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Events News about VDES

Successful demonstration of S-124 Navigational Warnings using YMIR-1 VDES satellite

In October 2025, a demonstration trial was conducted to demonstrate the distribution of navigational warning information using the Ymir-1 VDES satellite.

This demonstration was carried out with the support of the Ocean Policy Research Institute of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (Japan) through the joint efforts of Sternula Japan Co., Ltd., Sternula, and the AOS Consortium (Teledyne FLIR TransponderTech, AAC Clyde Space, and ORBCOMM).

First, a dataset of S-124 Navigational Warning messages to be transmitted via satellite was generated in Denmark. The dataset was then sent to the satellite operations centre in the United Kingdom, where satellite health monitoring and operational scheduling of the VDES satellite Ymir-1 are managed. The dataset was subsequently forwarded to a satellite earth station located in Norway and uplinked to Ymir-1 via an S-band feeder link.

Ymir-1 transmitted the S-124 navigational warning message dataset toward the designated test area according to a pre-planned transmission schedule. A VDES terminal (R6 VDES) installed onboard a demonstration vessel operating within the test area received the navigational warning, which was displayed on the vessel’s ECDIS-like screen. At the same time, the received data were transmitted back to Denmark via an LTE connection, and subsequently forwarded to Japan.

Due to experimental licensing constraints in Japan, the test area was located in European waters; however, the navigational warning message distributed during the trial consisted of a “tsunami warning” targeting the entrance area of Tokyo Bay, Japan.

On 5 November 2025, a public demonstration of the trial results was held in Tokyo. Representatives from relevant Japanese government agencies and private-sector organizations attended the event, together with the Technical Director of FLIR TransponderTech, Peter Bergljung (Chair of the VDES Alliance) invited from Sweden, while stakeholders in the United Kingdom and Denmark participated remotely.

Approximately 90 maritime professionals gathered to discuss challenges and potential solutions toward the practical implementation of satellite VDES. The event successfully established a shared understanding among participants regarding future deployment and operational considerations.

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Alliance news

VDES Alliance Announces New Board of Directors

The VDES Alliance is pleased to announce the appointment of its new Board of Directors, elected at the Annual General Assembly held on 15 September 2025.

Mr. Peter Bergljung (SAAB TransponderTech) has been appointed as Chairman of the Board, and Mr. Derek Love (CML Microcircuits) as Co-Chairman.

The Board of Directors further includes:

  • Mr. Jorge Arroyo, U.S. Coast Guard
  • Mr. Pieter Winter, S3C
  • Mr. Koichi Nishimura, TST Corporation
  • Mr. Lars Løge, Space Norway
  • Mr. Luiz Rocha, Sternula

The new Board will continue to advance the mission of the VDES Alliance – to accelerate the adoption and interoperability of VDES technologies, ensuring secure and efficient maritime data exchange worldwide.

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Uncategorized

Andrew Evan “Andy” Loretta, 50, of Miami, Florida, passed away on June 10, 2025

The VDES Alliance remembers Andy as a strong VDES supporter, that we will miss in our work.

Peter Bergljung, our co-chair of the VDES Alliance remembers:

“I first met Andy in 2020, when I began collaborating with his company, ORBCOMM, on the initiation of the AIS/VDES satellite project called YMIR-1. Since then, Andy and I spoke and met—both digitally and in person—many times, certainly hundreds of times, regarding YMIR-1 and the VDES Alliance.

Back in 2020, Andy shared with me his extensive experience with AIS satellites, which ORBCOMM had operated in orbit for many years. VDES, the next generation of AIS, was something we began exploring together. Andy’s knowledge of AIS satellites was invaluable to me, and when we launched the VDES Alliance in 2022, ORBCOMM was one of the first members to join. Andy actively participated in VDES Alliance meetings, contributing his deep business expertise in AIS data services and helping us envision how this knowledge could be applied to VDES.

I will remember Andy for his profound knowledge of AIS and VDES, as well as for the many insightful and enjoyable meetings we shared. His passing is a tragic loss, and he will be deeply missed.”

The VDES Alliance extends our deepest condolences to Andy’s family, friends, and colleagues.

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News about VDES

New G-1002 Guideline published by the VDES Alliance

The VDES Alliance is proud to announce publishing of the new G-1002 Guideline on coordinated use of satellite VDES frequencies, Logical Channels and spreading code among satellite VDES operators.

Access the document here.

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Events

VDES Alliance Participation at IMO NCSR12 in London

The VDES Alliance is participating in the 12th session of the Sub-Committee on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue (NCSR) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on May 12–15, 2025. We thank CIRM for organizing our participation at NCSR12.

