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Dubai-based Elcome International, the leading marine solutions provider and system integrator in the Middle East and one of the largest marine technology suppliers in the world, is playing a key role in building a new maritime communication network for the Sultanate of Oman.
Under a subcontract awarded by Frequentis AG of Austria, Elcome is supplying key components of the network, as well as system integration, installation, training and maintenance for equipment in the operations center and remote sites. The network will provide the obligatory shore-based terrestrial and satellite-based Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) communication services covering Sea Areas A1, A2 and A3 of Oman’s territorial waters and beyond. This includes an upgrade of the existing NAVTEX maritime safety information broadcasting system. In addition, the integrated system encompasses a new coast-wide Automatic Identification System (AIS) and a ground-based segment for receiving and processing COSPAS-SARSAT distress alerts from emergency beacons.
The Oman network will be managed from a dedicated Maritime Radio communication Operations Centre (MROC), operated by Qnective Middle East in Muscat, which is equipped with state-of-the-art technology for control of all maritime communications in Oman. The operations center will be manned 24 hours a day and also has a large training facility.
The coastal infrastructure includes strategically located radio sites around Oman’s coastline from Khasab in the north to a location west of Salalah, as well as two NAVTEX transmission sites in Wattayah and Salalah to give coverage of Oman’s sea lanes out to 275 nautical miles. AIS receivers and direction-finding antennae are co-located at remote radio sites to track and monitor vessels out to 30 nautical miles offshore, including Oman’s large commercial fishing fleet.
The entire maritime radio communication network should be completed in February 2015. “This large-scale coastal infrastructure project is a good example of the full range of technical services Elcome offers,” said Jimmy Grewal, executive director of Elcome International.
Based in Dubai, Elcome International LLC is a diversified supplier of turnkey solutions for marine electronics, electrical and safety systems for the world maritime industry. Founded in 1969, Elcome is headquartered in a modern 100,000 sq. ft. facility in Dubai, with offices in United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Yemen, as well as a subsidiary and associated companies in India. The Elcome Group has over 500 employees across the Middle East and India, including over 100 factory-trained engineers and technicians.
