Rohde & Schwarz Maritime Communications Solution Boosts Port of London Authority Vessel Traffic Services

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State-of-the-art all-IP voice communication for critical infrastructure by Rohde & Schwarz enhances flexibility, scalability, and robustness of London VTS.

VTS officer Guy Underwood Rohde & Schwarz maritime communications system Thames Barrier Navigation Centre - RF Cafe

VTS officer Guy Underwood shown at the controls of the Rohde & Schwarz VoIP-based maritime communications system at the Thames Barrier Navigation Centre, Woolwich. (Image credited to: Port of London Authority)

Munich, 13 December 2021 – Rohde & Schwarz has revealed details of its role in a project to totally upgrade the London vessel traffic services (VTS) communication equipment for the Port of London Authority (PLA).

Working with PLA engineers at the authority's control centres in Gravesend, Kent and the Thames Barrier Navigation Centre (TBNC) in Woolwich, Rohde & Schwarz has installed an advanced, VoIP-based maritime communications system to handle all VTS communications. The new, customised system enhances the PLA's ability to control movement of vessels within the Port of London, which spans the entire coastal Thames from Teddington Lock to the North Sea, and provides future-proof scalability as the VTS requirements continue to evolve.

"The solution Rohde & Schwarz proposed delivers many advanced features and is designed to ensure the uptime and availability we need with no additional overhead to design-in third-party protection," said chief harbour master, Bob Baker. "We also appreciate the user interface, which is extremely easy to navigate, and the knowledgeable support that gives us confidence in the robustness, functionality and longevity of the system in our critical infrastructure."

"Our scalable, all-IP voice-communication systems deliver flexibility and ease of use for safety-critical applications, including air-traffic control and maritime communications, which demand the utmost reliability and quality of service," said Anne Stephan, Vice President Critical Infrastructure at Rohde & Schwarz. "Our team, along with PLA engineers, worked effectively together to deliver the solution and ensure a smooth transition to the new system."

PLA's new integrated communication system simplifies vendor-independent integration of telephone and intercom systems, various types of radios including VHF, ADTS system and other equipment such as conferencing and SCADA systems. Resource sharing mechanisms are built in, and various applications can be integrated including mapping, messaging, and third-party applications such as recording and playback, to enable the connectivity to available voice services. There are also facilities for emergency resource management and contingency planning, provided through the operator GUI.

The Rohde & Schwarz technology group is among the trailblazers when it comes to paving the way for a safer and connected world with its leading solutions in test & measurement, technology systems, and networks & cybersecurity. Founded more than 85 years ago, the group is a reliable partner for industry and government customers around the globe. On June 30, 2021, Rohde & Schwarz had around 13,000 employees worldwide. The independent group achieved a net revenue of EUR 2.34 billion in the 2020/2021 fiscal year (July to June). The company is headquartered in Munich, Germany.

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