APPLICATION OF OPTICAL FIBER TECHNOLOGY ON BOARD SHIPS

The optical fiber technology, because of its advantages in the data transmission and its simple installation as compared to the traditional information transmission technologies of the past two decades, has completely prevailed in the telecommunications and computer networks. In addition to their use in the communications system, optical fibers have been applied as sensors in measuring different non-electrical and electrical values. In both the cases, their very small dimensions, easy installation, insensitivity to external electromagnetic influences, enormous data transmission capacity and high reliability, justify the installation of the optical communications networks and sensors in the very demanding ship environment. This paper aims at describing several applications of the optical communications networks in the ship propulsion and control system as well as different options for the installation and use of optical sensors.