Safe navigation and monitoring of ships are becoming increasingly challenging in the world’s heavily trafficked waterways. How can ships be reliably located and monitored without the need for additional onboard technology?

SeaSentry addresses this challenge – a pioneering research project aimed at developing new real-time ship monitoring technology to sustainably improve maritime safety.

The project is being realised together with the consortium partners Covadonga GmbH, Knowtion GmbH, in-innovative navigation GmbH, the DLR Institute of Systems Engineering for Future Mobility, and Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg. Thanks to the collaboration of these partners, SeaSentry will play a key role in shaping the future of maritime traffic control.

Technology for the Future of Maritime Traffic Control

SeaSentry aims to develop a land-based sensor network for passive detection and real-time localisation of ship movements, which functions without requiring additional installations onboard. This technology enhances and improves existing monitoring systems, providing an innovative solution for maritime traffic control.

A key aspect of the project is the testing of the sensor technology in the eMIR testbed in the German Bight, which extends from the Elbe estuary to the port of Emden. This test area offers a variety of maritime scenarios to evaluate the technology under real conditions. To test applications with greater range, the eMIR testbed will be extended to the Heligoland site.

The developed technology will be integrated into VTS systems to improve efficiency and safety in maritime environments. The passively operating sensor network enables reliable detection of ships without the need for additional devices onboard. SeaSentry thus contributes to maritime safety and has the potential to revolutionise the monitoring of ship movements in complex environments.

The role of in-innovative navigation GmbH

IN’s role in the SeaSentry project focuses on integrating the passive sensor network to detect ship radar signals and integrating this technology into existing VTS systems. This will expand and enhance the operational situational awareness in maritime surveillance. To achieve this, the technology will be tested in a real VTS system, and detection probability as well as accuracy will be assessed in various scenarios.

Another goal of the project is the reliable detection of ships that have turned off their AIS systems but continue to navigate with active radar. The SeaSentry system aims to detect such ships with a probability of over 95%. This not only improves maritime safety but also contributes to environmental protection by detecting potential accidents early and preventing them.

IN is also developing two AI-based decision-making tools: a ship radar operational status tool that provides VTS operators with information about the operation of onboard radars, and a ship classifier that automatically categorises ships based on camera images. These tools are designed to complement the situational picture, validate the passive sensor network, and be usable even without the sensor network within VTS systems.

SeaSentry thus makes an important contribution to hazard prevention and enhancing safety at sea.

WindEnergy in Hamburg is a trade fair that is tailored to the focal points of the international wind energy industry. It brings together a qualified trade audience with exhibitors from all areas of the value chain and their innovative solutions. In each hall, the clear focus is on world market leaders in the industry.  

The WAB is the nationwide contact for the offshore wind industry, the onshore network and promotes the production of green hydrogen from wind power. Around 250 smaller and larger companies and institutes from all areas of the wind industry, the maritime industry, the hydrogen economy and research belong to the association. The Wind Industry and Hydrogen Association WAB e.V. is committed to climate protection as the voice of the value chain. 

This year, we will once again be represented as part of the WAB joint stand. Here, the latest products and innovations will be presented, existing business relationships strengthened, and new partnerships forged. 

We will be showing the latest enhancements to our maritime traffic monitoring solutions in the areas of offshore traffic management, coastal protection and marine coordination. These include, for example, the new version of our S-100-capable user interface inDTS, refined route management functions, and augmented reality enhancements to support users. Visitors will also have the opportunity to test the latest version of our web-based display solution inDTSweb and inDTSmobile live on site. 

Visit us in hall B5, stand 203.  We look forward to seeing you there!

Every two years, the maritime industry gathers in Hamburg for SMM, the leading trade fair for shipping and maritime technology. This is where the latest products and innovations are presented, existing business relationships are strengthened and new partnerships are formed.
This year, IN will once again be represented at SMM with its own stand. We will be presenting the latest enhancements to our VTS, coastal protection and marine coordination systems, e.g. the latest version of our S-100-capable user interface inDTS, new route management functions and augmented reality enhancements to support users. Visitors will also have the opportunity to test the latest version of our web solution inDTSweb and inDTSmobile live on site. Of course, we will also be presenting our navigation solution RADARpilot720° OS in action at our stand.
Visit us in hall B6, stand 404.

IN has been shaping the maritime navigation landscape for 25 years: What once began as a pioneering project in the field of chart display systems with radar display in inland navigation has now developed into a leading provider of monitoring systems for shipping traffic in harbours and on international waterways.

