Maritime Safety and Security Centre in Cuxhaven officially open

On February 9, 2017, the official opening took place in the presence of Federal Minister Alexander Dobrindt, MdB, Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure in Germany. Frequentis acted as the technical prime contractor and delivered its communication solution ASGARD, the entire IT solution, media technology and the dedicated furniture. In July of 2016 the go live took place, enabling the Maritime Safety and Security Centre a common communication and information solution to work together with all other authorities, which have been integrated into this centre.

The Maritime Safety and Security Centre has been acting as the communication and cooperation network for the operational forces of the Federal Government and the German coastal states to ensure maritime safety and security since 2007. Different specialist capabilities have been grouped together in the Joint Emergency Reporting and Assessment Centre Sea (GLZ-See) for this period of time and operations are coordinated on the basis of common situational awareness. About 100 employees, including shift workers, are working in this newly built facility within the area of the Waterways and Shipping Department Cuxhaven.

The Maritime Safety and Security Centre is responsible for the entire German coast and all water access routes. The Federal Office for Agriculture and Food, Federal Police Department, Central Customs Authority, German Navy, Central Command for Maritime Emergencies, Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration, and the Waterways Police forces of the German federal and coastal states are operating together through this centre.

Frequentis delivered its communication solution ASGARD, which is fully IP-based and operating on COTS (commercial off-the-shelf) hardware. From radio integration to the IT solution as well as the media technology and the dedicated furniture comes from Frequentis as technical prime contractor. Providing the highest reliability and redundancy it is compliant to the highest security standards, verified by the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI). The Frequentis solution incorporates cross-industry expertise connecting Maritime and Public Safety product features.

“The exchange of information between all facilities involved in the Maritime Safety and Security Centre Cuxhaven has been intensified and accelerated. The deployment of the communication system ASGARD helped to promote this further. Frequentis delivered at cost, on time and with a very professional project management”, said Hannes Mahler, Deputy Administration Manager at the Maritime Safety and Security Centre.

“We are very proud to be part of this unique Maritime control centre and to bring in our cross-industry expertise to support all of the authorities working together to enhance the security and safety for the German coast and sea”, added Dr. Reinhard Grimm, Managing Director of Frequentis Germany.