24/7 technical support for vessels worldwide
Navigation · Communication · Bridge electronics
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.
What is NAVCOM?
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:
Typical NAVCOM systems
ECDIS for route planning and route monitoring on official electronic charts, usually as a primary and a backup system.
GNSS and GPS receivers, gyro compass, speed log and echo sounder, the sensors that feed most other bridge equipment.
Radar for collision avoidance and AIS for exchanging vessel identity, position and course with ships and shore stations.
BNWAS to monitor bridge watch activity and the VDR that records navigation data, audio and alarms.
GMDSS equipment, VHF and MF/HF radio and NAVTEX for distress alerting, safety messages and everyday communication.
Satellite terminals for voice, data and crew connectivity, increasingly linked to the bridge and the vessel network.
Serial NMEA lines, Ethernet bridge networks, multiplexers and interface units that connect all of the above.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Specialist service
ECDIS is one of the main navigation systems on the modern bridge. Satcenter has trained engineers available for ECDIS installation, commissioning and troubleshooting.
Our engineers attend vessels in Rotterdam, Antwerp, Hamburg and other European ports. For the full scope, visit our dedicated ECDIS installation and commissioning page.
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 and maritime cybersecurity, including the separation of bridge networks from crew and office networks.
Vessel types
Container ships, bulk carriers, tankers and general cargo vessels, during port calls between voyages.
Supply, construction and support vessels with extensive bridge and positioning equipment.
Crew transfer, port service and multipurpose vessels that need short, well-planned attendances.
Vessels where navigation data and sensor interfaces are part of the survey workflow.
Installation and commissioning together with the yard and the electrical contractor before delivery.
Replacement of outdated bridge equipment in the existing console layout during a refit or dry dock.
Working with us
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 or maintenance visits in the same port call.
FAQ
Short answers to common questions about marine navigation and communication systems and our services.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Get in touch
Tell us about the vessel, its location and the system involved, whether it is an ECDIS installation or another NAVCOM project. We will discuss the technical requirements and how our engineers can support you. You can also reach us at info@satcenter.tv or +31 (0)85 560 71 20.
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