Draft:Danphone

Danphone is a global company within the maritime sector.

The organization consists of three main departments; Sales & Marketing, Development, and Production.

The History of the GMDSS
The roots of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) stretch back to the pioneering days of wireless communication. In 1896, Italian engineer and physicist Guglielmo Marconi achieved a major breakthrough by inventing the first successful wireless telegraph, a technology that would revolutionize maritime communication.

Shortly thereafter, in 1899, the world witnessed the first practical use of wireless communication for distress calls. On March 3rd of that year, a freighter collided with East Goodwin Lightship off the southeast coast of England. The distress call, transmitted wirelessly to a nearby coastal station at South Foreland, led to swift rescue efforts.

This incident underscored the potential of wireless telegraphy in saving lives at sea. However, the turning point in maritime safety came with the tragic sinking of the Titanic in 1912. The loss of this iconic ship prompted Maritime Nations to convene and develop the first international shipping safety convention.

This convention resulted in the adoption of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), emphasizing both accident prevention and enhanced survival measures if accidents should occur.

SOLAS, since its formation, has undergone numerous updates and revisions. In 1959, the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (IMO) assumed supervision of SOLAS, recognizing the increasing importance of satellite technology in maritime search and rescue operations in the 1960s.

In 1976, the IMO established the International Maritime Satellite Organization, later known as the International Mobile Satellite Organization, to provide emergency maritime communication.

A significant milestone arrived in 1988 when IMO’s Member States adopted the basic requirements of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) as part of SOLAS. This adoption triggered a phased implementation of the GMDSS, which began in 1992 and culminated in full implementation on February 1st, 1999.

Today, the GMDSS stands as an integrated communication system designed to ensure that no distressed ship vanishes without a trace, ultimately saving more lives at sea.

Early Activities for Danphone
The company emphasizes the value personal contact to customers as well as all partners involved in the pursuit of delivering customized solutions as they mention in the article from Jammerbugt.

Trading, Acquiring, and Co-Operation
Danphone’s aims to be a global provider of coastal radio communication and safety systems and related test equipment. Danphone works closely together with end users and operators, prime contractors, subcontractors, and other complementary suppliers.

Furthermore, Danphone follows and develops the future systems for maritime communication and safety in close co-operation with customers and partners.

Notable Projects
The Danish GMDSS specialist, Danphone, takes part in transforming the maritime communication systems, e.g. one of the newest projects, Port Sudan. Regarding NAVTEX the projects subsequent to 2020 are:
 * Estonia (2020): Additional upgrade of the existing NAVTEX System delivered in 2017 and upgraded in 2018.
 * Sudan (2021): NAVTEX Port of Sudan, NAVTEX Receiver installation.
 * Egypt (2021): NAVTEX System upgrade.
 * India (2023): India NAVTEX, Service and Maintenance agreement.

As for AIS the project in the same period (2020-2023):
 * Poland (2021): GAZ-SYSTEM, AIS System - Polish site.
 * Guinea (2021): AIS West Africa, Stand-alone AIS Recorders.

In terms of Coast radio station there are projects spanning from 2020 up until 2023:
 * Bulgaria (2020): Emergency Standby National GMDSS Coastal Radio System, incl. DSC
 * Falkland Islands (2021): MF/HF and VHF GMDSS System.
 * Bahamas (2021): MF/HF and VHF GMDSS System upgrade.
 * UK (2022): Southern UK Harbour, VHF DSC System.
 * Brazil (2022): On-shore/off-shore VHF voice communication system.
 * Sudan (2023): Port of Sudan, Complete GMDSS Coastal Radio System, incl. DCS & NAVTEX.
 * Argentina (2023): Bahia Blanca Port, VHF voice communication system.
 * Three undisclosed countries (2021, 2022, and 2023): Complete GMDSS Coastal Radio System, incl. DSC & NAVTEX.

Futronic MKI & MKII
FUTRONIC MKI was first developed around 1994/1995 until March 2009 when the former hardware engineer and owner of FUTRONIC I/S Jens Larsen passed away. The software to the FUTRONIC MKI and FUTRONIC MKII was and is still developed by Finn Thirup.

