Date: 22nd September, 2026
Agreement Details
Marine Electricals (India) Limited (ME) and Maritime 3 Group (M3G) have entered into a Head of Terms Agreement for the development and manufacturing of India's first indigenous Automatic Identification System (AIS) Base Station incorporating VDES (VHF Data Exchange System) technology.
The agreement was signed at SMM 2026 in Hamburg, Germany, one of the world's leading maritime industry exhibitions.
Partnership Structure
The partnership combines Marine Electricals' manufacturing capabilities with M3G's technological expertise to develop an advanced maritime communication and information-exchange solution designed and manufactured in India.
Technology Specifications
The proposed AIS Base Station will leverage VDES technology, which represents the evolution of conventional AIS communications. VDES enables enhanced data exchange between ships, shore-based infrastructure, and maritime authorities, providing greater data capacity and supporting a broader range of maritime information services.
Application Areas
The indigenous AIS Base Station is designed to address the requirements of:
- Ports
- Coastal surveillance networks
- Vessel Traffic Services (VTS)
- Maritime authorities
- Other shore-based maritime applications
Strategic Alignment
The initiative supports India's growing focus on indigenous maritime technology and next-generation digital infrastructure under the Make in India philosophy. It aims to reduce dependence on imported critical maritime communication infrastructure and strengthen India's maritime technology ecosystem.
Executive Commentary
Mr. Shailendra Shukla, Executive Director of Marine Electricals, stated: "This agreement represents an important milestone in our commitment to developing and deploying advanced maritime technologies from India for India and the global maritime market. The integration of VDES technology into an indigenous AIS base station has the potential to significantly enhance maritime connectivity and shore-based data exchange."
Eugene Jansen, Group CEO of M3G, added: "The transition from AIS towards VDES represents an important development in maritime communications. Our collaboration with Marine Electricals combines our technological expertise with their industry capabilities with the objective of creating a robust, scalable, and globally relevant solution that is engineered and manufactured in India."
Next Steps
The companies will progress towards detailed technical and commercial development phases, including:
- System engineering
- Prototyping
- Testing
- Validation
- Subsequent manufacturing
Industry Context
The initiative is aligned with the broader transformation of the maritime sector towards:
- Connected ships
- Smart ports
- Digital Vessel Traffic Services
- Data-driven maritime operations
Company Background
Marine Electricals is a leading provider of electrical, automation, navigation, communication, and technology solutions for the maritime and industrial sectors, serving shipowners, shipyards, ports, and maritime organizations across domestic and international markets.
M3G is a technology company focused on developing advanced maritime communication and information systems, working towards enabling next-generation digital connectivity and information exchange across the maritime domain.