Data And Voice News

Marlink is supporting PONANT’s first polar exploration ship Le Commandant Charcot, with data and voice connectivity, aiming to create a seamless communication experience for guests.Le Commandant Charcot became the first vessel of her kind to reach the geographic North Pole on September 6, 2021, during sea trials in preparation for her maiden voyage later this year. Marlink provides a hybrid network solution, combining Sealink dual C- and Ku-band VSAT connectivity, GEO and LEO L-band connectivity and a high-data volume LEO store & forward capability.

Touting strong RF performance, Intellian said its newly launched C700 Iridium Certus maritime terminal can deliver out-of-the-box uplink speeds of 352kbps and downlink speeds of 704kbps by default, with equally impressive low-elevation-angle RF efficiency thanks to its unique 12-patch phased array antenna technology. It will support three high-quality, low-latency phone lines simultaneously; and as a solid-state antenna with no moving parts inside, the C700 is especially robust…

Inmarsat Maritime President Ronald Spithout says providing crews with enhanced levels of connectivity and support is critical at this unprecedented time, and offers an insight into the work already underway with welfare organizations to assist seafarers in need.Given Inmarsat’s position as the leading provider of maritime VSAT and L-Band services at sea, it is hardly surprising that we have been alert to the direct connection between coronavirus and surging demand for crew voice call and data services.

Real-time fisheries management and governance to ensure robust quota compliance and safeguard sustainable fishing.Inmarsat, along with its partners Addvalue Innovation Pte Ltd (Addvalue) and Network Innovations, have launched a type-approved IP-based terminal and Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) for fishing vessels operating in United States (U.S.) waters. The Addvalue iFleetONE communications terminal and proprietary VMS have been type-approved in four of the five U.S. Fisheries Management regions, as required by the U.S.

Satellite communications specialist Marlink has been awarded a contract renewal to expand its Sealink VSAT service to international ship owner Transpetrol.The provider of satellite communications services for the maritime industry claimed that the higher levels of guaranteed bandwidth ensure global connectivity for 14 strong tanker fleet.The renewal secures access to Marlink’s global network and specially-chosen business critical VSAT solutions for the entire tanker fleet and two planned new buildings due for delivery within 18 months.Operating a sophisticated and diverse fleet from medium range tankers to Aframax and Very Large Gas Carriers on global routes…

Elcome International said it has completed a satellite communications retrofit program for a major fleet of liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers providing broadband data and voice services. “Our team decommissioned the existing VSAT systems and installed new SAILOR 900 antennas and below-deck systems on 40 ships within four months. Most of the installations were performed at sea, and the others were made at ports in eight different countries,” said Jimmy Grewal, executive director of Dubai-based Elcome International.

Inmarsat has launched a new and flexible Fleet Xpress plan for superyachts to address the seasonal luxury market, and through its partner e3 Systems has signed up the first superyacht Beagle Star V, a luxury sail yacht, to the plan. The award-winning Fleet Xpress service has become the fastest growing VSAT service in the 2017 commercial shipping market. With additional flexibility being a key demand for the superyacht industry, where voice and video calls, entertainment and social media can vary widely during the season, Inmarsat has developed a new flexible plan for Fleet Xpress to specifically meet the demands of this market. Under the plan…

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…

The role of Inmarsat as sole provider of satellite technology performing to Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) standards is set for advancement, after an IMO Sub Committee decided to greenlight consideration of both FleetBroadband and Fleet One for formal approval. To date, Inmarsat is the only company which has received approval from the International Maritime Organization to provide the GMDSS data and messaging communications on which mariners rely in the last resort, currently via Inmarsat C and Fleet 77 services.

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.

Global Eagle Entertainment Inc. (“GEE”) (NASDAQ:ENT) and Radiance Communications are deploying marine VSAT services for Nakilat’s fleet of LNG and LPG carriers. GEE’s EMC service line and Radiance Communications, an EMC maritime service partner and reseller, are supplying global Ku-band VSAT connectivity and content to enable a full range of internet, data and voice services for the vessels and crew. It includes a high-quality voice-over-IP (VoIP) system for the corporate network to lower the costs of satellite voice calls, as well as VoIP crew calling and an internet café solution for crew with company access control. To date, eight Nakilat ships have been equipped.

Nakilat, the shipping arm of Qatar’s liquefied natural gas sector, has entered into a contract with Global Eagle Entertainment Inc.’s Emerging Markets Communications (EMC) service line to provide marine VSAT services for vessels in its fleet of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carriers. Under the contract, Global Eagle Entertainment’s EMC is supplying global Ku-band VSAT connectivity and content to enable a range of internet, data and voice services for the vessels and crew.

The satellite communications group Inmarsat plc cautions that with the slowdown in the global economy hitting shipping, satellite communications industry faces rough weather, according to a report in Reuters. The British company, which provides data and voice connections to shipping, warned that tough trading was set to persist in its maritime and government markets this year. "We are seeing modest growing headwinds in terms of global trade slowdown and increased scrappage and lay outs," Chief Executive Rupert Pearce said. The capital expenditure forecast is more than analysts expected, and came as Inmarsat said it had revenues of $1.27 billion in 2015, similar levels to 2014. Its revenues from maritime services were $593 million in 2015, down $2.4 million from the year before.

