287
1 INTRODUCTION
Harmonisationofriverinformationservicesisoneof
thekeyobjectivesoftheEUtransportpolicy.Inorder
to adjust the Polish inland transport to modern
logisticssolutionsandintegrateitintotheintermodal
transport network, the River Information Services
(RIS)systemhasbeendeveloped.
Vessels used in inland waterway tra
nsport are
smaller than those in use in maritime shipping, and
are often pushed or towed units. A modern inland
vesselhasrelativelylowenergyconsumptionandso
isenvironmentallyfriendlyandsafe.
In order to implement the RIS system in the
territory of the European Union, it is necessary to
developanddeployacommunicationssystemwhich
will enable exchange of all the informat
ion required
forsafeinlandnavigation.RISsystemmodulesmust
ensure integral data exchange, achieved through
standardization of the applications and technologies
used.[1],[8]
The strategies outlined in the relevant EU
directives encourage the use of high‐end radio
communication solutions in the ma
nagement of
inlandwaterwaytrafficandtransport.
The RIS Centre archives, processes and provides
information to masters of inland navigation vessels
and supports the processes of planning and
management of river traffic and transport. The
possibility of implementation and use of the Global
Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) in
inlandnavigationisoneofthefact
orslinkingthetwo
transport branches β€“ξˆ± inland waterway transport and
maritimeshipping.
2 GLOBALMARITIMEDISTRESSANDSAFETY
SYSTEM[2],[3]
Implementation of the GMDSS by the International
Maritime Organization (IMO) in collaboration with
Maritime Communications in RIS System for Inland
Navigation
A.Lisaj
M
aritimeUniversityofSzczecin,Poland
ABSTRACT:ThearticlepresentstheVHFcommunicationssystemarchitectureforinlandnavigationwithinthe
areaofoperationoftheRIS‐PLCentre.
TheauthorhasdescribedthecommunicationsystemmodulesusedintheRISontheLowerOderstretchand
presentedtherelevantequipmentspecification.
The present condit
ion of the system has been described, taking into consideration the location of its
components,bothinthefieldandintheenvironment,ofkeyimportanceforVHFcommunication.
The feasibility of implementation of GMDSS subsystems for integrated navigational data transmission in
maritimeandinlandnavigationattheRIS‐PLCentrehasbeendiscussed.
http://www.transnav.eu
the International Journal
on Marine Navigation
and Safety of Sea Transportation
Volume 9
Number 2
June 2015
DOI:10.12716/1001.09.02.18
288
the International Telecommunications Union (ITO)
hasmadeitpossibletosendautomateddistresscalls
inemergencysituations.

Figure1.GMDSSsubsystems.[12]
The system is designed to minimise the time
requiredforsendingadistressalert,locatethevessel
in distress and ensure communication on site
required for coordination of the search and rescue
operation.
In the development of both analogue and digital
radio communication, several GMDSS subsystems
havebeenisolated.(Fig.1)

The radio infrastructure of data transmission in
inland shipping should be compatible with the
GMDSS in use at sea, with its operation based on
terrestrial transmission channels, wireless Internet
and satellite transmission channels. Digital data
processing systems DSC (Digital Selective Calling)
and VHF radio communication systems ensure
reliable vessel‐to‐
shore and vessel‐to‐vessel
communicationininlandnavigation.
3 VHFCOMMUNICATIONSYSTEM
ARCHITECTUREFORTHEPOLISHRISSYSTEM
ONTHELOWERODERSTRETCH[4],[6],[12]
One of the main characteristics of the River
Information Service is efficient and reliable flow of
information.Itcanbeeffectivelyachievedinrealtime
through
 VHF communication, which is of key
importance in maritime navigation and has been
implemented to meet the requirements of inland
waterwayshippingservices.
VHFcommunicationisinuseininlandnavigation
toensuresafeflowofinformationamongvesselsand
servicescoordinatingSARoperationswithintheRIS‐
PLsystemoperation
range.
3.1 RIS‐PLOperatingCentre[14],[15]
The Operating Centre is the heart of the River
InformationServicessystem.Basedinthebuildingof
the Inland Navigation Office (UrzΔ…dŻeglugi
ŚrΓ³dlΔ…dowej) in Szczecin at pl. Stefana Batorego 4, it
wasofficiallylaunchedon16May2014(see
Fig.2).

