SYSTEM FOR TRACKING SHIPS AT SEA

• US 20130002476A1
• Filed: 12/13/2010
• Published: 01/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Astrium Sas (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Astrium Sas (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Laine, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 9,081,077 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/353
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 1/44 adapted to maintain predetermined altitude
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/005 with correlation of navigation data from several sources, e.g. map or contour matching G01C21/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/13 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile

Abstract

The system comprises terminals that are mounted onto a predetermined number of feeder vessels, comprises means for detecting identification signals sent by surrounding ships, and moreover comprises means for recording identification information that include the detected identification signals and the current position of the feeder vessel. Said system also comprises a system for transmitting data via satellites, said data transmitting system making it possible to transmit data between the terminals and a monitoring center, said monitoring center including a means for generating requests intended for the terminals in order to ask said terminals to provide the recorded identification information. Said monitoring center also includes a means for analyzing the received identification information.

Claims

1. A tracking system for ships at sea, said system comprising:

terminals mounted on a predetermined number of so-called collecting ships, each of said collecting ships comprising a terminal including;

means for detecting identification signals emitted by surrounding ships located in a collecting area around the corresponding collecting ship;

means for determining the current position of the corresponding collecting ship; and

means for recording identification information comprising the identification signals being detected and the current position of the collecting ship upon such detection;

a satellite data transmission system, allowing data to be transmitted between said terminals which are mounted on the collecting ships and at least one monitoring centre; and

said monitoring centre comprising at least;

means for generating requests which are transmitted by said data transmission system to said terminals so as to ask them to provide the recorded identification information;

means for receiving identification information provided by said terminals, via said data transmission system, in response to a request; and

means for analyzing the identification information being received.

2. The system according to claim 1,

characterized in that each terminal comprises a secure housing and alarm means being formed so as to send an alarm signal at destination of said monitoring centre via said data transmission system, upon an opening of said secure housing.

3. The system according to claim 1,

wherein each terminal comprises in addition:

electrical power means;

at least one reception antenna for the identification signals;

at least one reception antenna for positioning data; and

at least one transmission antenna cooperating with satellites of the data transmission system.

4. The system according to claim 1,

wherein each terminal comprises in addition means for coding the recorded identification information according to a coding being specific to said terminal.

5. The system according to claim 1,

wherein each terminal also comprises reception means for signals being specific to a ship.

6. The system according to claim 1,

wherein said monitoring centre comprises means for sequentially sending requests at destination of the terminals located in a determined area.

7. The system according to claim 1,

wherein said monitoring centre comprises in addition means for storing the identification information and making them accessible to users.

8. The system according to claim 1,

wherein it comprises in addition means for remotely activating and inactivating a data transmission from the terminals.