Our cutting-edge software solutions are valued by renowned customers such as the Port of Hamburg or the German Waterways and Shipping Administration as well as the Dutch Rijkswaterstaat. In addition to customers in Europe, our solutions are used in projects in Asia, South America and East Africa.

The team develops high-quality and customised project solutions for our customers and is continuously developing IN’s software portfolio with the latest technology and innovative strength.

To celebrate the anniversary, a two-day event was held.

At a symposium entitled ‘Future Trends in Maritime Surveillance’ on 13 June, eight leading experts gave exciting presentations:

• Francis Zachariae from IALA mit dem Vortrag „The future of maritime digitalization“
• Jochen Wargulski from Lufthansa: “Cyber Security/Data loss prevention for critical infrastructure”
• Rodrigue Bijlsma from Officers On Watch: “The evolution of VTS and coastguard systems to maritime domain awareness”
• Ralf Ziebold from German Areospace Center e.V.: “Potential ROLE of GNSS in future maritime Surveillance”
• Jonathan Lang from Sercel: “Leveraging technology to enhance port operations”
• Florian Schiegg from Covadonga: “SEAGUIDE: An innovative land-based passive ship tracking system”
• Tim Resink from Captain AI: “Autonomy & AI in the maritime industry”
• Thomas Helzel from Helzel Messtechnik: „Dual-use Anwendungen von HF-Radar“.

In addition to the symposium, numerous partners and customers of our company took the opportunity to visit an exhibition or steer a ship through the port of Hamburg in a virtual control centre in our showroom.

At our open-house on June 14, we were visited by numerous interested guests from the neighbourhood and surrounding area, including the Mayor of Kornwestheim, Martina Koch-Haßdenteufel, who conveyed the city’s congratulations.

In a festive atmosphere, we celebrated the successful anniversary together with our families and friends with delicious barbecue specialities, live music and dancing – an evening that we will all remember for a long time to come.

After more than 14 years with and for in-innovative navigation GmbH (IN), managing partner Uwe Vögele finishes his professional career and leaves the company by 31.12.2022.

After joining the company, Uwe Vögele has successfully developed the business for Coastal Surveillance Systems (CSS) and Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) and thus significantly developed company growth over the past 10 years. Uwe Vögele established the initial ISO 9001 system together with the necessary preparations for the organizational re-structuring and development.

Uwe Vögele remains as one of the four shareholders of IN. His duties will be carried forward by the remaining two managing partners Dr. Thomas Gern und Dr. Reinhard Zimmermann.

We wholeheartedly wish Mr. Vögele all the best in his new phase of life.

We provide you at WindEnergy, together with our partner UK partner Nesspoint Ltd., information about our modular software and hardware solutions for:

• Marine Coordination systems for monitoring offshore wind farms
• Maritime surveillance systems such as VTS, CSS
• On-board navigation systems
• Sensor data processing (radar, AIS, CCTV, RDF,..)

Our products / services in the field of wind energy (onshore and offshore)

• Radar and AIS based integrated offshore wind farm monitoring
• Person/employee tracking
• Integrated alarm systems
• Storage of movement data, synchronous playback and statistical analysis

Please check out our short video with helpful information.

Come and Visit our stand in hall B6! You will get an insight into our solutions and many more details about our products and solutions in a realistic simulator.

in-innovative navigation GmbH is a leading company in developing navigation and traffic control systems. in-innovative navigation GmbH – the name of our high-tech company lays claim to performance and high innovative standards, to which we hold ourselves. The modular structure of our software allows you to obtain individual components from us that can be integrated into your existing system as a flexible part solution – or you can decide on a complete solution.

Since 1999, we have been developing innovative navigation systems and land-based traffic monitoring systems for the shipping industry, with on site implementation and integration. Products range from offshore navigation software RADARpilot720° OS to highly sophisticated integrated surveillance systems for Offshore wind parks and Vessel Traffic Services (VTS).

Come to our booth and get the latest information about our products RADARpilot720° OS and our solutions for Vessel Traffic Systems (VTS) and the surveillance of Offshore wind parks.

After the required procedures and measures had long been integrated into our daily work, certification was now mandatory. Information security is our claim and a necessity in the digital age.

We are pleased to have received ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certification in addition to our ISO 9001:2015 certification.

On April 12^th, 2022, the new radar data processing system from in-innovative navigation GmbH (IN) went live in operations at the first of 6 VTS centers. Since being commissioned in June 2019 to modernize the nationwide VTS system, IN and EQUANS (formerly ENGIE) have been working intensively towards this goal and, after extensive testing, have reached this milestone. The GO-LIVE is an exciting moment for all parties, not least the nautical staff of the traffic center, who have to get used to the new radar data processing and display system.

