the amount of data to be transferred.
Applications
The main applications of MARLETS are going to be in the Maritime domain (Harbour Navigation and Traffic Management).
Technical Information
MARLETS is a new Silent Vessel Traffic Management and Information Service for:
- ports and coastal shipping
- internal waterway shipping
- fleet coordination
- multi-modal traffic interchange
LOPOS integrates state-of-the-art concepts and technologies:
- Precision navigation based on Global Navigational Satellite Systems (GNSS)
- high-performance data communication (Wireless LAN) covering mobile and fixed participants
- traffic visualization based on Electronic Navigation Charts (ENC)
Moreover, LOPOS complies with present and future demands for safety, economic efficiency, high-precision navigation and environmental protection.
Schedule
The MARLETS project lasted 12 months, and the demonstration campaign took place in December 2002.
Consortium
MARLETS has been developed by the European Space Agency in partnership with the German company Lopos.
Contact points
At Lopos Technologies: contact@lopos.com
At ESA: Juan.de.Mateo@esa.int
