To improve maritime security, in conjunction with its partners, DLR is carrying out research in the field of maritime security and relevant real-time services. In order to achieve this it is making use of its scientific expertise from the fields of aviation, space research and transport. The research results will be used to answer questions concerning the security of sea routes, coasts, harbours and offshore facilities. These include avoiding collisions between ships, detecting icebergs or hijacked ships and uncovering illegal activities such as the dumping of oil or dangerous waste on the open sea.
The joint project "Real-Time Services for Maritime Security" (EMSec), funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research as part of the programme "Research for Civil Security", aims to carry out research focused on real-life applications for the general improvement of the existing maritime situation. The detection and dispersal of mats of hazardous substances at sea is one example of the subjects under investigation.
EMSec is led by DLR'S programme coordination for security research and is funded as part of the "Research for Civil Security" programme by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. DLR institutes participating are the Institute of Flight Guidance, the German Remote Sensing Data Center, the Remote Sensing Technology Institute, the Institute of Space Systems, the Institute of Communications and Navigation and the Institute of Optical Sensor Systems. DLR's partners are ATLAS ELECTRONIC GmbH, AIRBUS DS GmbH, AIRBUS DS Airborne Solutions GmbH, THW (German Federal Agency for Technical Relief), the University of Rostock and other associated partners. Project users are the seaborne arm of the federal police (Bundespolizei See), the water police in coastal areas (Wasserschutzpolizeien der Küstenländer), the German Maritime Search and Rescue Association (DGzRS) and the Central Command for Maritime Emergencies (Havariekommando) in an advisory role.
The Institute of Flight Guidance plays a central role in the planning components for the airborne services required in addition to the satellite data from the control station in the case of an incident at sea.
The airborne services provide visual as well as radar and AIS data in real time in order to provide additional information to supplement the satellite images forming the central understanding of the situation. In addition, airborne services are requested and coordinated via the ground control station for use over the North Sea - the DLR aircraft Do-228 or a Diamond DA42 from Air Bus DS Airborne Solutions, as required. Both aircraft carry the appropriate sensors, are linked to the ground via a data link and fly special search patterns. The Do-228 is controlled via the DLR's own ground control station in EMSec and flies the search pattern automatically.
The information gathered serves to help the participating partners deal with simulated safety-critical situations at sea as quickly and reliably as possible.
DLR-Programmkoordination für Sicherheitsforschung (Lead) DLR-Institut für Flugführung Deutsches Fernerkundungsdatenzentrum DLR-Institut für Methodik der Fernerkundung DLR-Institut für Raumfahrtsysteme DLR-Institut für Kommunikation und Navigation DLR-Institut für Optische Sensorsysteme
ATLAS ELEKTRONIK GmbH AIRBUS DS GmbH AIRBUS DS Airborne Solutions GmbH Technisches Hilfswerk Universität Rostock