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NAV/COM REVIEW (Continued from page 26) Inmarsat has, in some measure, already moved towards a more commercial operation. In 1995 it set up a company ICO Global Communications, to over- see the implementation of a global hand-held satellite communica- tions system. Financed by Inmarsat, which has a holding of more the 10 percent in the compa- ny, ICO's current main goal is to introduce Project 21, a global mobile phone system which is intended to become operational by the end of next year. The system will provide a voice, fax, data and paging service through a network of 10 operational satellites, and is expected to attract millions of FOSTER REFRIGERATOR MARINE DIVISION yOSr/;^ ^^ 1946 SINCE Foster designs and engineers their Marine products to withstand pressures of rough seas and operate efficiently in hot galleys Meets rigid specifications of MIL 21908E, the US Navy US Coast Guard and Public Health Services 4 cu. ft. to 100 cu. ft. Refrigerators & Freezers Pass Thrus Blast Chillers & Freezers Special Body Depth for easy passage thru deck hatches Medical Refrigerators & Freezers Modular Construction Available * Dual Temps FOSTER REFRIGERATOR CO., 6 Aitken Avenue, Hudson, NY 12534 Toll Free 1 -888-828-3311 Fax 1 -518-828-3315 Circle 326 on Reader Service Card C-MAP are major suppliers of digital nautical charts, a crucial element in the improvement of safety of navigation at sea. The C-MAP digital chart library which includes over 9000 digital copies of original paper charts is being continually expanded. The CM93 data format fully conforms to IMO's S57/DX90 specification and as authorised digital charts become available it will be possible for these to be incorporated in C-MAP's database. A number of major marine electronics manu- facturers have selected C-MAP CM93 digital charts for their ECDIS systems. If you are planning to invest in safety and efficiency by installing an ECDIS system, contact your system supplier or call us to check that your system can use C-MAP's unique database. C-MAP Commercial 133 Falmouth Road Mashpee, MA 02649 USA Phone 508 477 7537 Fax 508 477 7549 C-MAP Norway A/S Box 212 - 4371 Egersund - Norway Phone +47 51 49 42 34 Fax +47 51 49 25 33 Visit our Internet Web Site at www.c-map 34 Circle 222 on Reader Service Card users over the first 10 years of operation. Call costs are expected to be in the region of $2.50 and $3.50 per minute. Inmarsat has additionally expanded its influence from the London headquarters by continuing to locate offices in strategic locations around the world, its first being in Beijing, China three years ago. One of the proponents of the commercialization of Inmarsat is Joseph Hersey, head of the Spectrum Management Division of the U.S. Coast Guard. Mr. Hersey believes that restructuring is essential if the agency is to remain competitive. He also agrees that whatever happens, Inmarsat must maintain its primary role of pro- viding safety services, in particu- lar GMDSS. Mr. Hersey gave several rea- sons for this stance, including: GMDSS should be enforced by con- tract and the agency should have a large number of financially respon- sible members; there should be clear separation between Inmarsat and its subsidiary, ICO Global Communications; and, there should be a distinct separation between the public corporation and intergovernmental organiza- tions. But not everyone is as positive as Mr. Hersey about going com- mercial. The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has voiced concern over possible changes to the organization with respect to the plethora of private and public consortia developing their own communications sys- tems. In contrast to safety matters which are well covered, the ICS says it has doubts over the current methods of processing routine communications. It is mindful of the explosion in the use of cellular mobile phones and assumes there would be no restriction on their use by crew or passengers for short range mes- saging. Non-safety communications may become an adjunct to the gen- eral mobile radio service, with the GMDSS system being restricted to safety and routine communica- tions concerning a vessel's opera- tion. It is this increasing pressure from independent service providers that could relegate Inmarsat to that only concerning the GMDSS system, and missing out on the lucrative commercial traffic that it must challenge for, if Maritime Reporter/Engineering News