Figure2.BuildinghousingtheRIS‐PLOperatingCentre.
Source:Ownwork,basedon[15].
Withinausablefloorareaof200sqm,aroomhas
beenarranged forthemaintenanceofconstantradio
watch by three system operators who control the
system modules. The foreground item of the
equipmentisadisplayconsistingofsixLCDscreens.
Itdisplays aview of the AIS
 and views from CCTV
cameras,which,combined,supportreal‐timeviewof
the situation on the river. The RIS Centre also
provides electronic charts for the purposes of the
Inland ECDIS, transmits Notices to Skippers (NtS),
receives ERI messages and ensures system users
reliableVHFradiocommunication.
TheRIS‐PL
coversatotalareaboundedby:
ο€­ thevillageofOgnicaξˆ±β€“ξˆ±southernend(697kmofthe
RiverOder),
ο€­ Western Oder β€“ξˆ± northern end (36.55 km of the
RiverOderξˆ±β€“ξˆ±theTrasaZamkowaroute),
ο€­ EasternOderatthemouthoftheRiverRegalicato
LakeDΔ…bieξˆ±β€“ξˆ±northernend(741.6km),and
ο€­ LakeDΔ…bie.
3.2 LocationofVHFcommunicationmodulesintheRIS‐
PLsystem[12],[14]
3.2.1 VHFnetworknodeξˆ±β€“ξˆ±EwaGrainElevator[11]
The primary VHF network node of the RIS‐PL
systemisthebaseradiostationlocatedontheroofof
the Ewa Grain Elevator. Owing to
its location (in
position 53.4373°N, 14.5842°E, on thegrounds of the
SzczecinHarbour)andtheimplementedtechnology,
the radio station enables VHF communication
throughouttheRIS‐PLareaupto(andincluding)the
village of Ognica. The existing building has been
alteredfortheinstallationofantennasaswellasthe

requiredpowersourcesandbaseradiostationdevices
onitsroof.
VHF communication is carried out through four
device modules: two universal radiotelephones
MotorolaGM360withoutaDSCunit,andtwoSailor
series6222VHFDSCunits.Forthepurposeofvessel
trafficsupervision,thebaseradiostationonthe
Ewa
Grain Elevator is equipped with two Inland AIS β€“ξˆ±
SAAB R40 devices. Each VHF radio station has a
separateLATEYVYSbeamantenna.
NBDP
MF/HF
VHF
Communication
MF/HF
Communication

DSCVHF
DSCMF/HF
INMARSAT
NAVTEX
COSPAS
SARSAT
EGC
EPIRB
SART
AIS‐SART
GMDSS
289
Fig.3presentstheEwaGrainElevatorbaseradio
station.ThelocationoftheRISmodulesismarkedin
red.
Signals received by VHF radio stations are
transmitted directly to the RIS‐PL Operating Centre
viaarelaynetwork,usingopticalfibrecablesforthe
transmission of data incoming from
 sensors,
radiotelephonesandAISreceivers.
Fig.4presentsablockdiagramofthearrangement
of short‐range communication devices at theEwa
GrainElevatorbaseradiostation.

Figure3. Ewa Grain Elevator base radio station with the
locationofRISmodulesmarkedinred.
Source:Ownwork,basedon[15].

Figure4. Arrangement of VHF communication devices at
theEwaGrainElevatorbaseradiostation.
Source:Ownwork,basedon[1],[5].
A CCTV camera mounted at the Ewa Grain
Elevator base radio station provides undisturbed
viewofthesituationinthefairway.Thehigh‐quality
image enables monitoring of vessels passing under
theTrasaZamkowaroute(distance:1500m).Atthe
control panel installed at the RIS‐PL Operating
Centre, one
 can select an image from the desired
CCTV camera out of 36 cameras operating in the
entirearea.
3.2.2 AIS‐VHFnetworknodeξˆ±β€“ξˆ±theWiduchowaWeir
[11],[14]
Another location of great importance for VHF
communication in the RIS‐PL system is the
Widuchowa Weir AIS base station (53.14461°N,
14.3861°E).
Here, the River Oder splits into two
branches β€“ξˆ± the Western Oder and the Eastern Oder.
Meteosensors,aradarandtwoCCTVcamerashave
been installed on the roof of the building
administered by the Regional Water Management
Authority.
Fig.5presentsablockdiagramofthearrangement
of VHF
 communication devices at the Widuchowa
Weirbasestation.

Figure5. Arrangement of VHF communication devices at
theWiduchowaWeirbasestation.
Source:Ownwork,basedon[1],[5].
4 VHFRADIOCOMMUNICATIONINTHERISξˆ±β€“
PLSYSTEMATTHELOWERODERSTRETCH
[1],[4],[5]
Operation of the RIS‐PL system is supported by the
VHFbaseradiostationwithitsreceiversmountedon
top of the Ewa Grain Elevator building.
Communication is carried out via three
radiotelephone channels, monitored
at the RIS‐PL
OperatingCentre:
1 VHFchannel10ξˆ±β€“ξˆ±156.500MHz,simplex,
2 VHFchannel74ξˆ±β€“ξˆ±156.725MHz,simplex,
3 VHF channel 79 β€“ξˆ± a) 156.975 MHz ; b) 161.575
MHz,duplex.