Egypt headquartered Maridive Group, an international offshore marine and oil support services provider, has chosen to migrate 24 of its Offshore Support Vessels to Marlink’s VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) WaveCall Plus services in addition to one new build vessel. Maridive Group has a globally distributed fleet with an operational footprint covering North & West Africa, the Mediterranean, the Caspian Sea and Latin American countries. The company selected Marlink to upgrade its vessels to VSAT in 2012, and this latest contract adds a further five vessels operating in Venezuela and Brazil, while enhancing Maridive’s communication capabilities for business, crew and safety by upgrading to WaveCall Plus.

With most offshore wells in Brazil located between 30 and 300 km from the coast, communication with offshore assets has not always been straightforward or reliable. Some operators and service providers still use traditional maritime VSAT services for coverage offshore Brazil, yet the introduction of Microwave radio has led to a much better level of quality and reliability in high-bandwidth voice and data communications. Claudio Paschoa, Maritime Reporter’s correspondent in Brazil had an interesting conversation with Arild Fotland, head of Ceragon’s Oil and Gas Division, about the advantages of Microwave radio communications for offshore operations in Brazil. Fotland joined Ceragon in 1978 and has been stationed all over the world.

Marlink announced it has completed the roll-out of VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) connectivity across the entire Kuwait Oil Tanker Company (KOTC) fleet of 26 tankers, during a three month project started in March 2015. The final vessel, Mutriba, was completed and fully online by mid-June 2015. Marlink was awarded the contract to deliver VSAT to KOTC’s fleet in January 2015. With easier and more cost-effective access to data and voice communication through Marlink’s Sealink VSAT services, KOTC now is able to enhance its global logistics operations, i.e.

Globalstar says that its newest voice and data solution, Sat- Fi, is now available to provide seamless wireless connectivity via satellite. Customers can use their current Wi-Fi enabled  smartphones, tablets and laptops to send and receive communications when traveling beyond cellular. Customers are able to access data and voice more efficiently, saving both time and money. Through a convenient smartphone app which enables connectivity between any Wi-Fi-enabled device and the Sat-Fi satellite hot spot, subscribers can easily send and receive email and SMS text messages and make voice calls from their own device. “Although we live in a connected world, there are billions of people who work, play and live in remote locations lacking reliable and affordable voice and data communications.

Supported by European Space Agency (ESA) funding, Inmarsat’s forthcoming Maritime Safety Data Service (MSDS) for FleetBroadband, delivers an increased data capability over the Inmarsat-4 network, including the Alphasat satellite, providing global coverage and the same reliability of over 99.9 per cent associated with the Inmarsat network. MSDS will continue to offer distress alerting, priority messaging and SafetyNET safety information broadcasts, but also deliver greater data capability than is currently available with Inmarsat C safety services. *All data accessed over MSDS to be captured and stored at new servers. Peter Blackhurst…

SpeedCast International Limited (SpeedCast) says it has been awarded a multi-year contract from Jan De Nul Group, a leading dredging, marine construction, and specialized services  company in the offshore oil & gas, and renewable energy industries. The new satellite service provides high-performance broadband connectivity for mission critical data and voice applications on vessels operating throughout the world. With this latest contract, SpeedCast will increase the number of vessels served to a total of 44 of Jan De Nul Group’s vessels. SpeedCast designed the communications solution from the ground-up to meet the unique requirements of Jan De Nul Group, which include operational and ship management applications, as well as crew communications.

Satcom Global has announced the launch of three new exclusive postpay voice and data bundles for the Inmarsat Fleet One service. Fleet One brings cost effective satellite communications to small vessels including yachts and fishing vessels, through a compact, lightweight and easy to install antenna. Accessing weather information and chart updates, keeping in contact with loved ones or simply checking the news are now as simple to do at sea as they are on land. As well as these new postpay bundles, we also offer a Fleet One Prepaid service, with vouchers available in a flexible range of unit denominations and validity lengths. With Fleet One, smaller vessel owners can now stay connected without having to worry about cellular coverage or network roaming charges.

Satellite telecommunications service provider SpeedCast International Limited has been awarded a satellite service contract by Allseas Group S.A., an offshore pipeline installation and subsea construction company. The contract covers Allseas’ flagship vessel, the Pieter Schelte, one the world’s largest ships, which took to the seas for the first time for sea trials in September. The satellite service provides broadband connectivity for mission-critical communications between the vessel and the land-based operations.

Airbus Defence and Space has launched XChange v3, the latest evolution of its XChange communications platform, which is set to further improve the flow of operational data between ship and shore through sophisticated voice and connectivity service management. XChange is an all-in-one solution to manage communications services in an easy and intuitive way. It gives more control with less operational overhead while on board administrative tasks can also be out-sourced to onshore offices.

Using the VDR as the Ship’s Data Clearing House provides budget-minded operators with the means, the bandwidth and the economy to monitor critical systems. Go on: dip your toes in the big data water. Big Data. It’s all the rage across the full spectrum of the maritime world. Thousands of data points on 70,000 vessels literally scream out to be harvested and sent back to the home office, all with the intent of making your vessel more efficient, your operation more profitable, the environment cleaner and perhaps, your bunker and maintenance bills lower. The only left to ask is: what’s it going to cost me? Actually, not as much as you might think.