COMMUNICATING WITH A VESSEL

摘要

Techniques for communicating with a vessel are disclosed. A method of communicating with a vessel comprises the steps of: transmitting at predetermined intervals a position information message from the vessel over a return communications channel; monitoring the return communications channel; in the event that the position information message is not received over the return communications channel within a predetermined period encompassing the predetermined interval, transmitting a position request message to the vessel over an outgoing communications channel; monitoring the outgoing communications channel; and in response to receipt of the position request message at the vessel, transmitting a position response message from the vessel over the return communications channel. It will be appreciated that this approach improves the reliability of the communications link.