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The maritime domain is a major driver of economic growth with emerging services, comprising intelligent transportation systems (ITSs), smart ports, security and safety, and ocean monitoring systems. Sixth generation (6G) mobile networks will offer various technologies, paving the way for reliable and autonomous maritime communication networks (MCNs), supporting these novel maritime services. This review presents the main enabling technologies for future MCNs and relevant use cases, including ITSs with reduced carbon footprint, ports and maritime infrastructure security, as well as fault detection and predictive maintenance. Moreover, the current trends in integrated satellite-aerial-terrestrial-maritime network architectures are discussed together with the different network segments and communication technologies, and machine learning integration aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The short message function of the BeiDou satellite system, due to its strong concurrent processing capabilities, can quickly and accurately send information to the target location in emergency situations. However, because of data redundancy and limitations on message length, a single piece of information often requires multiple transmissions through BeiDou short messages to be completed, resulting in limited transmission capacity. To improve the transmission capacity of information, it is necessary to compress the information during transmission using BeiDou's short message communication function for maritime safety information. This paper proposes a Byte Encoding-enhanced Prediction by Partial Matching, variant D (BPPMd) algorithm that is particularly suitable for transmitting maritime safety information. Combined with a maritime safety information encoding algorithm (ME), it further improves compression efficiency, optimizes byte space, reduces information redundancy, and ensures the accuracy of the information. In this study, we constructed a maritime safety information dataset that includes three categories of information: meteorological warnings, navigation warnings, and disaster warnings. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm is particularly suitable for compressing the maritime safety information dataset and outperforms other benchmark algorithms. Therefore, this study indicates that the proposed lossless compression method can be a feasible and effective solution for BeiDou short message communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional maritime communication struggles to provide high data rate services for Internet of Things (IoT) devices due to the variability of maritime environments, making it challenging to ensure consistent connectivity for onboard sensors and devices. To resolve this, we perform mathematical modeling of the maritime channel and compare it with real measurement data. Through the modeled channel, we verify the received beam gain at buoys on the ocean surface. Additionally, leveraging the modeled wave motions, we estimate future angles of the buoy to use the Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) for design beamforming strategies that adapt to the evolving maritime environment over time. We further validate the effectiveness of these strategies by assessing the results from an outage probability perspective. focuses on improving maritime communication by developing a dynamic model of the maritime channel and implementing a Kalman filter-based buoy motion tracking system. This system is designed to enable precise beamforming, a technique used to direct communication signals more accurately. By improving beamforming, the aim is to enhance the quality of communication links, even in challenging maritime conditions like rough seas and varying sea states. In our simulations that consider realistic wave motions, you've observed significant improvements in link quality due to the enhanced beamforming technique. These improvements are particularly notable in environments with high sea states, where communication challenges are typically more pronounced. The progress made in this area is not just a technical achievement; it has broad implications for the future of maritime communication technologies. This paper promises to revolutionize the way we approach communication in maritime environments, paving the way for more reliable and efficient information exchange on the seas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A compact series‐fed high‐quality linear array antenna for 5G maritime communication is proposed. Building upon the wideband high‐efficiency electromagnetic radiation structure (WHEMS), a linear integrated series‐fed method is proposed, enhancing applicability in maritime environments. A self‐decoupling structure without the parasitic elements is introduced, resulting in a 7 dB increase in isolation while achieving array spacing of less than half the wavelength. The antenna has an impedance bandwidth of 19.9% (676–825 MHz) to cover the maritime 700 MHz application band, a high gain of 13–14.2 dBi, and a smaller volume compared to classical Yagi arrays with the same gain level. Furthermore, it exhibits characteristics such as low wind load, cost‐effectiveness, and high voltage resistance. The proposed antenna will play a vital role in the construction of the current 5G maritime communication network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maritime emergency communication facilities play a crucial role in establishing communication links between land and sea, serving as essential communication means for maintaining maritime safety, disaster response, and emergency rescue operations. With the increasing frequency of marine activities, the rapid response capability of maritime emergency communication is becoming increasingly critical. With their characteristics of high-speed mobility, broad coverage and flexibility, aircraft serve as carriers for emergency communication facilities. The selection of aircraft bases is paramount in meeting the requirement of rapid response for maritime emergency communication. In this paper, we present a multi-objective optimization model for site selection by considering the coverage capabilities of different carriers. The model incorporates hierarchical coverage of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and helicopters with a genetic algorithm. Through a case study of the Bohai Sea, this paper verifies the feasibility and effectiveness of the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the characterization of radio propagation, and data communication in a marine environment. More specifically, we consider signal propagation when three different sub-gigahertz industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) bands, i.e., 169 MHz, 434 MHz, and 868 MHz, are used. The main focus of the paper is to evaluate the path loss (PL), i.e., the power loss that a propagation radio wave would experience when communication occurs between a sail boat and a buoy. We describe the measurement results obtained performing three different radio power measurement campaigns, at the three different aforementioned ISM sub-gigahertz bands. We also want to correlate the radio propagation quality with the weather conditions present in the measurement areas. The obtained results show that higher distances are achieved by transmitting at lower frequencies, i.e., 169 MHz, and, on average, the propagation is directly dependent from the dew point index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the growing maritime economy, ensuring the quality of communication for maritime users has become imperative. The maritime communication system based on nearshore base stations enhances the communication rate of maritime users through dynamic resource allocation. A virtual queue-based deep reinforcement learning beam allocation scheme is proposed