Production rights to MKI were sold to Danphone around 2006 before the former FUTRONIC I/S owner passed away but only after his death, FUTRONIC I/S was purchased in January 2017 by Danphone. FUTRONIC MKI and MKII have since their public launch continuously gotten software updates, MKI though only up until the release of the MKII. FUTRONIC MKII is the only ALL-IN-ONE tester box for radio inspectors performing mandatory, periodical surveys of ship-borne communications equipment, radio beacons, AIS, and Search and Rescue transponders. MKII is the only test box on the market capable of multiple test functions and a proven operational lifetime of more than 20 years. MKII is capable of testing all radio and safety equipment obligated by IMO to undergo mandatory inspections.

GMDSS Coastal Radio Solution
Danphone has developed, manufactured and installed advanced radio communication equipment and complete systems since 1990. The company is an expert within maritime communication technology, specializing in VHF, MF/HF and NAVTEX. Danphone’s GMDSS Coastal Radio Solution is a complete, flexible, and scalable IP-based radio communication system primarily for coastal stations, ports, and off-shore installations and designed specifically to comply with ITU, IMO, and international maritime specifications.

Danphone GMDSS coast stations for VHF and MF/HF are delivered in compliance with relevant IMO and ITU specifications, including DSC, voice and data logging, and interface with landline telephones. The system features IP-network infrastructure, Voice over IP and remote control via touch monitors.

MSI NAVTEX Transmitter Solution
NAVTEX is the international automated safety service for broadcasting meteorological warnings, navigational statuses, and urgent Maritime Safety Information (MSI).

The Danphone MSI NAVTEX Transmitter Solution is scalable and can be customized to suit all requirements - both from a single-transmitter setup to a complex national system with multiple operators and transmitter sites installed at various remote locations.

Danphone is committed to the development of NAVDAT (NAVigational DATa) in the 500 KHz band, and will provide NAVDAT systems to support the ITU and IMO standardization and overall implementation plan to customers. With more than 40 NAVTEX transmitters delivered since 2007, Danphone is one of the leading suppliers of NAVTEX systems worldwide.

AIS Shore Stations
Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) are designed to be capable of automatically transmitting all necessary data such as position, speed, course, cargo, and MSSI to other ships and coastal authorities.

Danphone is a supplier of complete, rack mount AIS Physical Shore Stations (PSS), built to meet individual customer specifications. In this capacity, the company works with leading suppliers of base station transponders and AIS system software.

The automatic identification system (AIS) is an automatic tracking system that uses transceivers on ships and is used by vessel traffic services (VTS). When satellites are used to receive AIS signatures, the term Satellite-AIS (S-AIS) is used.

Products and Equipment
Danphone is approved by Denmark's Export Credit Agency to offer long-term financing of coastal radio projects and equipment to customers. This means that projects delivered by Danphone can be financed over a period longer than the typical project delivery period. With Denmark's Export Credit Agency to bear the risks, the customer benefits from being supported by the Danish State, when purchasing products and services from Danphone.

The typical financing period can be from 18 to 60 months and in special cases even longer. A project financed over 5 years will have an initial payment of 20% at order and 10 bi-annual payments. A premium of between 0.5 and 4 percent will be added to the project price. The premium amount depends on the country, the customer's credit rating, and the term of loan.

For governmental buyers, a sovereign guarantee is a requirement, i.e. a guarantee from the Ministry of Finance or for some cases evaluation of local Coast Guard or relevant authority. From private system integrators or banks, a credit rating is conducted.

Danske Bank
Danphone is a customer in Danske Bank, and has been a customer since Danphone was founded in 1990. Danske Bank operates in 8 countries and has banking connections in most countries and all major banks.

Sustainability
As a part of the Danphone environmental policy and brand strategy the company is a sustainable brand.

NATO
The NATO Codification System is a system with standardized methods for classification, description, and naming of products used in NATO. A NATO Stock Number (NSN) is given when an item of supply is established as unique. NSN is a 13-digit numeric code, identifying all the standardized material items of supply as they have been recognized by all NATO countries. NSNs are used by all NATO countries and are issued by the National Codification Bureau in any NATO country. Danphone is registered with a NCAGE code ( R8554 ) as part of the NATO Codification System (NCS). All Danphone equipment has been awarded with NATO stock numbers.