VASIRA
European VDES Reference Architecture and Related Standardisation, Interoperability and Regulatory Activities
What is VASIRA?
VASIRA is an ESA-funded activity aiming to drive the coordinated development of an unified European VDES ecosystem, bringing together satellite and terrestrial technologies for maritime communications. The project’s full name describes its focus on Reference Architecture, Standardisation, Interoperability, and Regulatory alignment for VDES systems across Europe.
Why it matters
- Supports future maritime digitalisation.
- Strengthens secure, interoperable communications from ship to shore and via space.
- Builds consensus on technical, business, and regulatory aspects of VDES deployments.
VASIRA as a Project
Objectives
Technical and Standardisation Alignment
- Identify and consolidate technical requirements for interoperable VDES across Europe.
- Ensure compatibility between satellite (VDE-SAT) and terrestrial (VDE-TER) transceivers and networks.
Regulatory and Business Requirements
- Align regulatory frameworks at national and international levels.
- Feed into standardisation bodies such as:
Interoperability and Ecosystem Coordination
- Identify gaps in existing ecosystems.
- Consolidate stakeholders’ perspectives across the maritime and space communities.
- Prepare a roadmap for future deployments of interoperable VDES infrastructure.
System Architecture
VASIRA defines a conceptual reference architecture that describes how VDES elements (both satellite and terrestrial) can interoperate in a future European ecosystem.
This reference framework sets the technical baseline for:
- Unified protocols and interfaces.
- Network interoperability.
- Scalability across operators and technologies.
- Compatibility with international standards.
Project Plan and Workflow
The project’s development is organised into key phases:
Gap Analysis
Access technical, regulatory, and business gaps in current VDES developments to build a consolidated set of requirements.
Reference Architecture Definition
Develop and formalise the European VDES reference architecture based on the analysis.
Parallel Activities
Workstreams on:
- Standardisation inputs
- Regulatory enablers
- Business modelling
- Ecosystem coordination
Mid-Term Review
Completion of requirements and architecture definition.
Finalisation and roadmap
Refine contributions, develop deployment roadmaps, and prepare documentation.
VDES and Maritime Communication within the Project
VDES is the evolution of AIS.
VDES supports two-way data exchange between ship-shore, shore-ship and satellites – unlike AIS, which is one-way.
VDES to be included into SOLAS Chapter V, Carriage Requirements, effective from January 1, 2028.
Background of the Companies Involved
Sternula was founded in 2019, following the allocation of VDE-SAT radio spectrum at the ITU World Radio Conference. The company aims to provide trusted connectivity for ship operations and is leading the implementation of AIS 2.0 (VDES and related technologies) to establish the world’s largest integrated satellite and coastal network for maritime digital services.
Space Norway is a commercial company owned by the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries and represents a key part of the Norwegian Government’s activities and assets in the space sector. The company’s objective is to provide secure and stable satellite services for commercial and societal needs, including management and development of strategic and security-critical space infrastructure, safeguarding basic national functions.
AAC Clyde Space was founded in 2005 in Glasgow, UK, and specializes in small satellite technologies and services that empower businesses, governments, and academic institutions to access high-quality, timely data from space. This data underpins a wide range of applications – from weather forecasting and precision agriculture to environmental monitoring, and plays a vital role in improving life on Earth.
LusoSpace is a privately held company, founded in 2002. Throughout these years LusoSpace has been involved in more than 30 projects/activities mainly in hardware development for space applications, although with current activities for earth applications as well. LusoSpace has worked extensively for the European Space Agency (ESA) directly or indirectly through Europe’s space primes like Airbus, Thales Alenia Space, OHB.
Albatros-Tech is a 1-man consultancy company of Stefan Pielmeier, selling consultant services on digital maritime communications, and especially for standardization and regulation work in the area of VDES, since 2018, when he became chairman of the IALA DTEC (at that time ENAV) committee working group for communications.
BM Bergmann Marine (BM) was founded in 2016 by Michael Bergmann. BM Marine GmbH can draw on sound knowledge of the preparation, development and introduction of complex digital navigation systems, development and introduction of complex digital information and data management systems, including the necessary coordination and standardization activities.
Current Status
The project officially kicked-off in November 2025.