in this paper, aiming to maximize the communication rate. More particularly, to reduce the complexity of resource management, we employ a grid-based method to discretize the maritime environment. For the combinatorial optimization problem of grid and beam allocation under unknown channel state information, we model it as a sequential decision process of resource allocation. The nearshore base station is modeled as a learning agent, continuously interacting with the environment to optimize beam allocation schemes using deep reinforcement learning techniques. Furthermore, we guarantee that grids with poor channel state information can be serviced through the virtual queue method. Finally, the simulation results provided show that our proposed beam allocation scheme is beneficial in terms of increasing the communication rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, a novel single‐layer dual‐band circularly polarized (CP) metasurface antenna for maritime applications is proposed. The metasurface is composed of 4 × 4 hexagonal patches with two different sizes printed on one side of the low‐profile FR4 substrate, while a slot antenna is printed on the other side. A slit is etched in the middle of each hexagonal patch to enhance modal significance, forcing the current flows to be orthogonal to each other at different modes, generating CP waves as identified with characteristic modal analysis. The proposed antenna has been fabricated and measured. Simulated and measured results match well, of which the impedance bandwidth is 55.96% (4.8–8.53 GHz), 3 dB axial ratio bandwidth is 2.7% from 5.46 to 5.61 GHz with a maximum gain of 9.58 dBic and 8.2% from 7.86 to 8.53 GHz with a maximum gain of 9.02 dBic. The proposed antenna is structurally stable, and is applicable for maritime radio navigation and communication services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, the digital development of marine ranching requires a communication system with wide coverage, high transmission rate and stable communication links. It is known that fixed‐wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have great advantages in long‐range applications. They have the potential to serve as low‐altitude communication platforms for maritime communication. In this study, with a developmental perspective, considering the intense growth of marine terminals in the future, a new clustering algorithm applied to cluster nonorthogonal multiple access (C‐NOMA) is proposed and its advantages are investigated. In addition, considering the limited energy of marine terminals, combining the wireless power communication (WPC) technology for the UAV to charge terminals, the charging and communication time are optimized with the Lagrange multiplier method and the bisection search method. After completing the above optimization content of charging and communication, combined with the optimization results, it is found the trajectory that maximizes the energy efficiency of the UAV with the convex optimization technique. Experimental results show that the proposed clustering algorithm has good throughput performance, better fairness and lower algorithm complexity, and the proposed trajectory optimization scheme has better energy efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maritime activities are on the rise, there is a growing demand for high-quality communication services that can cover larger areas. However, the transmission of high data rates to maritime users is challenging due to path loss from land base stations, which limits the transmission power. To overcome this challenge, researchers have been exploring the use of buoys in a marine environment as relays for communication technology. This paper proposes a simulation-based approach to investigate the impact of various beamwidths on communication performance when using a buoy as a relay. The objective is to determine the optimal beamwidth that yields the highest data rate for the target location. The approach is based on an offshore wave model where the direction of the buoy changes according to the height of the wave. The study investigates the performance of the relay in the downlink situation using receive beamforming, and the capacity at the user in the three-hop situation is verified using an amplify-and-forward (AF) relay that uses transmit beamforming to the user. The simulation results suggest that the beamwidth of the relay should be adjusted according to the wave conditions to optimize the data rate and relay position that satisfies a data rate superior to the direct path to the target position. Using a buoy as a relay can be a promising solution for enhancing maritime communications, and the simulation-based approach proposed in this paper can provide insights into how to optimize beamwidth for effective communication system design and implementation. In conclusion, the study results suggest that the use of buoys as relays for maritime communication is a feasible solution for expanding coverage and enhancing communication quality. The proposed simulation-based approach provides a useful tool for identifying relay beamwidths for achieving higher data rates in different wave conditions. These findings have significant implications for the design and deployment of communication systems in maritime environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of acoustic signals to communicate is widespread among marine mammals and vocalizations are involved in all their social interactions. Due to many factors, acoustic features of a species' vocalizations may differ among populations. The present study investigated both micro‐ and macro‐geographical variation in the vocalizations of Cape fur seal females, males, and pups. Acoustic measurements were performed on calls recorded at four South African and two Namibian sites (maximum range ~ 1,000 km). Comparisons among close sites in South Africa revealed no micro‐geographical variation (maximum range ~130 km) in females' and pups' vocalizations. Barks of subadult males had different features among sites, which may be explained mostly by the context of call production. At the macro‐geographical scale (South Africa vs. Namibia), all call types varied significantly among sites. Several extrinsic and intrinsic factors were suggested to drive such differences. For females' and pups' calls, differences might be explained by environmental factors, whereas for males' barks, behavioral differences are the most likely explanation for acoustic differences (breeding vs. resting sites). Such investigations help understand how acoustic communication in marine mammals is shaped by ecological drivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Shipping and maritime transportation have gradually gained a key role in worldwide economical strategies and modern business models. The realization of Smart Shipping (SMS) powered by advanced 6G communication networks, as well as innovative Machine Learning (ML) solutions, has recently become the focal point in the maritime sector. However, conventional centralized learning schemes are unsuitable in the maritime domain, due to considerable data communication overhead, stringent energy constraints, increased transmission failures in the harsh propagation environment, as well as data privacy concerns. Methods: To overcome these challenges, we propose the joint adoption of Federated Learning (FL) principles and the utilization of the Over-the-Air computation (AirComp) wireless transmission framework. Thus, this paper initially describes the mathematical considerations of a 6G maritime communication system, focusing on the heterogeneity of the relevant nodes and the channel models, including an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-aided relaying model that is usually required in maritime communications. The communication network, enhanced with the AirComp technique for efficiency