The European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) experiences seamless connectivity between moving platforms at sea, in air and on land, for real time information on fishery activities under EMSA and SES Networks’ framework agreement

Luxembourg, 6 February 2020 – EFCA leverages SES Networks’ high-performance satellite-enabled managed connectivity services to allow real-time data exchange between a lightweight Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS), EFCA’s chartered vessel the Lundy Sentinel, and the headquarters on land to ensure timely decision-making. The managed connectivity solution delivered by SES Networks also enables high-performance connectivity to support daily operations aboard patrol vessels. The service is part of a framework agreement between SES Networks and the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA).

The patrolling missions in the Mediterranean Sea, the western waters of the north-east Atlantic Ocean, North Sea and Baltic Sea see EFCA use the multipurpose vessel comprising a suite of EMSA solutions, such as pollution and oil spill monitoring and response, and a lightweight quadcopter RPAS. SES Networks’ secure solution enables managed services ranging from RPAS real-time data transfer to internet broadband to video and voice applications.

“It is a big honour for us to power such important monitoring missions under our agreement with EMSA, this time with the European Fisheries Control Agency,” said Nicole Robinson, Senior Vice President, Global Government at SES Networks. “The managed connectivity services capabilities we put in place aim to serve specific customer requirements, regardless of the mission complexity or geographies. Timely situational assessment translates into better cost-efficiency of resource deployment and operations, and we are delighted that EFCA can leverage these efficiencies.”

SES Networks has also enabled other EMSA operations by providing managed satellite communications to support various European authorities, including recent missions in southern Europe, and environmental protection and fisheries control in Iceland.