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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.

RTCM published the new standard on the Maritime Messaging Service Architecture and Protocol RTCM 13900.0.

Summary: VDES needs a PKI, and the IALA endorsed Maritime Connectivity Platform defines amongst the decentralized Maritime Identity Registry also a decentralized Maritime Service Registry and the newly standardized Maritime Messaging Service to integrate with maritime environment impacted connectivity embracing internet via satcom and land mobile but also VDES, NAVDAT and other means of connectivity.

The Maritime Messaging Service (MMS) is facilitating world-wide resilient and flexible IP based transfer of trusted maritime service data.

The MMS embraces internet transfer where available, but also provides resilience through dedicated maritime communications such as terrestrial and satellite VDES (VDE-TER and VDE-SAT), NAVDAT, to accommodate existing means of communications on shore and ships.

The MMS unifies the service interface independent on the way the data takes. Only one service software is needed to provide the data for the different transport means. IEC 63173-2 (SECOM) is supported through a defined MMS SECOM Gateway.

The MMS unifies the service consumer application interface, independent on the way the data takes.

Scaling of service data transfer rates can be accommodated through clever use of the Maritime Connectivity Platform Maritime Service Registry.

Data may take for different ships, different ways, the MMS routes only the data, an application has subscribed to on shore or ship.

To allow users to trust the MMS as a safe message transfer system, all services, senders and infrastructure are authenticated through the mechanisms provided by the Maritime Connectivity Platform (MCP), and as described by the IALA guideline G1183.

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

Stefan Pielmeier, is going to represent the VDES Alliance at the EMSA-ESA VDES Workshop, where insights into the newest developments of VDES will be shared.

The event is going to take place on the 6th of December 2023 at the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) headquarters.

Read more about the workshop here: EMSA/ESA workshop on VDES

The 10/08/2022, the VDES Alliance was inaugurated and thereby, the Articles of Association and Articles of Incorporation, known as the governing documents, are now in force.

Some companies and organizations agreed that the VDES Alliance is a good idea. Therefore, we in a pre-consitutional meeting on the 24th of June, 2021, decided to start the VDES alliance by forming the terms of reference, membership conditions, categories, and all that, to be approved by the founding members. Then other members can join the VDES Alliance, if fulfilling all conditions.

All on this page is a DRAFT right now, don’t take it as the final step. This is just a working progress.