purposes, forms the technical basis for the collaborative learning across multiple Internet of Maritime Things (IoMT) nodes in FL tasks. The workflow of the FL/ AirComp scheme is illustrated and proposed as a communication-efficient and privacy-aware SMS framework, considering spectrum and energy efficiency aspects under a sum transmitting power constraint. Results: Then, the performance of the proposed methodology is assessed in an important ML task, related to intelligent maritime transportation systems, namely, the prediction of the Cargo Ship Propulsion Power using real data originating from six cargo ships and utilizing long-short-term-memory (LSTM) neural networks. Upon extensive experimentation, FL showed higher prediction accuracy relative to the typical Ensemble Learning technique by a factor of 3.04. The AirComp system performance was evaluated under varying noise conditions and number of IoMT nodes, using simulation data for the channel state information by regulating the power of the transmitting IoMT entities and the scaling factor at the shore base station. Discussion: The results clearly indicate the efficiency of the proposed FL/AirComp scheme in achieving low computation error, collaborative learning, spectrum efficiency and privacy protection in wireless maritime communications, while providing adequate accuracy levels with respect to the optimization objective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing demand for communication technology capable of providing high transmission rates in maritime environments has led to the exploration of the very high frequency (VHF) data exchange system (VDES) as a promising solution. The VDES, the integration of an automatic identification system (AIS), application-specific messaging (ASM), and VHF data exchange (VDE), offers improved transmission rates and stable connections compared with existing technologies. Although the VDES supports high transmission rates through various modulation and coding scheme (MCS) technologies, it lacks a standardized mechanism for controlling MCS parameters and relies on user algorithms for operation. In this paper, we introduce the maritime auto-rate fall-back (mARF) technology, designed to effectively address the challenges of maritime communication scenarios using the MCS framework provided by the VDES. mARF technology incorporates fast drop-out and recovery mechanisms to swiftly adapt to changing MCS types in the presence of deep nulls, a common occurrence in maritime communication environments. These adaptive thresholds for fast drop-out and recovery operations are dynamically learned using historical communication data. Through extensive simulations, we demonstrate the effectiveness of mARF in enhancing the MCS control capabilities of the VDES. Our results show a significant performance improvement of 18% compared to the existing model, validating the potential of mARF in optimizing maritime communication channels and supporting a high transmission rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrating Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) into marine cyberdefense systems can address the lack of trustworthiness and low interpretability inherent in complex black-box Network Intrusion Detection Systems (NIDS) models. XAI has emerged as a pivotal focus in achieving a zero-trust cybersecurity strategy within marine communication networks. This article presents the development of a zero-trust NIDS framework designed to detect contemporary marine cyberattacks, utilizing two modern datasets (2023 Edge-IIoTset and 2023 CICIoT). The zero-trust NIDS model achieves an optimal Matthews Correlation Coefficient (MCC) score of 97.33% and an F1-score of 99% in a multi-class experiment. The XAI approach leverages visual and quantitative XAI methods, specifically SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) and the Local Interpretable Model-agnostic Explanations (LIME) algorithms, to enhance explainability and interpretability. The research results indicate that current black-box NIDS models deployed for marine cyberdefense can be made more reliable and interpretable, thereby improving the overall cybersecurity posture of marine organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FishSounds Educate is a free education program developed by a group of marine ecologists at the University of Victoria in Canada. The program aims to connect the public with marine life and address human impacts on marine soundscapes. It provides workshops, seminars, and engagement tables to educate participants about fish bioacoustics and the effects of anthropogenic noise on marine animals. The program has been well-received, reaching over 2,000 people in less than a year and fostering a greater understanding and appreciation for fish and their habitats. The creators hope that this program will inspire other scientists to share their knowledge and passion with the public. [Extracted from the article]

In the early stages of the Second World War, Spanish dictator Francisco Franco and key regime figures were tempted to enter the war on the Axis side. This temptation was a serious concern for British wartime strategy. This article studies the British military operations prepared to confront the possibility of Spain entering the war between 1940 and 1944. These operations aimed to protect Gibraltar, maintain access through the Strait of Gibraltar, and reduce the Axis threat to maritime communications in the eastern Atlantic. The article sheds new light on three issues: the balance of advantages and disadvantages that the plans entailed and the preparations to carry them out; the simultaneity of planned operations to cooperate with the Spanish Armed Forces and ones to confront them; and the importance of Spanish non-belligerence as a differential factor with respect to other neutral European countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of the military conflict in the Black Sea region, with implications for regional security, the approach proposes a solution to strengthen international relations by capitalising on the non-coercive potential of the naval presence on the maritime communication routes in the Black Sea, starting from the premise that the Romanian Navy is the military instrument of power through which the state projects its naval diplomacy, a mission manifested under the auspices of ways of asserting national maritime and fluvial interests. With a wide range of diplomatic instruments through which the Romanian state manifests and consolidates its geopolitical position and interests in the Black Sea and the Danube River, at the political-military level there is the possibility of using specific ways of contributing to the consolidation of regional maritime security. Practically, the proposal to carry out a regional cooperation initiative in the Black Sea, by establishing an air-land-naval battle group, under the auspices of the collaboration of allied partners, candidates, and the riverine countries of the Black Sea Extended Area. Punctually, through this approach, a solution is presented regarding the contribution of the Romanian Navy to the consolidation of regional, maritime, and fluvial security, through simple steps, resuming a previously applied model, and effectively using military instruments through regional cooperation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seamless integration of both terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks is crucial to providing full-dimensional wireless and ubiquitous coverage, particularly catering to those engaged in marine activities. Compared to terrestrial networks, wireless communications in the marine domain are still not satisfactory for ubiquitous connectivity. Featuring agile maneuverability and strong adaptive capability, autonomous marine vehicles (AMVs) play a pivotal role in enhancing communication coverage by