Managed Services News

Marlink, the smart network and ICT solutions company, is bringing together its Telemar US, UK and Italy leisure market operations to create Telemar Yachting, to provide a portfolio of managed services to the yachting market.This combination installation and maintenance of safety and navigation equipment coupled with OmniAccess’ connectivity and cyber security solutions for the yachting segment.Telemar Yachting has been created in response to increasing demand from yacht owners and managers for a more holistic ‘single service’ approach…

A group of companies working in the offshore energy industry are teaming up in an effort to fast-track the journey toward remotely managed services, including onshore remote operations centers and unmanned surface vehicles (USV).Solstad Offshore, DeepOcean Group and Østensjø Group have established and will share 33.33% stakes in two joint ventures (JV). One of them, Remota AS, will own and operate advanced onshore remote operations centers, while the other, USV AS, will develop…

Like every sector of cargo and passenger shipping, “digitalization”—where computerized processes are replacing onboard routines previously handled manually— is an ongoing trend coastwise, on the waterways and harbors. Regulatory compliance, especially with Subchapter M for towing vessels, has also driven choices of onboard equipment with digital interfaces to software and online platforms for record-keeping and for generating inputs for forms and documents.Improved performance has also shaped the capabilities of equipment in the wheelhouse and the view from the bridge.

MAN Energy Solutions has selected Amazon Web Services (AWS) as its preferred cloud provider to provide advanced analytics, machine learning, and Internet of Things (IoT) capabilities for MAN’s CEON platform. The MAN CEON digital platform connects MAN equipment across different industries and geographies to offer customers advice, condition-based maintenance, and repair guidance for marine and power engines, turbochargers, turbines, compressors, and other connected equipment.Using machine learning algorithms…

Marlink said it has reached the 1,000 ship milestone for ITLink Monitor, its solution for simplified IT system monitoring and compliance.Marlink said its ITLink has been attracting interest from shipowners and managers in response to IMO2021 regulations, requiring ships to demonstrate procedures for maintaining cyber hygiene as well as much stricter voluntary schemes which require demonstration of KPIs for system patches and updates.Of the 1,000 ships using ITLink Monitor, 400 have already supplemented it with ITLink’s advanced managed services that provide enhanced cyber security functions…

All Thome Group seafarers will now have access to a wide range of digital payment solutions, including crew payroll payments, international remittances, money transfers, mobile tops-ups, payroll advances and onboard expenses.Maritime Payment Solutions, LLC (d/b/a ShipMoney), a global provider of payment solutions for maritime companies, said Wednesday it will be facilitating Thome Group’s crew payments.Thome Group provides integrated maritime services to the international shipping and offshore industries, with a global crew pool of around 12,000 seafarers.

Intelligent remote communication solutions provider Applied Satellite Technology Ltd (AST) said it has entered into a joint venture with Wright Technologies, a provider of marine electronics services to the South Pacific markets.AST Group Managing Director, Gregory Darling, said the companies will jointly offer remote data applications through new technology and software to improve operational effectiveness.The newly formed company, AST Wrights Ltd, has its headquarters in Wellington, New Zealand, with offices in Auckland and Christchurch.The combined companies bring expertise in remote monitoring and control of fixed and mobile assets, extension of coverage beyond GSM, integration of radio and satellite networks.

Maritime connectivity and IT solutions provider Marlink said it has signed a new service agreement with Stolt Tankers, extending a partnership between the two companies that began in 2011.Under the new agreement, Marlink will provide Stolt Tankers’ fleet of 83 chemical and parcel tankers with a bandwidth upgrade, enabling even greater digitalization of its operations. The package includes version 5.0 of Marlink’s XChange communications management system, which will deliver greater efficiency in IT management processes as well as reinforced cyber security…

Maritime services group Global Navigation Solutions (GNS) has appointed Kent Lee as Chief Executive Officer with effect from January 15,  2020. Kent’s appointment follows the acquisition of GNS by the Cornes Group in November 2019. He succeeds Paul Stanley, who led GNS from 2014 until its acquisition by Cornes.During the last 25 years, Kent has held a number of senior executive positions in the information technology industry with wide international exposure. In 2012, he co-founded CloudRadigm…

Danish shipping company J. Lauritzen has selected Marlink to deploy fully integrated and managed IT services on all Lauritzen Kosan managed gas carriers. The solution will be based on Marlink’s ITLink portfolio, with the KeepUp@Sea platform enabling automation of software and security updates, network and PC health monitoring and remote access for fast issue resolution. Once implemented, Lauritzen Kosan will benefit from a fully standardized ICT setup across its fleet, and have…

Marlink signed a new agreement with Höegh Autoliners to supply the international transport and logistics company’s 38 car and truck carriers with the maritime-optimized IT solution, KeepUp@Sea, part of Marlink's new ITLink portfolio.Marlink will provide managed services designed to ensure the resilience and compliance of the vessel IT networks on Höegh vessels. Onboard implementation of the service is estimated to start in September, after hardware delivery and shore tests have been completed.KeepUp@Sea is designed to enable Höegh to keep its IT systems always available…

KVH Industries (Nasdaq: KVHI) said that Ken Loke has been named Vice President – Asia Pacific, to direct all initiatives for KVH in this  region. Loke has extensive experience in satellite and managed services with top companies active in the telecommunications and maritime industries. KVH provides connectivity solutions for the maritime market, including global mini-VSAT Broadbandsm services used by thousands of vessels worldwide.Prior to joining KVH, Loke held the positions of chief commercial officer and chief executive officer for Eutelsat – Asia Pacific…

