Barco, Fabricom GTI and Tein Telecom join forces to build state-of-the-art Maritime Rescue and Co-ordination Centre in Ostend
The multi-disciplinary consortium has won a 4.2 million Euro contract from the Flemish Government
KORTRIJK, BELGIUM, 2 March 2005 – Barco, Fabricom GTI and Tein Telecom have set up a cooperation to build a new Maritime Rescue and Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) at the port of Ostend. The new MRCC, commissioned by the Shipping Assistance Division of the Ministry of the Flemish Community, will replace the current monitoring system to become an integrated, state-of-the-art rescue and co-ordination centre. Within a multidisciplinary consortium, the three companies will carry out the entire 4.2 million Euro project, including design, installation, maintenance, training and assistance.
Barco
For the MRCC project, Barco developed an integrated monitoring system combining an advanced Vessel Traffic System with an Incident Management System and a Search & Rescue module. With the new system, operators will be able to display traffic data coming from different external sensor sites such as the “Schelderadarketen” (Scheldt radar chain). In case of an incident, the MRCC can rely on a lean, reliable and cost-effective Incident Management System, which fully supports all Port Control and Maritime Rescue activities.
Along with its role as maritime co-ordination centre, the new MRCC will also be used as incident room and press information centre. For this purpose, Barco will install a large-scale high-resolution OverView display with the Argus graphical controller and Apollo display wall management software, providing 24/7 operational capability with multiple inputs and adjustable screen layout functionalities.
“The MRCC program is a major step forward for Barco in the Maritime and Vessel Traffic market”, Luc Vandenbroucke, President BarcoView, explains. “Based on our extensive experience with traffic management applications, we are able to present an advanced, integrated vessel traffic monitoring system, along with maintenance, training and support services, for one of the busiest sea routes in the world.”
Fabricom GTI
For decades Fabricom GTI is a well-established name at the different departments of the Ministry of the Flemish Government, as well as at the different Port Authorities such as the Ports of Antwerp and Ghent. As a system integrator Fabricom GTI assumes a leading responsibility in the Vessel Traffic System market in Benelux. For the last 10 years, Fabricom GTI acted as main contractor for renewal and implementation of the various VTS systems and sub-systems for many of the projects related to the “Schelderadarketen”. The “Schelderadarketen” is operated by the Flemish and Dutch Governments.
For the MRCC project Fabricom GTI choose to team up with strategic partners, Barco and Tein Telecom, in order to maximize technological benefits and proven experience in this area.
Fabricom GTI will be responsible for the installation-works of the system as well as for the hydro-meteo system and the PLC driven automated signalisation for the port management control.
“The MRCC program fully reflects the Fabricom GTI commitment to consolidate our leading position in this strategic market segment”, says Luc De Winter, General Manager Infrastructure Fabricom GTI.
Tein Telecom
In addition to the new Vessel Traffic System, Tein Telecom will install a state-of-the-art Maritime Communication platform from Frequentis at the MRCC in Ostend, which allows the operators to communicate with the vessels at sea. This fault tolerant and fully digital platform will be integrated with external information sources such as DSC (Digital Selective Calling) calls and Navtex messages in order to guarantee maximum safety at sea.
Furthermore, Tein Telecom will take full responsibility for the complete network infrastructure of the new MRCC, including two SDH (Synchronous Digital Hierarchy) microwave connections.
“This MRCC project is for Tein Telecom a final breakthrough into the maritime market as Tein Telecom recently also won the AIS project for the “Schelderadarketen” and the Belgian ports, which will also be integrated into the MRCC”, says Gert De Meyer, General Manager Tein Telecom.
The first phase of the MRCC program has started in February 2005. The centre will be fully operational in June 2006.
About Barco
Barco, an international company headquartered in Kortrijk, Belgium, provides visualization and display solutions for professional markets. Barco designs and develops solutions for large screen visualization, display solutions for life-critical applications, and systems for visual inspection. Barco is active worldwide and has its own facilities for Sales & Marketing, Customer Support, R&D and Manufacturing in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific. Barco is quoted on Euronext Brussels and is a BEL 20 and a Next 150 company (Euronext: BAR; Reuters: BARBt.BR; Bloomberg: BAR BB).
About Shipping Assistance Division
Shipping Assistance is a division of the Waterways and Marine Affairs Administration from the Environment and Infrastructure Department of the Ministry of the Flemish Community. The increase of maritime movements, the safety of the population and the environment in the estuary of the Scheldt and the Belgian part of the North Sea have resulted in the necessity of assistance of shipping. The task of the Division consists in procuring that the shipping movements pass of smooth and safely and in sharing the obtained information with its customers. The most appropriate means for this purpose is the organizing and providing of Vessel Traffic Services by the Scheldt radar chain which is operated by the Flemish and Dutch Governments.
At the Maritime Rescue and Co-ordination Centre the Shipping Assistance Division serves as a unique mailbox and the first contact point for different divisions.
130 people work at the Shipping Assistance Division, in Ostend, Zeebrugge, Zelzate, Zandvliet, Kallo and Flushing.
About Fabricom GTI
FABRICOM GTI is the Belgian reference in innovative technical installations and services for the industrial and infrastructure markets. Their expertise covers different technical aspects, such as Electrical, Mechanical, Automation and Specialised Services. Thanks to their proximity network in Belgium and subsidiaries in Europe, they are able to offer their clients multi-technical and multi-site solutions. Furthermore, they are highly experienced in international major project management. FABRICOM GTI employs more than 8,000 people and has booked a turnover amounting to 962 MEUR in 2003. Together with AXIMA, ENDEL (France), GTI (The Netherlands) and INEO (France), FABRICOM GTI is part of FABRICOM, a subsidiary of SUEZ-TRACTEBEL.
About Tein Telecom
Tein Telecom is a Belgian company acting as a leading architect and supplier of innovative and integrated network-based Voice, Data and Video solutions. With a technical staff of 85 people working in both Belgium and The Netherlands, the company has reached a high level of expertise in multimedia integration. Success within complex projects with advanced and customized applications did help the company to invest in people and technologies. Following a strong R&D investment strategy, Tein Telecom has recently developed a unique software package offering highly intuitive management of an entire surveillance infrastructure.
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