Communications Providers News

As the shipping industry embraces digitalization, it’s time for a new era of fresh thinking that recognizes the potential of satellite communications in delivering financial, environmental and safety improvements. If shipping awarded a ‘word of the year’ in 2017, digitalization would have been a clear contender. The term has become a mainstay of commentary in maritime media and a key topic of debate at our industry’s conferences and exhibitions. But the reality is that digitalization is more than just a word or catchphrase that’s captured shipping’s attention.

Dubai-based Topaz Energy and Marine has signed an agreement with Orange Business Services for a Maritime Connect solution that connects its fleet at sea and supports the corporate network. Topaz is an offshore support vessel company for the global energy industry. The Orange integrated communications platform increases the efficiency of the fleet, lowers cost and improves the onboard experience for crew. Under a three-year agreement Orange is initially connecting 39 vessels from the Topaz fleet…

Trade association Interferry stages its 42nd annual conference in Split, Croatia, next month with an agenda highlighting the income and savings potential in three key areas – the customer experience, ship technologies and safety issues including cyber security. The event runs from October 7-11 and is on course for record attendance with some 300 delegates already registered among member and non-member operators and suppliers. “I think the high level of interest is a response to the pace of change in our industry,” suggests Interferry CEO Mike Corrigan.

KVH Industries, Inc. announced that Netherlands-based Vroon has extended its contract for KVH’s maritime satellite communications solution, choosing the mini-VSAT Broadbandsm network for connectivity services onboard more than 140 Vroon vessels. The multi-year contract also includes KVH’s IP-MobileCastTM service for news, sports, movie and TV delivery, as well as preventive maintenance checks to ensure peak performance on all fielded systems as part of the KVH OneCare program. The first installations of KVH’s 60 cm diameter TracPhone V7 systems onboard Vroon vessels took place in early 2011, after Vroon conducted a stringent selection process involving 22 different satellite communications providers. Today, more than 140 Vroon vessels employ the KVH mini-VSAT Broadband system onboard.

At London International Shipping Week held in September, KVH Industries, Inc. introduced the second generation of its mini-VSAT Broadband solution for the maritime market, providing a combination of data delivered at high speeds and at low price points, with vessel operational and crew entertainment/informational content, tools, and support, optimizing broadband effectiveness in serving the needs of seafarers. Tom Mulligan reports. Based in Middletown, RI, KVH Industries is a provider of in-motion satellite TV and communications systems…

Broadband Satellite Services Ltd (BSS), parent company of satellite communications provider Satcom Global and marine engineering firm AND Group, has received a $10m investment from UK based organisation, Business Growth Fund (BGF). This significant investment will allow BSS to accelerate its long-term growth strategy, enabling expansion and development within the Mobile Satellite Services market, further strengthening Satcom Global’s position as a top tier distributor of services to maritime, offshore, aeronautical, media and aid customers across the globe. Ian Robinson, CEO of BSS said: “At Satcom Global and AND Group we take pride in being one of the most innovative and customer oriented players in the Mobile Satellite Services sector.

During a conference in Oslo, KVH CEO Martin Kits van Heyningen urged maritime operators to utilize big data in order to remain competitive. The future competitiveness of the maritime industry will be affected by how rapidly shipping operators take advantage of big data, according to one of the world’s leading suppliers of satellite communications to the maritime industry. Martin Kits van Heyningen, CEO of KVH Industries, Inc., spoke at the Maritime CIO Forum at Nor-Shipping in Oslo, addressing technology issues faced by maritime leaders. “Probably the most important thing for maritime managers to do is make big data a priority,” Kits van Heyningen said. “It’s important to adopt a big data mindset, even if you don’t think of yourself as a data company.

The future competitiveness of the maritime industry will be affected by how rapidly shipping operators take advantage of big data, according to one of the world’s leading suppliers of satellite communications to the maritime industry. Martin Kits van Heyningen, CEO of KVH Industries, Inc., (Nasdaq: KVHI), spoke at the Maritime CIO Forum at Nor-Shipping in Oslo, addressing technology issues faced by maritime leaders. “Probably the most important thing for maritime managers to do is make big data a priority,” Mr. Kits van Heyningen said. “It’s important to adopt a big data mindset, even if you don’t think of yourself as a data company. During his presentation, entitled “Turning Big Data into Big Value,” Mr.

While the true uptake of broadband across the maritime sector has been slow to develop, a number of market conditions are conspiring to drive the service mainstream. Intelsat’s Kurt Riegelman discusses the matter with Maritime Reporter & Engineering News. While the advent of full broadband in the maritime sector is the exception rather than the norm, the tides are changing as companies increasingly deploy fast, modern ‘land-like’ comms in an effort to achieve everything from attracting and retaining crew, to streamlining business operations at sea and enhancing safety.

ITC Global, a leading provider of satellite communications to remote and harsh environments announce that it has launched a new corporate brand as the final step in bringing a series of recent acquisitions together as a single global company. The firm retains the ITC Global name with a modernized look and feel and a reinforced commitment to customer service. The new brand identity marks a major milestone for ITC Global, which has emerged from a niche player to become among the top 3 satellite communications providers to remote industrial operations, including oil & gas, mining and commercial maritime. The new ITC Global brand is part of a broader strategic investment to enhance the company's ability to serve the emerging needs of its clients.