relaying or collecting data. However, path planning for maritime data harvesting is one of the most critical issues to enhance transmission efficiency while ensuring safe sailing for AMVs; yet it has rarely been discussed under this context. This paper provides a comprehensive and holistic overview of path-planning techniques custom-tailored for the purpose of maritime data collection. Specifically, we commence with a general portrayal of fundamental models, including system architectures, problem formulations, objective functions, and associated constraints. Subsequently, we summarize the various algorithms, methodologies, platforms, tools, coding environments, and their practical implementations for addressing these models. Furthermore, we delve into the burgeoning applications of path planning in the realm of maritime data harvesting and illuminate potential avenues for upcoming research endeavors. We believe that future research may focus on developing techniques to adapt more intricate and uncertain scenarios, such as sensor failures, inaccurate state estimations, complete modeling of communication channels, ocean dynamics, and application of heterogeneous systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of the military conflict in the Black Sea region, with implications for regional security, the approach proposes a solution to strengthen international relations by capitalising on the non-coercive potential of the naval presence on the maritime communication routes in the Black Sea, starting from the premise that the Romanian Navy is the military instrument of power through which the state projects its naval diplomacy, a mission manifested under the auspices of ways of asserting national maritime and fluvial interests. With a wide range of diplomatic instruments through which the Romanian state manifests and consolidates its geopolitical position and interests in the Black Sea and the Danube River, at the political-military level there is the possibility of using specific ways of contributing to the consolidation of regional maritime security. Practically, the proposal to carry out a regional cooperation initiative in the Black Sea, by establishing an air-land-naval battle group, under the auspices of the collaboration of allied partners, candidates, and the riverine countries of the Black Sea Extended Area. Punctually, through this approach, a solution is presented regarding the contribution of the Romanian Navy to the consolidation of regional, maritime, and fluvial security, through simple steps, resuming a previously applied model, and effectively using military instruments through regional cooperation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global network of shipping that spans the oceans and links every continent in the world is the international maritime sector. In this transnational, multi-ethnic, and multicultural setting, English has become the Lingua Franca of the sea. It is the method by which language barriers are overcome and communication occurs. However, as several maritime accidents demonstrate, seamanship does not always guarantee an adequate comprehension. Phase, sphere, and universe transitions are represented by crossing, which is a characteristic of the communication process, a component of the communicative order and has important implications for maintaining interpersonal relationships and enhancing communicative skills. Two main obstacles to communication at sea are the challenges faced by certain language learners in learning the required language, Maritime English, and the sociolinguistic and cultural beliefs and customs that can make it difficult for people to understand one another. It concludes that teaching maritime English requires the adoption of an appropriate methodology. By using new innovative methods and techniques, the maritime English teachers can produce fluent mariners who can encode and decode messages accurately. Communication is mandatory for maritime safety, security, safe navigation and maritime business. Seafarers need communication on board ships and this communication is mostly done through English, and definitely with the help of an English teacher. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seafarers can benefit considerably from learning new languages. Language competency opens up a variety of career opportunities in multinational shipping companies while improving communication and strengthening relationships with coworkers. Even basic proficiency can transform professional experiences, providing access to unexpected opportunities and enriching interactions with local communities. Although typically English is considered the international language of maritime communication, we believe that other languages relevant to the crew's composition and operational context should also be included. In the present paper, we will focus on multilingual crew training that includes French, which holds significant importance in global maritime operations since it is one of the official languages of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Companies with multilingual crews, particularly those who also speak French, gain a competitive edge in the market, as they can communicate more efficiently with French-speaking authorities, ports, and vessels worldwide. Moreover, understanding French language and culture fosters cultural awareness among crew members, facilitating smoother interactions during international operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the concept of autonomous navigation systems has gained substantial significance, with the potential to change the traditional concept of autonomous navigation. The presented numerical simulation investigates the feasibility of a ship's autonomous navigation system through a laser communication infrastructure handled by a two-degrees-of-freedom (DoFs) acquisition, tracking and pointing (ATP) system able to enable ship–satellite data transmission. The methodology introduced presents the geometrical and kinematic delineation of the model, coupled with the implemented control system, aimed at assessing the pointing accuracy. The minimum requested pointing accuracy is 100 µrad and the analysis highlights the need of using methodologies to reduce the pointing error. Two approaches are investigated to examine a possible improvement of the system, and results show that the pointing phase is influenced less by ship motions and more by errors that occur during the satellite's positioning and the ship motion acquisition process. A trade-off in choosing parameters to improve the system's accuracy leads to a satellite's first targeting time of 0.25 s alongside the probability of hitting the target once every 0.0013 s. The reliability of the system is evaluated through a brief sizing of the optical electromechanical component of the system using the trade-off parameters chosen to improve the pointing phase accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Control and instrumentation engineering education plays a crucial role in preparing DIII Maritime Electrical to face the complexity of control systems in the maritime industry. In an effort to improve the quality of learning, the use of educational technologies such as media trainer instrumentation alarm monitoring systems has become the focus of research. The study aims to investigate the impact of the use of media trainer instrumentation alarm system monitoring on the learning results of the control system of the cadets. Merchant Marine Polytechnic Of Surabaya, as the leading maritime higher education institution in Indonesia, has led in integrating this technology into the learning process. By leveraging the media trainer instrumentation alarm monitoring system, they hope the cadets can gain a deep understanding of the key concepts in system control and monitoring. This research uses a quantitative data analysis approach. The control group followed conventional teaching methods, while the experimental group engaged in learning using this technology. Learning data from both groups, including test scores, tasks, and performance evaluations, were collected and analyzed. The results of this research provide valuable insights for maritime higher education institutions and practitioners in this industry. The use of trainer learning media has a significant impact on the learning outcomes of the experimental class, which reaches a higher level compared to the control class that does not use the trainer (protoboard) learning media in the Control System courses at the ETO Faculty in Merchant Marine Polytechnic Of Surabaya. