Service Launched

Inmarsat $1.2B Investment in KA-Band Satellite

Inmarsat (LSE: ISAT), provider of global mobile satellite communications services, announced that it has agreed a contract with The Boeing Company for the delivery of three state-of-the-art 702HP Ka-band satellites.  The Inmarsat-5 constellation will enable Inmarsat to provide a unique global high speed mobile broadband service offering.  With operations expected to start in 2014, Inmarsat-5 will support a next generation global service, Global Xpress, which will target a $1.4b incremental market opportunity in VSAT services.  Global Xpress will address the established, growing markets for VSAT services in the Maritime, Energy and Government sectors, with further growth potential in developing markets such as the Aeronautical sector.  Global Xpress will deliver global coverage and unprecedented mobile broadband with speeds up to 50MB/s, to customer terminals from 20-60cm in size.  Inmarsat will target $500m of annual Ka-band revenues 5 years after global service launch.  Inmarsat estimates that the total cost of Inmarsat-5 and Global Xpress will be $1.2bn over 4.5 years, incorporating the fixed cost of the satellites, as well as the cost of additional ground network infrastructure, product development, launch services and insurance.

Corporate Investigation Service Launched

London-based law firm Lawrence Graham has launched LG Corporate Investigations - a multi-disciplinary team of experts who advise clients on the potential for corporate risk, and implement solutions to contain and minimize it, while also offering a full investigation service for those faced with possible fraud or regulatory breach. The team is also ideally positioned to advise businesses or directors who may require independent advice - both independent of the company and its existing

U.S. Customs Publishes Regulations

U.S. Customs Commissioner Robert C. Bonner announced the publication of final Customs regulations requiring sea carriers to provide cargo manifests 24 hours prior to the lading of cargo at foreign ports for shipment to the United States. This information is required in advance to enable U.S. Customs to evaluate the terrorist risk of cargo containers. "Terrorist organizations pose an immediate and substantial threat to the global trading system

Over-capacity builds up in transpacific container trade

The addition of substantial new vessel capacity is widening the gap between supply and demand in the transpacific container trade, according to World Liner Supply, a quarterly reporting service of the ComPairData global liner shipping database. The results of the July 2001 World Liner Supply survey show that transpacific shipping lines have expanded capacity by 9 percent between July 2000 and July 2001, despite the slowdown in trade volumes

Gulfstream Services Launches Wireless Product to UK Market

Gulfstream Services International (Gulfstream), provider of cutting edge equipment to the international oil and gas industry, is launching a world-first fully-automated wireless cement head to the UK market at Offshore Europe today. Gulfstream Services International UK (Gulfstream UK) was set up in January 2010 in Aberdeen to serve the international oil and gas industry and growing demand from customers in UK, Norway, Middle East, Asia and Africa.

3G Communication Service Launched in Jebel Ali Port

DP World among first global terminal operators to offer real-time access to container & vessel information In line with its commitment to constantly improve operational efficiencies for customers, global marine terminal operator DP World has introduced 3G internet service for container liner operators calling at its flagship Jebel Ali Port. Jebel Ali is among the first global ports to offer this vital communication service using the 3rd generation mobile telecommunications (3G) service

Lintec Launches Online Fuel Analysis Service

International marine fuels testing and analysis company Lintec has launched Marline, an Internet-based fuel analysis service that will provide clients with tailor-made current and historical fuel analysis data - dramatically increasing the waiting time for results. Marlin, which is the most advanced Internet-based testing service currently available, was developed over the course of one year. A basic demonstration of the service can be viewed at www.lintec-group.com/maclinets

Singtel Launches Integrated Maritime VSAT Service

Singtel has announced that it has launched its Maritime VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminals) service which will enable the maritime community to use high-speed two-way IP broadband satellite communications services between ship and shore. With the service, maritime companies can integrate their IT applications onboard ships with their offices at shore via IP. The service supports e-mail, web browsing, fax and VoIP via an IP broadband satellite transmission network

Sea Launch Leaves Victoria Shipyards

Sea Launch Commander alongside the South jetty at Esquimalt Drydock. The Commander completed routine maintenance while supporting work crews at Victoria Shipyards. Photo courtesy: Sea Launch The Sea Launch Commander & the Odyssey arrived at Victoria Shipyards Co. Ltd. (VSL) on June 14 for a ship repair project. Following a failed launch attempt in January 2007, some structures on the Odyssey platform were damaged and in need of repairs. Due to the unique facilities at the Esquimalt

UAE To Launch Second Ferry Service to Iraq

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) plans to launch a second passenger ferry service to sanctions-hit Iraq soon in a sign of growing ties between the two Arab countries. A UAE official said a Dubai-based private company had obtained United Nations approval for the direct and faster ferry service from Dubai to Iraq's Umm Qasr port, which could start within one month. In 1998 Dubai launched a passenger ferry service to Iraq, which had since included a stop in Bahrain