Crew Services News

Crew services specialist Boers has launched seafarer vaccination programs at German and Belgian ports, as shipping executives warn of onboard COVID-19 outbreaks because mariners are not getting vaccines quick enough.Seafarers arriving at ports in Antwerp, Ghent and Zeebrugge can get one-shot COVID-19 jabs through Boers’ scheme, which is being launched to protect key workers in the shipping industry.The Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine will be available free of charge until further notice to all mariners of any nationality arriving in Belgium for crew changes.

Ship operators are placing greater recognition on the role crew members play as the key to reaching higher efficiency goals, according to crew specialist Danica, which is expanding to meet the growing demand for quality crew services.As part of its expansion plans, the company will shortly open a new office in Riga, Latvia, and more are set to follow. Danica Managing Director Henrik Jensen said: “Shipping companies are beginning to realize that they have 8-10 seafarers on board…

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…

Transas said it booked an order in Q1 2018 with the Norway-based fleet operator Wilson ASA to supply a Fleet Operations Solution (FOS) including onboard navigational and communication components to provide enhanced connectivity for business communications and crew services, and access to fleet data from shore-based locations for complete situational awareness.For Transas, which was acquired by Wärtsilä in May 2018, the contract marks one of the first applications of the Thesis concept within Wärtsilä’s Smart Marine Ecosystem vision, which uses high levels of connectivity and digitalization.

Portland, Oregon-based Vanport Marine, Inc. has been awarded the contract to perform the Dockside Repair of the USCGC Bluebell. The scope of the contract includes upgrades to the Allied buoy and cargo crane, deck preservation, repairs to the weather tight doors, renewal of the sewage shore tie valve, and repair of the remote fuel cutoff valve and deck box. The work will be completed at the vessel’s home pier at 676 N. Basin Ave, Portland, OR. The performance period will begin on June 12, 2018 and end July 18, 2018. The cutter Bluebell is an inland buoy tender built by the Birchfield Boiler Co. in Tacoma, Wash., and was commissioned April 4, 1945.

A new satellite device that combines the Inmarsat Fleet Xpress Network Service Device (NSD) with the RedPort Optimizer Enterprise satellite router and VoIP gateway was launched by RedPort Global.The single rackmount appliance will manage ship networks with satellite broadband routing, VoIP connectivity and crew services, and replaces at least three pieces of hardware that were previously required for Fleet Xpress installations.The innovative RedPort Optimizer Enterprise NSD for Inmarsat Fleet Xpress gives satellite service providers and ship operators an all-­in-­one solution…

Marlink said it has migrated Aker BioMarine’s Antarctic krill harvester fleet support ship, La Manche, to Inmarsat’s Fleet Xpress service. The system provides a boost to crew communication facilities on board as well as enables vessels to benefit from improved business intelligence and remote access to the vessel’s IT network. The service uses the XChange Universal Remote Access (URA) solution, one of Marlink’s many Value Added Services available on Fleet Xpress. “Fleet Xpress has transformed our communication capabilities aboard La Manche.

Satellite-based connectivity has always played a critical role for the maritime sector. As the communications expectations of ship owners, passengers and crews continue to grow, maritime service providers are seeing a transformation in the type and quantity of applications that need to be supported at sea. The advent of VSAT broadband services is driving a shift away from traditional, low-level L-band connections that ship operators have relied upon for decades. VSAT services are preferred to respond to the demand for high-speed broadband that can support bandwidth-intensive applications.

A Marlink commissioned survey of Asian ship owners has confirmed that many shipping companies are ready to embrace the increased capacity and greater data usage enabled by maritime VSAT. Marlink initiated the survey to further deepen its understanding of the Asian markets, align its service development roadmap and ensure the specific needs of Asian customers are met with flexible, cost-effective and innovative new communication services. A key finding of the survey showed that…

Satellite communications and network service provider SpeedCast International Limited has announced the official release of SIGMA Net shipping and remote site network management designed specifically for VSAT and MSS. SIGMA Net is a small but powerful industrial-grade VSAT and MSS network management device designed for ships and remote sites, providing automated and efficient management of multiple WAN links. Cyber security is at the heart of SIGMA Net, which incorporates a stateful firewall and Virtual Private Networking between the vessel and the Internet plus unique methods to regulate Internet access, including rejection of update services to Windows or mobile devices.