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) has opened up exciting possibilities for new applications. One such novel application is the modernization of maritime communications. Effective maritime communication is vital for ensuring the safety of crew members, vessels, and cargo. The maritime industry is responsible for the transportation of a significant portion of global trade, and as such, the efficient and secure transfer of information is essential to maintain the flow of goods and services. With the increasing complexity of maritime operations, technological advancements such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), and the Internet of Ships (IoS) have been introduced to enhance communication and operational efficiency. However, these technologies also bring new challenges in terms of security and network management. Compromised IT systems, with escalated privileges, can potentially enable easy and ready access to operational technology (OT) systems and networks with the same privileges, with an increased risk of zero-day attacks. In this paper, we first provide a review of the current state and modalities of maritime communications. We then review the current adoption of software-defined radios (SDRs) and software-defined networks (SDNs) in the maritime industry and evaluate their impact as maritime IoT enablers. Finally, as a key contribution of this paper, we propose a unified SDN–SDR-driven cross-layer communications framework that leverages the existing SATCOM communications infrastructure, for improved and resilient maritime communications in highly dynamic and resource-constrained environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article uses data generated by Port State Control (PSC) inspections of ships in national ports (Paris MoU) to assess their compliance with radio-communications safety regulations. By mainly applying binary logistic regression methods, the aim is to examine and understand the relationship between the severity of deficiencies in maritime communications and some characteristics of inspected ships. The raw data from the PSC detention database from 2005 to 2022 undergoes post-processing before being analyzed to explore patterns and coincidences with the rest of the potential risk areas. To do so, 23,725 PSC inspections were used. Several classification criteria have been proposed that can better gauge the risk related to distress communications at sea from the dataset. The results connect the probability of detention with the ship age at the inspection date, the flag of the registry, the type of ship, and the location of the port within the countries adhering to the Paris MoU. Another achievement is that the number of PSC inspections of maritime communications in a given period is a better indicator of the risk to safety than the total number of deficiencies detected in these inspections during the same period. This study also explores inspection deficiencies related to competency gaps identified in the Global Maritime Distress Safety System (GMDSS) operators, and precisely using the number of PSC inspections as a criterion of risk for safety is consistent with the recommendations of the Maritime Safety Committee Circular (2006), MSC.1/Circ.1208. Another finding from the time series is that a greater rate of decrease is identified for GMDSS equipment-related deficiencies compared to GMDSS training-related deficiencies. This alone poses a review of the refreshing courses and methods to maintain the General Operator Certificate (GOC) qualification to operate maritime radio communications facilities belonging to the (current and future) GMDSS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasingly maturing technology of unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), their applications are becoming more and more widespread. In order to meet operational requirements in complex scenarios, the real-time interaction and linkage of a large amount of information is required between USVs, between USVs and mother ships, and between USVs and shore-based monitoring systems. Visual images are the main perceptual information gathered from USVs, and their efficient transmission and recognition directly affect the real-time performance of information exchange. However, poor maritime communication signals, strong channel interference, and low bandwidth pose great challenges to efficient image transmission. Traditional image transmission methods have difficulty meeting the real-time and image quality requirements of visual image transmissions from USVs. Therefore, this paper proposes an efficient method for visual image transmission from USVs based on semantic communication. A self-encoder network for semantic encoding which compresses the image into low-dimensional latent semantics through the encoding end, thereby preserving semantic information while greatly reducing the amount of data transmitted, is designed. On the other hand, a generative adversarial network is designed for semantic decoding. The decoding end decodes and reconstructs high-quality images from the semantic information transmitted through the channel, thereby improving the efficiency of image transmission. The experimental results show that the performance of the algorithm is significantly superior to traditional image transmission methods, achieving the best image quality while transmitting the minimum amount of data. Compared with the typical BPG algorithm, when the compression ratio of the proposed algorithm is 51.6% of that of the BPG algorithm, the PSNR and SSIM values are 7.6% and 5.7% higher than the BPG algorithm, respectively. And the average total time of the proposed algorithm is only 59.4% of that of the BPG algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To ensure safe, effective, and efficient marine operations, the optimization of maritime communication workflows with a task-oriented scheduling framework is of the utmost importance. Navigation, vessel traffic management, emergency response, and cargo operations are all made possible by maritime communication, which necessitates seamless information sharing between ships, ports, coast guards, and regulatory bodies. However, traditional communication methods face challenges in adapting to the dynamic and distributed nature of maritime activities. This study suggests a novel approach for overcoming these difficulties that combines task-oriented scheduling and resource-aware cloud environments to enhance marine communication operations. Utilizing cloud computing offers a scalable, adaptable infrastructure that can manage various computational and communication needs. Even during busy times, effective data processing, improved decision making, and improved communication are made possible by utilizing the cloud. The intelligent allocation and prioritization of communication activities using a task-oriented scheduling framework ensures that urgent messages receive prompt attention while maximizing resource utilization. The proposed approach attempts to improve marine communication workflows' task prioritization, scalability, and resource optimization. In order to show the effectiveness of the proposed approach, simulations