Intelsat announced that APT Mobile Satcom (APSATCOM) will become the first maritime solution partner to offer, in China, IntelsatOne Flex for Maritime services.This agreement will deliver a seamless global maritime network for APSATCOM’s customers, providing unparalleled throughput, improved economics, and easier access to broadband services.Under the new, multi-year agreement, Intelsat will provide IntelsatOne Flex for Maritime services, interconnection, and backhaul to APSATCOM’s data centers. The award-winning IntelsatOne Flex for Maritime platform is a seamlessly integrated managed service that offers multi-layered global coverage…

Intelsat S.A. announced  that APT Mobile Satcom Ltd. (APSATCOM) will become the first maritime solution partner to offer, in China, IntelsatOne Flex for Maritime services. This agreement will deliver a seamless global maritime network for APSATCOM’s customers, providing unparalleled throughput, improved economics, and easier access to broadband services, the company said.Under the new, multi-year agreement, Intelsat will provide IntelsatOne Flex for Maritime services, interconnection, and backhaul to APSATCOM’s data centers. The award-winning IntelsatOne Flex for Maritime platform is a seamlessly integrated managed service that offers…

BlueTide Communications (BlueTide) announced it has added Ku-band VSAT service to cover Australia extending north to Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. This allows the company to serve broader maritime regions where global shipping and oil & gas companies operate. With the need for connectivity growing due to crew usage, systems monitoring and automation, BlueTide’s VSAT plans are a natural fit with unlimited data and voice at a flat monthly fee. In addition to standard VSAT communications, BlueTide provides a broad and complete suite of application and IT services to ensure efficient and effective connectivity, email, FTP and other managed services.

Inmarsat, a provider of global mobile satellite communications, has launched Fleet Xpress; the first globally available, high-speed broadband solution for maritime and offshore operators available from a single communications provider. Fleet Xpress aims to allow ship owners and operators to enhance business intelligence, improve operational efficiency and vessel performance, and provide a host of high-value, crew welfare benefits. Fleet Xpress will also empower third party application providers to enhance existing services to maritime customers, and to develop innovative new applications that will further drive operational efficiencies, ranging from real-time monitoring, remote diagnostics and telemedicine, to security and crew service management tools, among others.

An independent study for ABB Turbocharging found that 87 percent of organizations work only or mostly with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for maintenance support and spare parts procurement. Benefits cited include reduced downtime and better parts availability according to the Forrester Consulting Technology Adoption Profile. The individuals surveyed held responsibility for maintenance, repair and supplier management in 105 organizations that leverage large engines and capital intensive machinery.

Bergen headquartered Grieg Star has chosen Marlink’s Sealink VSAT Premium for its entire General Cargo Open Hatch fleet of 33 vessels. Operating on multiple routes worldwide, Grieg Star’s ships will benefit from seamless, high bandwidth global VSAT services with unlimited L-band back up included in the fixed monthly fee, ensuring continuous availability of vessel and fleet efficiency enhancing applications. Grieg Star’s decision to enable its digital operations with Sealink VSAT Premium…

Inmarsat, a provider of global mobile satellite communications services, announced the acquisition of the business and substantially all of the assets of Globe Wireless LLC. Headquartered in Palm Bay, Florida, Globe Wireless is a leading provider of value-added maritime communications services to the shipping market. Significant operational synergies identified through immediate integration with Inmarsat’s maritime business unit, and which are expected to deliver a material improvement in profitability within the first year. Pearce highlighted a range of important strategic benefits associated with the acquisition. These included the opportunity to swiftly deliver significantly improved financial performance through synergies.

Nearly 200 delegates from across the world gathered in Den Haag, The Netherlands in September 2017 to hear about the latest developments in maritime training based on state-of-the-art simulation technology. The three-day Kongsberg UC2017 International Maritime Simulation User Conference brought attendees up to date on developments in digitalization, maritime training, navigation technology, maritime operations simulation and the use of virtual reality in training. Tom Mulligan reports.

BIMCO has launched SmartCon, a new solution for editing contracts that is designed to make contractual work easier and more secure. “SmartCon is a brand-new approach to contract editing, we believe that it will significantly ease the work life of our current users and will attract new users to BIMCO’s contract universe,” said Grant Hunter, Head of Contracts and Clauses at BIMCO. The key innovation in SmartCon is that the features are built into a Word document, which will integrate and merge seamlessly with the normal workflow of shipping professionals and legal staff.

ABB Turbocharging, a provider for the manufacture and maintenance of turbochargers for 500 kW to 80+ MW diesel and gas engines, has signed a long-term Maintenance Management Agreement (MMA) with Dynagas Ltd. The service contract covers all Dynagas TFDE (tri-fuel diesel electric) vessels: Arctic Aurora, Yenisei River, Lena River, Clean Planet, Clean Ocean, Clean Horizon and Clean Vision. In order to ensure the reliability of operation of all the 42 turbochargers operating on Dynagas Ltd vessels…

ABB Turbocharging, the leading provider for the manufacture and maintenance of turbochargers for 500 kW to 80+ MW diesel and gas engines, has signed a long-term Maintenance Management Agreement (MMA) with Dynagas Ltd. The service contract covers all Dynagas TFDE (tri-fuel diesel electric) vessels: Arctic Aurora, Yenisei River, Lena River, Clean Planet, Clean Ocean, Clean Horizon and Clean Vision. In order to ensure the reliability of operation of all the 42 turbochargers operating on Dynagas Ltd vessels, ABB Turbocharging is fully accountable for scheduling in advance turbochargers’ regular servicing for a period of 3 years, relieving the customer of both the technical and administrative workload.