Rolls-Royce has extended its service capability in South Korea by partnering with Busan-based ship repairer Sunjin Entech. The new service agreement means that Rolls-Royce can now provide customers with a bespoke one-stop service solution at the Gupyung and Youngdo yards, Sunjin’s two main repair hubs. Kim Jae Chul, Sunjin Entech, President said: “This partnership agreement with Rolls-Royce allows us to enhance the technologies and services we can offer our customers. Anthony Tan…

United Arab Shipping Company (UASC) has selected WaveCall Plus VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) services from Marlink to provide reliable connectivity for its new build fleet of 17 containerships, first vessel due for delivery by the end of 2014. All 17 new container ships – eleven 14,000 TEU and six 18,000 TEU – are designed to embrace “smart shipping” to reduce fuel use and environmental impact. UASC is deploying various technology solutions to support this, including a web-based fleet management system and electronic document handling systems, in addition to enhancing its crew welfare offering. Wavecall Plus, the global connectivity solution…

Inmarsat inform that the US$45-million deal to buy Globe Wireless, the Florida-based provider of value-added maritime communications services to the shipping market, has been finalised. Inmarsat has confirmed that it has completed regulatory and other approvals in relation to its purchase of Globe Wireless, which included the business and substantially all of the assets of Globe Wireless, which in the twelve months ended June 30, 2013,  generated revenues of US$91 million and currently has an installed customer base of over 6,000 ships.

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.

Cape Town-based black empowerment shipping company, Marine Bulk Carriers (MBC) and its partners have placed a second R300m order for an Anchor Handling Tug and Supply (AHTS) vessel. News of the second order was announced at MBC’s 10th anniversary function, held in Cape Town, last night (13 November, 2013). The 78m, 12 000 horsepower AHTS vessels, which are being built by Guangxin Shipbuilding of Guangdon in China, will be South African owned and crewed by South Africans. MBC’s sister company…

As maritime markets continue to recover and interest and investment in advanced communication systems picks up steam, Tore Morten Olsen, Head of Maritime Services at Astrium Services, says the focus now shifts now from simple connectivity to providing specific business solutions at sea. While the evolution of communications at sea has had its fair share of starts and stops, largely driven by overriding economic conditions of the day as well as the stale notion that communications costs are an expense versus an investment…

Marlink has been chosen by the CMA CGM Group, the world’s third largest container shipping group, to upgrade the majority of its fleet to WaveCall, Marlink’s standardized Ku-band VSAT service. In combination with the XChange solutions platform from Astrium Services, WaveCall will be installed on over 35 CMA CGM vessels, including the CMA CGM Marco Polo, CMA CGM Alexander Von Humboldt and CMA CGM Jules Verne, one of the largest container vessels in the world. As CMA CGM’s fleet covers global trade routes, extensive Ku-band coverage was a key requirement when choosing WaveCall.

Crewsure appointed G2 Crew Services, the recently formed partnership between Griffin Global Group Limited and Gulf Agency Company Limited, to act as its global correspondent. Crewsure provides medical and personal accident insurance directly to crew and is underwritten by the Munich Group, one of the world's leading Insurance Companies. The benefits provided are tailored to meet the needs of crew and the latest requirements of the Maritime Labor Convention (MLC). “Crewsure complements…

G2 Crew Services, the J/V  between Griffin and GAC, teams with iVitta to provide a cell phone SIM that covers more than 1,000 ports worldwide. "Web access on board vessels remains the exception rather than the rule and most crew rely on text messages and phone calls to stay in touch while away from home," said Simon Morse, Executive Chairman of Griffin. "Currently their choice is to either to carry a bag full of different SIMS each with a separate telephone number and credit balance or pay ‘roaming charges’ of up to $5 per minute ex Europe. iVittamobile offers a single SIM supported by 650 local carriers so crew can make that same call for as little as 9 cents per minute," he said.

GAC said it will play tribute to the unsung heroes of the global shipping community as part of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Day of the Seafarer. The global shipping, logistics and marine services provider is joining shipping and supply chain companies, as well as individual supporters, as they unite to express their gratitude for the commitment and dedication of seafarers worldwide. Since 2011, IMO has officially celebrated the international Day of the Seafarer on June 25. This year, the day is dedicated to the “Faces of the Sea” in recognition of the sacrifices that seafarers make to perform their duties, often away from their families and in demanding environments for months on end.

CrewInspector, an online crew management software provider, recently signed up with number of crew recruitment and crew management agencies based in Ukraine to provide its crewing software for businesses in Ukrainian market. “We see that companies are looking for straight forward software solutions not requiring long set-up and integration. CrewInspector offers high quality solution at very attractive price and that’s the main reason why we are so popular among start-up and middle size crew management agencies. In the same time we fully satisfy the needs off larger organizations as well thanks to CrewInspector scalability,” said Andy Lipsberg, co-owner of CrewInspector.

G2 Crew Services, the recently formed JV between Griffin and GAC, has announced  the appointment of Gary Pearce as CEO with effect from August 5. Previously Senior Vice President Global Energy Services for Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT), Gary Pearce led the team responsible for CWT’s strong growth and high levels of customer satisfaction within the Offshore and Energy sector. “Whether their origins are in crew or corporate travel, the offshore industry is served by companies limited to providing point-to-point air travel” said Gary Pearce.