were performed in CloudSim. The performance evaluation parameters, i.e., throughput, latency, execution cost, and energy consumption, have been evaluated. Simulation results reflect the efficacy and practical usability of the framework in various maritime communication configurations. By making marine communication methods more durable, dependable, and adaptable to the changing needs of the maritime industry, this study advances maritime communication techniques. The findings of this research have the potential to revolutionize maritime communication, leading to safer, more efficient, and more resilient maritime operations on a large scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing significance of ubiquitous 6G connectivity within the maritime sector is a consequence of its evolution into an era characterized by the adoption of autonomous ships. This evolution necessitates the development of adaptable communication capabilities, even in the face of increasing heterogeneity in Radio Access Networks (RANs). This heterogeneity is a consequence of the extended lifespans of maritime communication technologies used by both legacy and emerging ships at sea, in contrast to the generational shift seen in terrestrial communication technologies. This paper undertakes a comprehensive examination and provides an insightful overview of communication technologies within the framework of 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standards with the aim of preparing for the forthcoming 6G standardization to enable ubiquitous 6G connectivity in the maritime domain. The primary focus of this paper is the mobile RAN entities (e.g., satellites and uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs)) positioned for integration into the 5G and beyond systems. These entities are distinguished by their differences from conventional terrestrial RAN entities, which are typically stationary on land. This integration enables User Equipment (UE) to connect to various RAN entities, including mobile RANs, interconnected with core networks, thereby granting UE secure access to external internets through 5G and beyond systems, enabling them to enjoy a diverse range of application services, even in areas beyond terrestrial coverage, such as at sea. This paper further conducts an in-depth analysis of a transport layer-level solution known as the Access Traffic Steering, Switching, and Splitting (ATSSS) feature enabling a concurrent connection to multiple RANs for data-traffic delivery. Furthermore, this paper explores opportunities and challenges for future research in the realm of forthcoming 6G standardization within 3GPP, especially when combined with the ATSSS features for the success of autonomous ships within the maritime sector. These considerations encompass the concept of autonomous ships as mobile RAN entities, the integration of legacy maritime communications into the 6G framework, and the variability in maritime channel measurements, generally employed as one of the criteria for selecting an appropriate RAN among multiple options, influenced by uncontrollable factors such as climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tip and tilt corrections are applied to the bit error rate of an M-ary pulse position-modulated optical wireless communication system operating in a turbulent marine atmosphere. For the collimated Gaussian laser beam, using the average received power and power scintillation index at the receiver, the reduction in bit error rate is evaluated. Reduction in bit error rate is defined by the metric of bit error rate with tip and tilt correction normalized by the bit error rate without tip and tilt correction. Reduction in bit error rate is found against the changes in average current gain of the avalanche photodiode, data bit rate, and the M value for various structure constant, link length, and wavelength values. Our results show that the application of tip and tilt corrections effectively reduces the bit error rate of the M-ary pulse position-modulated optical wireless communication system in a turbulent marine atmosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In maritime settings, effective communication between vessels and land infrastructure is crucial, but existing technologies often prove impractical for energy-sensitive IoT applications, like deploying sensors at sea. In this study, we explore the viability of a low-power, cost-effective wireless communication solution for maritime sensing data. Specifically, we conduct an experimental assessment of the Azorean Long Range Wide Area Network (LoRaWAN) coverage. Our tests involve positioning the gateway at the island's highest point and installing end nodes on medium-sized fishing vessels. Through measurements of received signal strength indicator (RSSI), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and lines of sight (LOS), we showcase the potential of LoRaWAN transmissions to achieve communication distances exceeding 130 km in a LOS-free scenario over the ocean. These findings highlight the promising capabilities of LoRaWAN for reliable and long-range maritime communication of sensing data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of a pilot programme to include psychological tests in the recruitment rules for candidates for military divers and scuba divers. A total of 207 candidates to undertake training at the Polish Army Divers and Scuba Divers Training Centre were examined. They were subjected to tests of mental fitness, tests examining personality traits, tests of psychomotor fitness and tests of general fitness. Numerous psychological contraindications to undertake diving training and service were found; the most common was a low degree of mental fitness. In conclusion, it was suggested that, following the example of other countries, psychological testing should be included in the selection of candidates for divers. The results of the tests, although not obligatory, were partly taken into account in the opinion issued by the Military Medical and Maritime Commission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the most critical technologies in signal detection, weak signal detection has received a great deal of attention in many areas. Traditional methods perform well when the number of signal is single and the form of signal is simple, which are quite different from the situation in some real applications (e.g., the marine communication scenario). In this paper, we consider the problem of high-precision frequency detection of multiple variable-frequency signals with overlapping frequencies (MVFS-O) in the low signal-to-noise ratio scenario, whose key point is how to detect the parameters (frequency range and frequency modulation rate) of each signal. To solve the problem, a novel chaos detection scheme based on Duffing difference oscillator is proposed. In this scheme, the wide frequency detection range of the critical state is used to determine the frequency range of the signals quickly, and the Lyapunov exponent is used to discriminate the output state of the system qualitatively. Furthermore, combining with the time points of the periodic state of the system, we can obtain the FMR of the corresponding signal by analyzing overlapping frequency ratio. Numerical results are provided to verify the practical effectiveness of the proposed scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to analyze multi-layered communication responses to maritime disasters in Indonesia using two significant cases, namely the tidal flooding in Semarang and the tsunami in Banda Aceh. Reducing the risk of disaster is not only a technical matter but also strongly associated with communication issues. Therefore, there has been much research into disaster communication. However, research on multi-layered communication responses to diverse disasters must still be done. Data were collected through interviews with the