In order to make the transition smooth and responsible, the pilots were intensively trained on the new system (inDTS) beforehand by in-innovative navigation GmbH. In addition, either an IN employee was available on site or a hotline for 12 days around the clock to provide the navigators with optimal support during this crucial phase of the project.

Dr. Thomas Gern, CEO of in-innovative navigation GmbH, stated after this promising start: “The transition from the old to the new system has gone largely smoothly at this first traffic center. This gives us great confidence that the upgrades of the other traffic posts can be carried out quickly. Above all, the constructive cooperation with our customer RWS and the people who will then work on the new system is highly gratifying for us in this project. This is the only way to sensibly develop the kind of customized system solutions that we offer.”.

On behalf of RWS (Rijkswaterstaat), 6 centers will be equipped with state-of-the-art technology for radar-based traffic monitoring on waterways during this nationwide project LUV VTS. The next step, the technological conversion of the Wemeldinge traffic center in Delft, has already begun.

A comprehensive, powerful and highly reliable VTS solution from in-innovative navigation GmbH was commissioned for the Port of Scheveningen at the end of March 2022.

As the control center in the Port of Scheveningen, which also monitors tunnels, bridges and bollards in The Hague, is being replaced, the nautical traffic control center was set up in an interim building for the transition.

In the course of this, in-innovative navigation GmbH modernized and installed the technology for radar surveillance on behalf of VIALIS. The temporary control center for the operators consists of three workstations, with a digital map table providing touch function. The VTS solution from in-innovative navigation GmbH will take up permanent residence in the new control center once the building is completed, probably in 2023.

Fatih Şenel, project manager at in-innovative navigation GmbH, is satisfied with the result: “The project shows again that our software and hardware solutions can be integrated without any problems. We are pleased that VIALIS have also contracted us to maintain the system, so that we will then be able to accompany the relocation of the complete system to the new site next year.”

Let’s meet up at the EUROPORT exhibition from 2-5 November 2021! After more than a year, in-innovative navigation cannot wait to connect in real life with the maritime industry in the world port city Rotterdam. With a strong focus on innovative technology and navigation equipment for the future, at EUROPORT you will meet maritime professionals from all over the world.

Visit us at our booth no. 3303 and learn more about the latest technical developments for maritime surveillance and coordination of vessel traffic with VTS/CSS, efficient software solutions for port management and digital opportunities for the safe operation of offshore wind farms.

in-innovative navigation GmbH and CNIM Air Space have deployed two maritime airborne surveillance aerostat systems in Greece.

The project, for which both companies have joined forces in a consortium, with in-innovative navigation GmbH taking the lead, involves the delivery to FRONTEX of an integrated turn-key solution that comprises two tethered aerostats, for the purpose of testing the performance and cost-efficiency of these innovative solutions to maritime surveillance and awareness.

This concept offers an entire new and innovative approach, combining various surveillance sensors with a high degree of automation and a flexible, redeployable platform into a single comprehensive solution for persistent maritime surveillance. The deployment of the systems started in July and is planned to last a few more months.

Each system is composed of a 450 m³ Eagle Owl tethered aerostat, equipped with a Hensoldt ARGOS II HD EO/IR optronic gimbal, a Diades Marine maritime radar, and an AIS receiver. The systems are contributing to the monitoring  of maritime areas, and provide FRONTEX with the ability to detect, recognize and identify activities of interest. Each aerostat is accompanied by a ground station which is equipped with a C2 (Command & Control) workstation. The ground station, thus, controls the sensors, analyses the collected data, and transmits the most relevant information to FRONTEX operation centers. The system also allows the distribution of the maritime surveillance picture to any remote user through the use of web-based or mobile applications connected to the C2 system.

Airborne surveillance aerostat systems offer a number of advantages. Apart from the fact that it is a very cost-effective solution in terms of cost per operating hour compared to other airborne maritime surveillance systems, the other major added value of a tethered aerostat is its persistence. The system is designed to fly 24/7 for several days and even weeks. CNIM Air Space’s tethered aerostat solutions are mobile, easily movable and they don’t need a specific infrastructure to be deployed. The flight altitude of the tethered aerostat (hundreds of meters) offers another advantage. It frees the system from topography and earth curvature constraints, which usually limit the performance of standard ground systems. Finally, CNIM Air Space has managed to develop tethered aerostats which are threat resilient and adapted to a maritime environment (especially to strong winds, up to 110 km/h).

