Investigation of fiber optic performance in navigation and multiple wavelength division on plastic fiber optic technology (Wdm-Pof) in ship

This paper discusses the Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) application over the Plastic Optical Fiber (POF) used for data and networks communications of selected equipments onboard a navy ship. Four different wavelengths are used to connect equipments throughout the ship for access by the user, namely; LAN connections, telephone line, CCTV video image and central video/audio entertainments network. Some network topologies possible to be used are explained and improvised mesh topology is studied as possible architecture to be used for this study. The equipments will be able to be controlled and monitored from three different control centers; the Bridge, the Machinery Control Room (MCR) and the Combat Information Centre (CIC) for safety and security connection with redundancy feature, good performance and resilience connectivity. Some parameter such as output power and power losses in the networks were observed. The system promises an enhanced data transfer with the benefits of less overall ship’s weight and therefore will improve the speed and consume less fuel for new and future ship design or ship embarking life extension program.