people, journalists, and government officials in Semarang and Banda Aceh. These data were complemented by field observations and reviews of local media news and government policies. The results show that communication response in the two regions involved a complex triangle of science, religion, and politics. This means that the community, media, and government of these regions communicated these two types of disasters as involving science, religion, and politics to varying degrees. This article also finds that the local media was unable to optimally play its central role as an intermediary actor in disaster communication in the two regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy-efficient and reliable underwater acoustic communication attracts a lot of research due to special marine communication conditions with limited resources in underwater acoustic sensor networks (UASNs). In their final analysis, the existing studies focus on controlling redundant communication and route void that greatly influence UASNs' comprehensive performances. Most of them consider directional or omnidirectional transmission for partial optimization aspects, which still have many extra data loads and performance losses. This paper analyzes the main issue sources causing redundant communication in UASNs, and proposes a lightweight differentiated transmission to suppress extra communication to the greatest extent as well as balance energy consumption. First, the layered model employs layer ID to limit the scale of the data packet header, which does not need depth or location information. Second, the layered model, fuzzy-based model, random modeling and directional-omnidirectional differentiated transmission mode comb out the forwarders step by step to decrease needless duplicated forwarding. Third, forwarders are decided by local computation in nodes, which avoids exchanging controlling information among nodes. Simulation results show that our method can efficiently reduce the network load and improve the performance in terms of energy consumption balance, network lifetime, data conflict and network congestion, and data packet delivery ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There was continuing public and political concern about the loss of life at sea during the second half of the nineteenth century in Britain. New regulatory requirements, introduced to examine the competence of officers, prevent overloading and reduce the risks from hazardous cargoes such as coal, were in place by 1890. However, the effectiveness of these measures was not systematically monitored at the time. This retrospective evaluation reviews subsequent loss of life in the coal trade, the largest sector of British exports by weight. Loss of life remained high; it was more dangerous to export a ton of coal than it was to mine it. Some routes, such as those around Cape Horn and to Scandinavia, carried the highest risk, and losses on European voyages were more common in winter. Over time, the risks reduced as sail gave way to steam and diesel propulsion, and as maritime communications improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a Cooperative-Relay Neighboring-Based Energy-Efficient Routing (CR-NBEER) protocol with advanced relay optimization for MUSN. The utilization of the relay nodes, among all other sensor nodes, makes it possible to achieve node-to-node deployment. The proposed method focuses only on cooperation and relay optimization schemes. Both schemes have previously been implemented, and thus the proposed method represents the extended version of the Neighboring-Based Energy-Efficient Routing (NBEER) protocol. Path loss, end-to-end delay, packet delivery ratio, and energy consumption parameters were considered as part of the performance evaluation. The average performance was revealed based on simulations, where the overall average EED of Co-UWSN was measured to be 35.5 ms, CEER was measured to be 26.7 ms, NBEER was measured to be 27.6 ms, and CR-NBEER was measured to be 19.3 ms. Similarly, the overall EC of Co-UWSN was measured to be 10.759 j, CEER was measured to be 8.694 j, NBEER was measured to be 8.309 j, and CR-NBEER was measured to be 7.644 j. The overall average PDR of Co-UWSN was calculated to be 79.227%, CEER was calculated to be 66.73.464%, NBEER was calculated to be 85.82%, and CR-NBEER was calculated to be 94.831%. The overall average PL of Co-UWSN was calculated at 137.5 dB, CEER was calculated at 230 dB, NBEER was calculated at 173.8 dB, and CR-NBEER was calculated at 79.9 dB. Based on the simulations and evaluations, it was observed that the cooperation and relay optimization scheme outperformed previous schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maritime communication has been revolutionized by technological advancements, giving vessels access to real-time data, voice and video through a variety of technologies. However, there are still challenges such as poor signal in stormy areas and interference due to distance and temperature variations. Optimizing digital communication channels is crucial to ensure stable and high-quality connection. In this article we will review maritime communication technologies, specific requirements, and strategies for optimizing digital channels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyzes the possibilities of studying the issues of the interterritorial distribution of the economy, taking into account maritime communications in the development of solid minerals in the west-ern sector of the Russian Arctic on the basis of interaction of national and corporate interests at the re-gional level. Relatively large deposits of solid minerals are located in this region. The development of non-ferrous metal deposits, taking into account the requirements of rational nature management, is the engine of economic development in the western Arctic regions of Russia. An urgent task is the scientific substantiation of favorable conditions for the comprehensive development of marine activities, necessary technological and human potential, economic benefits from the use of domestic marine potential, mineral resources and spaces of the western part of the Russian Arctic in the interests of national security, economic development and improving the welfare of citizens of the Russian Federation. The information framework is based on the experience of developing lead-zinc ore deposits in the Arctic. The topic under study is consistent with the provisions of regional and sectoral economics, as well as spatial economics. This scientific basis makes it possible to substantiate the spatial organization of the national economy in the development of solid minerals in the western part of the Russian Arctic.

