Keeping the NSW Water Police in continuous communication

The New South Wales Police service has commenced trials of an advanced satellite communications system aboard one of its most modern police launches - the Alert. The system is based on leading-edge technology from global satellite provider Inmarsat, an organisation which has been key in servicing the communications needs of media and aid organisations during the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts and is now active in the upgrade of global shipping to meet increased maritime security needs.

The new satellite-based system will deliver enhanced operational capabilities to Sydney's water police in their fight against crime, in combating the threat of terrorism and in search and rescue tasking.

A UK-based team from global satellite provider Inmarsat is spending a week in Sydney working closely with NSW Police to bed down the new system as it is tested across a variety of operational conditions.

The six week trial is using Nera Fleet 33 satellite equipment (terminal and antenna) through which data, voice and video is up-linked to satellite and then down-linked via Xantic's Perth-based LES (land earth station) facilities. That information is passed through Xantic's network in Australia to Police Headquarters in seconds, thereby providing Police with instant two-way access to crucially important data held online, by other government agencies or as events develop from the Alert.

TC Communications, a Sydney-based applications provider, is installing the system aboard Alert. TC Communications recently developed and installed the high-speed 'Eye in the Sky' camera system linking Australian Customs Coastwatch surveillance aircraft to the National Surveillance Centre in Canberra via an Inmarsat satellite using the same satellite infrastructure that is supporting the Alert trial.

"This Sydney-based trial is part of a global Maritime Field Evaluation [MFE] program being conducted by Inmarsat utilising five vessels across the world," said David Walker, a senior manager with Inmarsat's Maritime Division. "We believe the state-of-the-art vessel, Alert, is an ideal candidate for thoroughly testing communications imperatives during critical maritime activity. Other vessels participating include a US Coast Guard vessel and a fisheries monitoring and protection vessel in Spain."

Walker added that "the extensive MFE program is a team effort requiring enormous co-ordination and constructive co-operation as Inmarsat works closely with satellite equipment manufacturers, LES operators, applications providers and ship owners.

The Sydney MFE will enable a wide variety of controlled applications to be tested on-board Alert, including email, web browsing, secure instant messaging, fax, digital image transfer and the advanced CMAP system for constant real-time weather and electronic chart updates critical for search and rescue operations. Another application which is to be tested is live video streaming off the Alert using the highly advanced Tele-Observer system. This will enable Alert to send video back to headquarters for instant analysis in real-time aiding rapid evaluation of an incident and decision-making.

"We are looking forward to trialling this advanced technology which will provide the NSW Water Police with the most efficient communications tools for today and into the future," said Sydney Griffith, head of the Advanced Technology NSW Police Special Service Group. "This technology will deliver greater interdiction and intelligence gathering capabilities and enhanced safety to our crews and to those they serve."

The system being trialled will provide the Water police with what is in effect a seaborne command post. From here they can access information, communicate with other government agencies or brief in support teams from other arms of the Police.

Being online will enable instant access to important databanks held on land which will enhance the response and decision-making process on the water. As well, police on the water are testing an application which will enable them to pass information back to land using live video streaming. Next year it plans for the launch of its next generation of satellites, which will deliver to much of the world's surface data speeds of 432 Kbps.