Trilogy, a world class supplier of voice communications technologies for the defence and industrial sectors has been selected to provide Mercury IP communications systems for installation on two new build Offshore Patrol Vessels for the Irish Naval Service, due to begin operational life in January 2014 and January 2015 respectively.
The 90 metre vessels are being built by Babcock at their Appledore yard in Devon, United Kingdom and are designed to service the Irish Naval Services coastal and offshore security requirements for the next 25 years.
Trilogy will supply its Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) Mercury Communications systems to MES (Marine Electronic Systems) who are contracted to carry out the navigation and communications systems integration for both current vessels.
The installation will feature two Mercury systems on each vessel, the first of which will integrate mobile users operating on a range of marine radio channels covering VHF, UHF and HF with operators utilising one of ten Trilogy 16 key panels installed at locations throughout the vessel
This system allows communication to continue uninterrupted within the radio networks, with the addition of the ability to talk between the networks in either point to point or group/conference calls. Users on the Trilogy 16 key panels are able to talk to other panel users singularly or in groups or to either individual or groups of radio users.
A second system on each vessel uses a combination of a standard MIU with custom manufactured ‘plug & play’ user interfaces and a PC based ‘Virtual Panel’. The user interfaces have been designed to provide optimum performance in this challenging environment and whilst not linked to the first system, it is a simple process, should the end user wish to do so in the future.
These second systems are designed to simply and quickly connect users in one of the pre-configured work groups. Those users can connect through one of the seventeen ‘plug & play’ user interfaces installed at work locations around the vessel. For example, when the ‘weapons control’ group is required, users might plug in at locations including the bridge, gun positions etc. To change role, the user simply moves to their next task position and plugs in, becoming a member of the group associated to that position.
"The high intensity environment found on board means that the communications systems must be intuitive" said Mark Ellis, Director of Business Development, Trilogy Communications. “We believe that Mercury provides a powerful yet instinctive tool helping to deliver the highest level of operational efficiency”
Mercury is scalable and whilst well suited to relatively small OPVs it is also equally suited to installations of a much larger size enabling command and control structures to be equipped with the fullest operational picture possible. In doing so, significant strategic and tactical advantage can be gained.
About Marine Electronic Systems Ltd
MES is a leading systems integrator, supplier and installer of navigation systems (including integrated bridge systems), radio communications, CCTV and video surveillance, internal communications and crew entertainment and mission systems. With over 30 years experience supporting customers in the United Kingdom and worldwide. MES is 60% privately owned and indirectly 40% by BAE Systems. For more information please visit www.mesuk.com
About Babcock
Babcock International is the UK’s leading engineering support services company with recorded revenue of £3bn in 2010 and an order book in excess of £12bn. Managing vital assets valued at over £40billion, Babcock delivers critical asset support to many sectors, including transport, energy, defence, telecommunications and education. We take great pride in the considerable depth and breadth of our people’s expertise. Our 27,000 skilled staff design, build, manage, operate and maintain assets that are vital to the delivery of many key public services, both in the UK and overseas. Our market-leading reputation is based on one key fact: Babcock is a partner that can be trusted to deliver™. For more information please visit www.babcock.co.uk