Astrium Services took a survey of seafarer’s usage of crew communication solutions in the commercial shipping sector to establish a picture of mariner communications requirements. According to Tore Morten Olsen, Head of Maritime Services, Astrium Services, the survey was illuminating in more ways than one, helping to shed light on modern comms usage for onboard business and personal reasons. MLC 2006 is here. What is your sense that ship operators and owners will incorporate an increased availability of communications solutions for seafarers? The MLC asks for “reasonable access to ship-to-shore telephone communications, and email and Internet facilities, where available.” The wording is quite soft. Plus it is located in the non-mandatory guidelines. So there’s some room for interpretation.

Sharon R. Duggan has been appointed to the board of Marine Atlantic Inc. by the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. Marine Atlantic Inc. is a federal Crown corporation that reports to Parliament through the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. The corporation provides a constitutionally mandated passenger and commercial marine transportation service between the Island of Newfoundland and the Province of Nova Scotia. Its mission is to provide a safe, environmentally responsible and quality ferry service in a reliable and cost-effective manner. "I am pleased that Ms. Duggan has agreed to serve on the board of Marine Atlantic," said Minister Lebel. Ms.

Globe Wireless and Arimar have announced  that they have entered into a long-term cooperation agreement to provide Globe Wireless products and services to Italian flagged vessels. As part of this agreement, Arimar will act as the billing agent for Globe Wireless Italian flagged vessel. This collaboration will significantly enhance Globe Wireless’ offering of communication services to Italian and Mediterranean maritime customers and industry. Arimar Deep Sea Manager Marco Marcuccilli said, “Globe Wireless has been extremely successful in servicing the maritime market due to its unique products and services capabilities. We are excited to work with Globe Wireless one of the world’s leading maritime communications providers.

RigNet, Inc. has announced that Mark Slaughter, Chief Executive Officer and President, will present at the Jefferies 2012 Global TMT Conference in New York on Wednesday, May 9, 2012, at 8:00 a.m. EDT. RigNet is a leading provider of managed remote communications, networks and collaborative applications dedicated to the oil and gas industry, focusing on offshore and onshore drilling rigs, energy production facilities and energy maritime. RigNet provides solutions ranging from fully-managed voice and data networks to more advanced applications that include video conferencing and real-time data services to remote sites in over 30 countries on six continents, effectively spanning the drilling and production industry.

Inmarsat, a provider of global mobile satellite communication services, today announced that Frontline, the world leader in the international seaborne transportation of crude oil, has committed to Inmarsat XpressLink for more than 100 vessels from its existing fleet and its planned new builds. “We evaluated the providers and made a purely commercial decision about XpressLink from Inmarsat,” said Kjell S. Langva of Frontline Management AS. “The choice was made after a year of positive experience with VSAT from Ship Equip”. “The cost-benefit profile and the unmatched failover capability, which offers unlimited usage on Inmarsat FleetBroadband, was key to the decision. Also Inmarsat’s ability to deliver made up the additional element in making the choice,” he said.

France Telecom has signed an agreement with Apax Partners to sell 100 percent of the shares of France Telecom Mobile Satellite Communications SA (FTMSC). The completion of the transaction is expected in the near future. FTMSC is one of the world’s largest mobile satellite communications providers, marketing and distributing communications solutions for customers based in areas with limited access to terrestrial telecoms infrastructure. Apax Partners is one of the world’s leading private equity investment groups. Its funds invest in specific industries including telecoms, and provide long-term equity financing to build and strengthen world-class companies. This deal will enable FTMSC to consolidate its position on the international mobile satellite communications market.

Satellite communications provider Marlink has signed a new contract with Italian Shipping Company the Grimaldi Group. The new agreement, secured during this year's Nor-Shipping, includes delivery and installation of Marlink's Sealink Ku-band services onboard six Grimaldi passenger vessels operating throughout the Mediterranean. Marlink is one of few maritime satellite communications providers to have obtained general authorizations issued by the Italian Government for use with its Italian customers. This permits the enabling of satellite network services on Italian flagged vessels with a VSAT onboard. (www.marlink.com)

As competition continues to escalate within the offshore energy industry, major players often differentiate themselves by offering improved and innovative services to customers. For Brazil-based NorSkan Offshore, an offshore supply vessel company, delivering exceptional quality and responsiveness to its customers is its top priority. NorSkan recently entered into a multi-year agreement with CapRock Communications of Brazil to receive reliable, turnkey satellite communications services. While communications providers are a dime a dozen, reliable providers are few and far between. In an effort to ensure the communication solution it deployed would deliver the same level of quality and dependability it is known for…

The evolution of satellite communication use at sea closely mirrors that of land-based communication trends: a never-ending quest for speed, reliability and lower costs. While it is foolhardy to select this or any other single technology as the one with the greatest impact on the maritime industry, a strong case could be made for satellite communication. Prior to the introduction of radio, maritime communication was generally limited to line-of-sight visual signaling during clear weather, plus noise-makers such as bells and foghorns. The advent of radio greatly reduced the isolation of ships during emergencies and was quickly responsible for saving thousands of lives. The first ship-to-shore, two-way radio conversation reportedly occurred in 1922, between Deal Beach, N.J., and the S.S.