The North Sea is far too busy. Digitization offers a solution

Once again, ships were in trouble at the North Sea. A collision between a cargo ship and an anchored tanker off the English coast led to a fire and fuel leaks. The cause is not yet known, but it is clear that it has become too busy for the coast in recent decades. Digitization may offer a solution.

Cargo ships in distress have become increasingly common in recent years. Since 2019, this is already the seventh time that a ship has run into trouble in the North Sea. In addition to shipping, other things are at play. Shipping routes, wind farms and oil platforms are all competing for space in the North Sea. It is therefore time that measures were taken.

Good digital communication

Good digital communication is the key to successful cooperation. Fred Hage and Wiebrand Bouwkamp at Rijkswaterstaat set up the Connectivity Fieldlab North Sea (CFNS) to discover the possibilities for digital communication at sea and to test innovations. “Society, the business community and the government are rapidly digitizing, but this is lagging at sea,” Hage said in an earlier interview with IO+.

Digital solutions at a glance

The Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management is investigating the possibility of offering full coverage in the 12-mile zone (the first approximately 19 km from the coast) with the lowest frequency of 5G (700MHz). “The business case for providers naturally focuses mainly on land, but we are investigating whether we can extend this to the sea in a certain way,” says Hage. Other technologies are being considered for communication outside the 12-mile zone.

Such as: wireless connections via LTE-M, which operates on a frequency of 450 MHz. This low frequency means the signal has a much greater range. This means fewer masts are needed. In addition, a lower frequency passes through buildings more easily, which is relevant for land-based applications.

Challenges

LTE-M over 450 MHz is not a new technology in itself. It is already in use in America and Germany. However, the use of this technology at sea is new. This presents us with entirely different challenges. For example, the reflection of the water surface can influence propagation. In addition, the materials wear differently due to the wind and salt water. Moreover, the system must be suitable for both sending and receiving data as well as for voice. LTE-M has long been used for sending data, but never before for voice communication. The parties involved will investigate this application further.

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