LVR Flote and connectivity technology company HARDMODE have signed a memorandum of understanding to test communications technologies at the Port of Riga, with the aim of developing systems capable of supporting port operations when conventional networks are disrupted.
The agreement will see the port used as a real-world testing environment for technologies combining different communications methods, including mobile, non-terrestrial, tactical and narrowband networks.
The partners plan to pilot the systems in live port operations, pursue joint research and development projects, and explore opportunities to deploy successful technologies at other European ports.
“Critical infrastructure is getting more demanding every year. As more sensors, vehicles and systems are connected, more of a port’s daily work stops when connectivity drops,” said Artūrs Lindenbergs, Founder and CEO of HARDMODE.
The partnership comes amid repeated GNSS interference affecting shipping and port operations in the Baltic Sea region, highlighting the importance of communications infrastructure that does not depend on a single technology. Potential applications at Riga include infrastructure monitoring, data management, navigation safety, hydrographic surveys and maintenance coordination.
Kaspars Ozoliņš, Member of the Board of LVR Flote, said the collaboration would explore how technical port services could continue during disruptions to conventional networks, including hydrographic surveys, infrastructure maintenance and coordination with other port stakeholders.
The partners also intend to establish an open testing framework for other technology companies developing sensors, monitoring systems, automation and digital port services that rely on secure communications. The initiative is expected to provide a route for testing how different systems operate together in a live port environment.