1 Therequirementofreporting onVHFchannel10
(156.500 MHz) applies to all vessels
passing the
DΕ‚ugi Bridge and the Trasa Zamkowa route (it
shouldbenotedherethatleft‐handtrafficapplies
on the stretch from the JaskΓ³Ε‚cza Island to the
DΕ‚ugi Bridge), and vessels on the stretch from
Klucz to Ustowo, where the safety of inland
navigation is undermined due
 to a narrow
fairway.
2 VHF channel 74 (156.725 MHz) is used for
communication among the RIS‐PL Operating
Centre, administrators of the waterway and
vessels within the system range. The RIS‐PL
systemsendsinformationconcerningthesafetyof
navigation,suchasbridgeclearanceheightsorthe
operation of
locks and bridges. When navigating
under the bascule bridge 733.7 km up the River
Regalica, vessels are required to report to the
switch tower on VHF channel 74 in order to
arrangethetimeforliftingthebridge.
3 TheduplexVHFchannel79(156.975MHz,161.575
MHz) is used for
 communication among the
administrative authorities, i.e. the Inland
Navigation Office, the RIS‐PL Operating Centre
andtheRegionalWaterManagementAuthorityin
Szczecin.
290
4.1 RISsystemradiocommunicationdevicesattheLower
Oder[7],[9]
Two companies, Belgium‐based Periskal CVBA and
Croatia‐based RGO Komunikacije d.o.o., are
responsiblefortheVHFcommunicationequipmentin
theRIS‐PLsystem.
The RIS‐PL Operating Centre is equipped with
two workstations for remote control of the
 devices
locatedattheVHFbaseradiostation,bymeansofa
touchscreen and amicrophone/speaker unit for
transmittingandreceivingmessages.(Fig.6)

Figure6.VHFoperatorworkstationattheRIS‐PLOperating
Centre.
Source:Ownwork,basedon[15].
CommunicationintheRIS‐PLsystemisregistered
24 hours a day and is open, i.e. the operator can
identify stations transmitting data on particular
channels.
Dedicated local connection register software
(RejestrpoΕ‚Δ…czeΕ„ξˆ±lokalnych)enablesidentification of
sendersofthemessagesreceivedbythedevicesatthe
base radio station.
 The register records the ATIS
number, consisting of encrypted MMSI and MID
numbersprecededbyξˆ±β€œ9”,whichissentautomatically
atthereleaseofthetransmissionbuttonontheVHF
radiotelephone.
Fig.7presentstheinterfaceofthesoftwarewhich
recognizesVHFmessagesenders.

Figure7.InterfaceoftheVHFmessagesenderidentification
software.
Source:Ownwork,basedon[15].
The Mimer Soft Radio β€“ξˆ± VoiceLog software
implementedattheRIS‐PLOperatingCentreenables
registrationofallVHFcommunications.Theoperator
canselectachanneltobemonitoredaswellasreplay
anymessagewhichhasbeensent.
5 OPPORTUNITIESFORAPPLICATIONOF
GMDSSRADIOCOMMUNICATIONSYSTEMS
INTHEDEVELOPMENT
OFINLAND
WATERWAYSHIPPINGANDUPGRADEOF
THERIS‐PLOPERATINGCENTRE[12],[13]
Of all the GMDSS subsystems, the VHF
radiotelephony, DSC VHF, AIS‐SART, INMARSAT,
EPIRB and NAVTEX meet the requirements of
communication and data transmission in inland
waterwayshipping.
In order to ensure compatibility of information
exchange between
inland and sea‐going vessels in
criss‐crossmaritimeand inlandfairways,integration
of the AIS, Inland‐AIS, Inland ECDIS and the
positioningsystemmodulesattheRIS‐PLOperating
Centreisrequired.Thestate‐of‐the‐artInmarsatFleet
77 system will complement the information sent to
inlandshippingvessels
andprovideconstantInternet
access.
Further upgrade of the RIS‐PL Operating Centre
will require implementation of the DGT
Multifunctional Communication System, which
integratesdigitalandanalogueradiocommunication
systems.
6 SUMMARY
Implementation of an integrated river information
systemwhichallowsforinstantmessagingtosupport
thenavigationaldecisionmaking
byvesselmastersis
crucialforimprovementofinlandnavigationsafety.
River Information Services is a modern inland
navigationmanagementsystemusingoneofthemain
subsystemsoftheGMDSSξˆ±β€“ξˆ±theVHFradiotelephone
communication.
Integrationofharmonisedinformationserviceson
the RIS‐PL stretch in cross‐border cooperation with
Germany
 is an important stage in the process of
developmentoftheOderTransportCorridor.
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