“Within the scope of this contract, CNIM Air Space is in charge of designing and manufacturing the Eagle Owl type tethered aerostats, embedding the sensors, setting up the ground segment and managing the operations of the complete system. Operations are led in partnership with Ventura Associates, a French security and defense operational expert.” explains Xavier Montazel, director of the Systems Business Line at CNIM.

Uwe Vögele, managing director at in-innovative navigation GmbH, adds “in-innovative navigation is in charge of integration, processing, validation and display of all data at the ground stations, as well as the communication interface between operations centers”.

“The award of this contract by FRONTEX demonstrates CNIM Air Space’s expertise in tethered aerostat systems. We are proud to deploy our solutions at a European scale” says Xavier Montazel.

“For in-innovative navigation, this award reflects FRONTEX’s continued confidence in our solutions and capabilities. It also proves that we have chosen the ideal aerostat partner to provide a comprehensive and high-quality system” concludes Uwe Vögele.

Display of integrated sensor information with inDTS at the ground station:

Since 2012, in-innovative navigation GmbH was first certified according to ISO 9001:2008, and since 2018 according to ISO 9001:2015. Since software products are generally generated in a very dynamic environment, quality management is an important and active part of the daily work at in-innovative navigation GmbH.

This year,  the company have again successfully passed the certification according to DIN EN ISO 9001:2015. The certificate was granted without any deviations, as an effective system for meeting the standard and the quality policy could be demonstrated. The positive findings additionally underline this. The adaptation of newly introduced processes was adequately realized and have been largely completed.

“It is absolutely clear to us,” says Uwe Vögele, one of the three CEOs of in-innovative navigation GmbH, “that the topic of IT security is becoming increasingly dominant in the application areas in which we have been working successfully now for years. The necessary measures have long been initiated and we are very confident that we will also pass the DIN EN ISO 27001:2013 certification in the current year.”

The companies in-innovative navigation GmbH and Argonics GmbH join their activities in the field of navigation applications for inland vessels.

in-innovative navigation GmbH has been active in the field of chart display systems with radar overlay for more than 20 years; RADARpilot720° is the leading European product in this field. Argonics GmbH is active, among other things, in the field of automatic track keeping of inland vessels; the argoTrackpilot is also the market-leading product in this field.

The inland ECDIS product RADARpilot720° of in-innovative navigation GmbH as well as all inland navigation activities will be incorporated into the new company Argonav GmbH; and the core team of RADARpilot720° around Dr. Martin Sandler will keep working on  inland ECDIS navigation systems for inland vessels within Argonav GmbH in the future.

in-innovative navigation GmbH will concentrate on applications for traffic monitoring on waterways, in ports and coastal areas, as well as on approved radar and chart systems for maritime navigation.

The group of companies consisting of Argonics GmbH and Argonav GmbH will create a technologically leading unit in the field of inland navigation.

Control engineering, sensor technology, chart and radar image processing paired with programming and IT knowledge are essential components of the joint know-how. It is the basis for  future developments of products on the way to automated and, prospectively, autonomous shipping. This is complemented by the two companies’ extensive involvement in various research projects such as NOVIMAR, SCIPPPER, AKOON and FernBin.

Argonics and Argonav will bundle their activities in the field of inland navigation in joint premises in Stuttgart – Vaihingen from February 2021.

On Monday 9 March 2020, the test system for the LUV-VTS NL project was officially inaugurated in the RWS Traffic Centrum IV in Delft.

It is a complex system consisting of three radars, the server components in the computer center and a test workstation. While the new system will be set up, each of the 6 traffic centers can be simulated in advance. Together with ENGIE, in-innovative navigation GmbH (IN) is installing the nationwide traffic monitoring system on behalf of the Dutch RWS (Rijkswaterstaat).

Project manager Andreas Schnorr of IN (in-innovative navigation GmbH), explains: “All sensor data received at the individual location of the system – radar image, CCTV, radio and weather measurements – can be combined and displayed here accordingly. This enables us to configure and test the software for each traffic center here in Delft in advance with their real traffic data, and then install it at the respective locations. In this way, the modernization of the entire system can now take place step by step and without disrupting operation”.

(in the picture from left to right: Andreas Schnorr (Project manager IN), Leo van der Harst (Project manager RWS), Dennie Slagter (Manager Project Control ENGIE), Nancy Scheijven (Director VWM RWS), Reinhard Zimmermann (CEO IN), Gerrit Jan van den Toorn (Head of department SVM RWS))