Policy Recommendations for Satellite VDES in a Digital Maritime Era

Expectations are increasing for VDES’s capabilities as a next-generation maritime communications infrastructure that can globally transmit and receive information on safe vessel navigation and maritime information from the coast to the sea. Ocean Policy Research Institute (OPRI) of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation has compiled policy proposals for the introduction of satellite VDES based on the results of its research to date. We hope this article will provide an opportunity to consider the widespread use of satellite VDES and, by extension, progress with maritime digitalization.

Satellite VDES Overview and Policy Recommendations

VDES (VHF Data Exchange System) is attracting attention as the next-generation of Automatic Identification Systems (AIS), which are used to transmit ship names, positions, speeds, destinations, and other information. It features transmissions up to 32 times faster than AIS and allows for two-way communications. These capabilities are expected to improve maritime safety by enabling diverse operational communications that are not limited to vessel movement information. For example, it could help improve maritime safety through automated vessel arrival and departure procedures, weather and waterway information distribution, and autonomous navigation and collision avoidance (Mutually Coordinated Navigation) through exchanging planned routes. In addition, a form of satellite VDES that provides global coverage through coordinated operations between a large number of small satellites is also being considered. These systems are also expected to lead to the formation of a global ocean-related information-sharing society.

Aiming to promote the widespread use of satellite VDES in Japan going forward, the OPRI and the Satellite VDES Committee established by the Institute in fiscal 2021 have prepared and published a document called “A Satellite VDES Proposal: Towards a Maritime Digitalization Age."¹ The groups are working towards the social implementation of these technologies, including hand-delivering the proposal to relevant ministries. The proposal was compiled to help inform the considerations for the Fourth Basic Plan on Ocean Policy, which is scheduled to be formulated in 2023. It was prepared based on the results of studies and reviews on ocean-space collaboration that OPRI has been conducting since 2018. It was then discussed and developed by the above Committee, which is composed of experts from various ship-related fields. The following is a summary of the proposal’s content.

Conceptual diagram of potential satellite VDES use cases. Multiple images of potential use cases are presented, including stranding/collision avoidance, assessing and sharing weather and oceanographic information, avoiding fishing equipment, reporting suspicious vessels, supporting port procedures, and monitoring marine life and the environment (from the proposal).

Four Primary Policy Recommendations

This proposal consists of the following primary recommendations.
[Proposal 1] Considerations towards Japan’s vision for satellite VDES
Considering the situation in the waters around Japan, technical and institutional arrangements should be made to make satellite VDES available not only to large ships but also to so-called small ships such as fishing and recreational boats, enabling all vessels to be equipped with this technology. Alongside applications contributing to improved maritime safety, future uses could include maritime domain awareness (MDA) and maritime information gathering. A consideration of methods for storing and sharing the collected data, security, etc., is also needed. Given the wide range of related fields, collaboration across disciplinary boundaries and consideration of comprehensive policies to promote this collaboration are expected. Since satellite VDES is related to the global commons of the ocean, space, and cyberspace, it must be strategically promoted at the national level.
[Proposal 2] Promoting international contributions
Various international organizations, including the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA), are working to establish standards and regulations related to satellite VDES. VDES-equipped satellites have already been launched from Norway and China, and Denmark is preparing a launch. The VDES Alliance was formed in August 2022 in response to requests from Danish companies. Companies and relevant government agencies from several countries are now participating in the alliance to improve equipment interoperability, raise awareness, and to conduct marketing.
In light of these international trends, methods for operating and managing multiple satellites and the standardization of VDES equipment need to be discussed in cooperation with other countries under the philosophy of one ocean However, it would be desirable for Japan to lead these discussions based on active research and studies in the aforementioned areas of equipping these systems on all ships and maritime information gathering, where an international discussion has not fully developed.
[Proposal 3] Promote R&D and commercialization of related technologies
Promoting the commercialization of satellite VDES requires the establishment of anchor tenancy² policy, where the government contracts the use of products and services on an ongoing basis, particularly during the start-up phases.
Support from the private sector through implementing technology development support measures will also be essential.
The Satellite VDES Consortium (Secretariat: OPRI) was established in October 2022 by seven private companies to commercialize satellite VDES in Japan. To achieve the above objectives, the consortium's activities will consist of the studying of usage scenarios and business models, implementing transmission experiments, and developing actual satellite utilization services.
[Proposal 4] Training human resources for the digital maritime era
If data becomes even more valuable on board ships as a result of advances in digitalization, human resources will be needed who have appropriate maritime knowledge and the capability to use data to make decisions at each stage of ship operations, ship management, and development. For this reason, in addition to training based on the competency requirements of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) Convention, which defines the qualifications of seafarers, knowledge acquisition related to data science will be needed. Of course, maritime engineers have limited training periods, so a realistic educational curriculum must be revised and streamlined.

Toward a Digital Maritime Era

It goes without saying that improvements in safety management and auditing systems among operators and the quality of seafarers are essential for preventing maritime tragedies. Another essential factor is having digital technologies and equipment in place that can serve as a safety net to prevent accidents in the event of inadequate systems or human errors in the field. Cooperative navigation using satellite VDES mentioned above is just one possibility related to this factor. Rather than focusing solely on human responsibility, studying measures to prevent or solve problems in a way that incorporates technology, then supporting their implementation should also be a required element for improving maritime safety.
However, cases have been reported where new digital technologies are not necessarily beneficial when used at sea.³ Fishermen, busy with onboard work, may not always be able to check monitors or input text. When looking ahead to a future with the widespread use of satellite VDES and, by extension, digitalization in the maritime domain, we must not limit ourselves to technical discussions but must also be aware of the perspectives of those in the field, as well as the policy perspectives described in this article. (End)