With the rapid development of wireless communication technologies, free-space optical (FSO) communication has gained much attention in recent years. The FSO technology, which is usually used for communication in terrestrial environments, is expanding its regime to communication in maritime environments. In this study, we analyze the ergodic capacity of FSO communication between mobile platforms in maritime environments under foggy conditions, pathloss, and pointing error. More specifically, based on the moment expressions, we derive the closed-form expression of asymptotic ergodic capacity using conventional detection techniques (i.e., heterodyne and intensity modulation/direct detection). The derived analytical results are cross-verified with simulation results via Monte Carlo simulations. The results show that the combined effects of fog with pathloss and pointing error degrade the FSO performance and that it is important to apply the appropriate detection technique according to the communication environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date, no studies have analysed New Zealand's media coverage of ocean‐related threats, potential harms, or sources used for their coverage. This is concerning given that marine media coverage is linked to public support, awareness of conservation issues, and policymaking.This research helps fill this gap, examining all ocean‐related articles 2 weeks before and after the 2019 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report's release on the oceans and cryosphere.It first analyses the media's reporting of threats, potential harms arising from the threats, and the sources on whom journalists relied and gave voice, then it tests a report of global significance for influence on reportage.Second, it examines whether the threats covered by media align with scientists' main concerns (from the IPCC report and a survey of New Zealand scientists).In contrast to previous studies on media sources for environmental conservation, this study found that journalists in New Zealand relied considerably on scientists as key sources. However, it found that coverage of ocean‐related threats did not match scientists' main concerns.Finally, the research found that the IPCC report appeared to influence coverage in two areas: reporting on threats to island nations, and multiple potential harms. Otherwise, New Zealand's media covered the IPCC report as any other news item, reporting on it and then shifting to other matters.The lack of coverage on primary scientific concerns and that a globally significant momentous report did not dramatically impact the marine media landscape is problematic for conservation of ocean habitats, species, and broader environmental and societal outcomes owing to poor understandings by policymakers and the public, which can lead to inaction and policy failures.The potential reasons and solutions to advance communication of marine conservation issues for a more educated and mobilized public are explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a study of the different alternatives that are being considered in the 5G-ROUTES project to establish seamless 5G connectivity in a maritime environment both from an architectural point of view and also from the definition of field trials to evaluate the performance and dependability of the proposed solution. As expected, the main challenge in providing 5G connectivity on the sea is to provide coverage over large areas of open water. Thus, as a starting point, this paper presents a measurement campaign that was conducted to assess the current coverage in the Baltic Sea, which concluded that the current terrestrial networks cannot guarantee sufficient coverage. Next, the solution architecture and trials proposed by 5G-ROUTES are described, which are based on the integration of satellite and leading-edge multi-hop connectivity in 5G networks. Utilizing satellite backhaul can potentially overcome the connectivity challenge from the terrestrial domain to the maritime domain, while multi-hop connectivity ensures that coverage is extended among the different ships that are navigating the sea. Furthermore, this paper describes how the project will evaluate, in field trials tailored to this maritime environment, common connectivity key performance indicators (KPIs) such as latency, throughput, availability and reliability. This paper concludes by providing a vision for applying the obtained results and insights to maritime transportation and other remote areas where the deployment of a suitable 5G infrastructure may be challenging or costly. The findings will be used to guide the design of future 5G networks for marine applications and to identify the most effective methods for providing secure and dependable communication in a maritime setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industry 4.0 relies heavily on artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing (CC), both of which have been greatly aided by the 5-generation mobile network (5G). However, the arrival of 5G, is seen as a watershed moment that will radically alter the current global trends in wireless communication practices and the lives of the masses. 5G envisions a future where the digital and physical worlds merge. The 6th-generation (6G) wireless communication network will likely unite terrestrial, aerial, and maritime communications into a single, unified system that is both more stable and faster and can accommodate a far larger number of devices with ultra-low latency needs. The purpose of this research is to foresee a scenario in which 6G supersedes 5G as the dominant standard for wireless communication in the years to come. Several advances have been made, but the desired instantaneous global communication and computation with no latency has not arrived yet. In this paper, there are represented the most significant obstacles and difficulties that the transition from 5G to 6G can encounter on the way to realizing these loftier goals. The main purpose of "technology for humanity" is to improve service to the world's most disadvantaged people, and this paper lays out a plan for 6G that includes the enabling technology infrastructures, obstacles, and research directions that will get us there. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Systems Engineering & Electronics is the property of Journal of Systems Engineering & Electronics Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Wireless communication at sea is an essential way to establish a smart ocean. In the communication system, however, signals are affected by the carrier frequency offset (CFO), which results from the Doppler effect and crystal frequency offset. The offset deteriorates the demodulation performance of the communication system. The conventional Gardner bit-synchronization algorithm performs timing synchronization on the baseband, but it fails to solve the problem of carrier frequency offset. In this paper, a carrier-based timing-synchronization Gardner algorithm was proposed. The algorithm performed error detection in the carrier signal to estimate the synchronization error in real time and the time-domain expansion in the passband signal. Based on the estimated expansion factor, the algorithm located the sampling points of the ideal signal and re-interpolated all the sampling points on the passband to recover the passband signal without Doppler. This algorithm can solve both the frequency shift and time-domain expansion caused by the Doppler effect without further CFO estimation and compensation, thus reducing the overall computational complexity of the system. The simulations showed that the proposed algorithm greatly improves the ability of the communication system to combat Doppler compared to the conventional Gardner algorithm. The algorithm is primarily designed for binary phase-shift keying (BPSK)-modulated signals under the additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) channel and can be applied to various maritime communication scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The maritime land–sea communication channel experiences multipath shadowing and fading due to ships, onshore and offshore structures, and reflections from the sea surface. When using low altitude antennas, the sea surface itself can block the propagation of radio waves when the first Fresnel zone is obstructed. The latter can occur within a few kilometres of the transmitter at microwave frequencies. Sea reflections are stronger than ground reflections due to the higher conductivity of the sea, leading to more interference problems. In this paper, a microwave frequency patch antenna array is analysed, designed, and simulated for a novel system to improve marine communications to be applied by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The patch antenna array with flexible substrate will be studied with different frequencies. In this way, the test will check and obtain the best characteristics for an antenna that is built into the UAV with CTS studio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]