# NAVCOM Marine Navigation and Communication Systems

> NAVCOM engineering for ships: installation, commissioning and troubleshooting of bridge navigation and communication systems, ECDIS and sensor interfaces.

URL: https://satcenter.tv/navcom/

Reliable navigation and communication systems are essential for safe and efficient vessel operations. Satcenter engineers support installation, commissioning, troubleshooting and technical service for selected onboard NAVCOM systems.

## Navigation and communication equipment on the modern bridge
**NAVCOM is the common term for the navigation and communication equipment installed on commercial vessels, offshore vessels and other professional maritime operations.**

Satcenter provides technical support within the field of NAVCOM, covering marine navigation, communication and bridge electronics. These systems are increasingly connected with each other through onboard networks, sensors and digital interfaces, so a fault or a change in one system can affect several others.

Modern bridge systems combine three layers that have to work together:

- **Navigation equipment** that determines and displays the position and movement of the vessel
- **Communication equipment** for ship-to-ship, ship-to-shore and distress and safety communication
- **Onboard data networks** that carry sensor data between the systems on the bridge

## Marine navigation and communication systems onboard
The equipment usually grouped under NAVCOM on a commercial vessel. Satcenter provides engineering services for selected systems; our current specialist service is ECDIS installation, commissioning and troubleshooting, and additional NAVCOM services are added as our engineering capabilities expand.
- **Electronic chart navigation**: ECDIS for route planning and route monitoring on official electronic charts, usually as a primary and a backup system.
- **Position and heading sensors**: GNSS and GPS receivers, gyro compass, speed log and echo sounder, the sensors that feed most other bridge equipment.
- **Radar and AIS**: Radar for collision avoidance and AIS for exchanging vessel identity, position and course with ships and shore stations.
- **Safety and recording systems**: BNWAS to monitor bridge watch activity and the VDR that records navigation data, audio and alarms.
- **GMDSS and radio communication**: GMDSS equipment, VHF and MF/HF radio and NAVTEX for distress alerting, safety messages and everyday communication.
- **Satellite communication**: Satellite terminals for voice, data and crew connectivity, increasingly linked to the bridge and the vessel network.
- **Bridge sensors and data interfaces**: Serial NMEA lines, Ethernet bridge networks, multiplexers and interface units that connect all of the above.

## NAVCOM installation and commissioning
Correct installation and commissioning are important for the reliable operation of marine electronics. NAVCOM equipment often depends on information from other bridge systems and sensors, such as position data, heading, speed and AIS information.

### Installation work we support

- Equipment mounting on the bridge and in equipment rooms
- Cabling and termination
- Network connections on the bridge Ethernet network
- Interface connections to sensors and other bridge systems
- Configuration of the equipment and its data inputs and outputs
- Functional testing

### Commissioning

During commissioning the complete installation is checked to verify that the equipment communicates correctly with the required onboard systems: every data input is confirmed, alarms are tested and the result is handed over to the crew.

## NAVCOM troubleshooting and fault finding
Faults in navigation and communication systems are not always caused by the main equipment itself. A display that shows no heading or an alarm for missing position data is often the symptom of a problem somewhere else in the installation.

### Problems can also be related to

- Power supplies
- Network connections
- NMEA data
- Serial communication
- Sensor inputs
- Cabling
- Configuration
- Interface settings

Our engineers investigate the complete installation to identify the source of the problem, following the signal from the sensor through the cabling and interfaces to the equipment that reports the fault. This approach is especially important on modern vessels, where bridge equipment is increasingly connected through Ethernet networks and digital interfaces.

## ECDIS installation and support
ECDIS is one of the main navigation systems on the modern bridge. Satcenter has trained engineers available for ECDIS installation, commissioning and troubleshooting.

- New ECDIS installations
- Replacement of existing equipment
- System commissioning
- Technical fault finding onboard vessels

Our engineers attend vessels in Rotterdam, Antwerp, Hamburg and other European ports. For the full scope, visit our dedicated [ECDIS installation and commissioning page](https://satcenter.tv/ecdis-installation-commissioning/).

## Bridge system integration
Navigation systems no longer operate as completely independent equipment. ECDIS, radar, AIS, GNSS, gyro systems and other bridge equipment exchange data through serial interfaces, Ethernet networks and standardised marine communication protocols such as NMEA 0183 and IEC 61162-450.

**Correct integration is important for reliable operation.** Wrong sentence formats, baud rates, sensor priorities or network settings can leave equipment without the data it needs, even when every unit works on its own.

Satcenter combines experience in marine electronics with onboard IT and network infrastructure. This helps our engineers investigate problems that involve both navigation equipment and the vessel network. Read more about our [maritime IT services](https://satcenter.tv/maritime-it-services/) and [maritime cybersecurity](https://satcenter.tv/maritime-cybersecurity-solutions/), including the separation of bridge networks from crew and office networks.

## NAVCOM services for commercial vessels
NAVCOM work can be carried out during port calls, shipyard periods, scheduled maintenance or technical service visits.
- **Merchant vessels**: Container ships, bulk carriers, tankers and general cargo vessels, during port calls between voyages.
- **Offshore vessels**: Supply, construction and support vessels with extensive bridge and positioning equipment.
- **Workboats and service vessels**: Crew transfer, port service and multipurpose vessels that need short, well-planned attendances.
- **Survey vessels**: Vessels where navigation data and sensor interfaces are part of the survey workflow.
- **Newbuild projects**: Installation and commissioning together with the yard and the electrical contractor before delivery.
- **Upgrades and refits**: Replacement of outdated bridge equipment in the existing console layout during a refit or dry dock.

## Technical support for NAVCOM projects
Satcenter works with shipowners, ship managers, equipment suppliers and maritime service companies. We support NAVCOM projects with onboard engineering, installation, commissioning and troubleshooting.

Our focus is practical technical support onboard the vessel: preparing the job with the information available, attending the vessel at the agreed time, and reporting clearly on what was found and what was done. Based in the Netherlands, our engineers attend vessels across European ports, and NAVCOM work can be combined with [connectivity](https://satcenter.tv/starlink-maritime-installation/) or [maintenance](https://satcenter.tv/maritime-commissioning-and-maintenance-services/) visits in the same port call.

## NAVCOM: frequently asked questions
### What does NAVCOM mean?

NAVCOM stands for navigation and communication. It covers the bridge electronics of a vessel, such as ECDIS, radar, AIS, GNSS, gyro compass, speed log, echo sounder, BNWAS, VDR, GMDSS, VHF and MF/HF radio, NAVTEX and satellite communication equipment.

### Which NAVCOM services does Satcenter provide?

Satcenter provides engineering services for selected NAVCOM systems. Our current specialist service is ECDIS installation, commissioning and troubleshooting. Additional NAVCOM services are added as our engineering capabilities expand; contact us to check whether we can support your system.

### Why do bridge systems show faults when the equipment itself works?

Most bridge equipment depends on data from other systems. A faulty power supply, a broken cable, a wrong NMEA sentence, a serial communication error or an incorrect interface setting can all cause an alarm on equipment that is working correctly. That is why we check the complete installation.

### Can NAVCOM work be done during a port call?

Yes. Much NAVCOM work can be carried out during port calls, shipyard periods, scheduled maintenance or technical service visits. Good preparation keeps the attendance short so the vessel can sail on time.

### Do you work together with equipment suppliers?

Yes. We work with shipowners, ship managers, equipment suppliers and maritime service companies, and can carry out the onboard installation, commissioning or troubleshooting as part of a wider project.

## Contact

Email: info@satcenter.tv · Phone: +31 85 560 71 20 · https://satcenter.tv/contact