A delegation from the VDES Alliance board, including the chairman Stefan Pielmeier, the co-chairman Peter Bergljung, Koichi Nishimura and Derek Love, will be present to support the ongoing work on the development and standardization of the VHF Data Exchange System (VDES), as well as to contribute to discussions on future maritime digitalization efforts. The board members will be in attendance to engage with stakeholders and represent the Alliance’s collective expertise and efforts.

For more information about VDES Alliance and its activities, find us at our coffee table at the event or reach out to administration@vdes-alliance.org. 

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News about VDES

VDES Test standard progress

The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is developing a testing standard for VDES shipborne mobile stations denoted IEC 63514, currently in TC80 Committee Draft (CD) stage.

The latest draft allows for wide alignment of detailed requirements for participating VDES manufacturers,  and makes system validation and compatibility testing possible to a very large extent.

A Committee Draft for Voting (CDV) with full technical requirements and test methods in place, allowing type approval to start is expected to be available in 2026 and a published International Standard (IS) during 2027.

This is expected to align with the publication of an IMO performance standard and installation guideline for VDES.

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News about VDES

AOS Announce Successful VDES Two-Way Communications for Maritime Communications Satellite Ymir-1

Today the AOS collaborative announces successful two-way VDES communications through the Satellite Ymir-1. The satellite built and operated by AAC Clyde Space has transmitted and received VDES messages from across the globe. This communications milestone marks a pivotal movement towards “Connecting Everything Maritime” and strengthening the communication and navigation infrastructure within the maritime domain – providing for a safe, secure and green global communication network. Ymir-1 is part of the collaborative AOS project between AAC Clyde Space, Saab, and ORBCOMM.

Unlike its predecessor, satellite AIS (Automatic Identification System), satellite based VDES offers bidirectional communication. This means that vessels can not only receive information but also send data and messages to other ships and shore stations using VDES enabled satellites. VDES creates the ability to create a global maritime communication and navigation network enabling ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore communication everywhere on the globe, even in remote or offshore areas.

VDES offers significantly greater bandwidth compared to AIS, making it capable of handling larger volumes of data. This coupled with the enhanced real-time data exchange and cybersecurity represents a massive leap forward for situational awareness for ship operators and the support of safer navigation.

The flight proven AAC Clyde Space EPIC LINK CubeSat, Ymir-1, hosts Saab TransponderTech’s advanced R6 VDES PAYLOAD transponder for two-way communication between satellite and ground. ORBCOMM will integrate data into its distribution centre for the maritime navigation and communications service deployment.

Find more at: https://www.aos-vdes.com/aos-announce-successful-vdes-two-way-communications-for-maritime-communications-satellite-ymir-1/

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News about VDES

IMO NCSR 11

On June 4th, 2024, at the 11th session of the IMO’s Sub-Committee on Navigation, Communications, Search and Rescue, Jorge Arroyo from the United States Coast Guard (USCG) highlighted the VDES Alliance in relation to AIS authentication.

The VDES Alliance recommends:

  1. The use of the decentralized Maritime Connectivity Platform identity register (MIR).
  2. The international harmonization of Maritime Identity Register vetting procedures as conducted by IALA and the Maritime Connectivity Consortium.
  3. The intended use of Maritime Identities to authenticate AIS transmissions, as described by IALA Guideline G-1117, section B.2.8.
  4. The authentication of all other maritime service stations and data content using the Maritime Identity Register.

These recommendations underscore the VDES Alliance’s commitment to enhancing the security and reliability of maritime communications.

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Uncategorized

Sea Japan 2024

The international maritime exhibition and conference Sea Japan 2024 will be held in Tokyo between 10-12 of April, where representatives of the VDES Alliance will be present.

Industry seminars will cover the latest industry information and challenges. On Thursday 11 April, the Japanese Satellite VDES Consortium will host a seminar. The main theme is Ocean and space linkages. Topics related to VDES will be covered.

Read more about the event here: Sea Japan 2024

Check the seminar list here: Sea Japan 2024 – seminar list

Categories
News about VDES

NEW IALA Guideline G1181 for VDES VHF Data Link (VDL) Integrity Monitoring

“VDES VHF Data Link (VDL) integrity monitoring includes the AIS, the ASM, and the VDE, all of which are integrated
in VDES. VDES VDL integrity monitoring is the process of determining whether the VDES VDL is subject to the
injection of errors impacting the reliability and integrity of the data and/or the VDL itself. The purpose of this
document is to provide an overview of the source of VDES VDL vulnerability and propose methods for IALA
members to detect and mitigate the effects of invalid VDL transmissions.”

Read and download the guideline here:

G1181 VDES VDL INTEGRITY MONITORING