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Data Rates News

18 Nov 2020

SATCOM: Intellian Antennas get type approval from Telenor

Intellian’s v60Ka 2 (above) and v100NX Ka antennas are now approved for the THOR 7 satellite network.

Intellian announed that two of its  antenna systems, the v60Ka 2 and v100NX Ka, have gained type approval from Telenor Satellite for use on their THOR 7 Ka-band GEO satellite network. This means that the systems are now officially certified to take their place in service alongside Intellian’s v85NX, the first 85cm antenna to receive type approval on the network.The Intellian v100NX Ka is "future-proofed" according to the manufacturer, with a specially-tuned radome and reflector in anticipation of forthcoming 2.5GHz wideband Ka network services.

05 Oct 2020

Inmarsat Supporting Impala Push Boats on the Paraná

Real time video surveillance via Fleet Xpress is keeping cargoes and crews secure along the Paraná River - the artery for economic development that carries around 80% of Paraguay’s trade (Photo: Inmarsat)

Inmarsat has equipped four Paraná River push boats operated by Impala Paraguay with Fleet Xpress connectivity, in what the mobile satellite communications company is calling a breakthrough for maritime broadband inland along one of South America’s longest waterways.The prime mover vessels are used by Impala Paraguay to steer its fleet of 30 double-hulled barges along the waterway system to move gas oil, jet fuel, gasoline and naphtha products from Argentina onward to Paraguay and Bolivia, exporting soya bean oil in the other direction.

19 Mar 2020

Tanker Rates Fall, but Storage Demand Stays Firm

© Vladimir / Adobe Stock

After a frantic week that sent crude oil freight rates to record highs amid a bookings bonanza to ship Saudi oil to the world, rates are now easing as charterers balk at the nosebleed charges and await Saudi volume plans for April, shipping sources said."Sentiment remained softer today," said one ship broker while pointing to another day of limited chartering activity.At least nine very large crude oil carrier (VLCC) provisional charters failed this week along with another five for Suezmax tankers…

11 Dec 2019

WORK Microwave Transforms Maritime SatCom

WORK Microwave has announced the results of its technology demonstration with Intellian and Telesat to increase the reliability, performance, and throughput of broadband for maritime applications. Recently, the companies successfully tested a high-throughput data link from Mount Jackson, Virginia to Pompano Beach, Florida using WORK Microwave's AX-80 wideband modem, the Intellian v150NX 1.5m Ka-band wideband antenna, and the Telesat T19 VANTAGE High Throughput Satellite (HTS).

22 Aug 2019

MTR100: Five "Ones to Watch"

Saipem’s Hydrone R – in the flesh and ready for real world testing. Image from Saipem.

For Marine Technology Reporter's (MTR) 14th Annual "MTR100" - a look at 100 innovators and technologies in the subsea space - MTR editor-at-large Elaine Maslin reports on five companies and technologies that are worth the watch for the remainder of 2019 and beyond. For the full edition, see https://magazines.marinelink.com/nwm/MarineTechnology/201907/Blue Logic: Entering a new eraCompletely new modes of operation are entering the underwater domain for oil and gas operations and…

07 Mar 2019

Speedcast Offers Intellian v240MT Antenna

Intellian’s v240MT antenna (Image: Intellian)

Satellite communications provider Speedcast International said it will begin to offer Intellian’s v240MT antenna to customers in the cruise and offshore energy sectors.The v240MT is Intellian’s next generation, tri-band and multi-orbit 2.4 meter antenna for use on Ku, Ka and C-band satellites. The antenna has the capability to provide Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) and Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) broadband access to virtually any satellite constellation within seconds. Intellian said the v240MT is designed to deliver data rates exceeding 1Gbps…

25 Feb 2019

Thuraya, ITC Global Partner for VSAT+

Photo courtesy of Thuraya

Thuraya Telecommunications company, a subsidiary of the Al Yah Satellite Communications company (Yahsat), has partnered with ITC Global to set up Thuraya VSAT+, the ground-breaking maritime satellite service.ITC Global is a subsidiary of Panasonic Avionics Corporation. The partnership gives Thuraya access to Panasonic’s global mobility network, which enables the Ku-band element of the Thuraya VSAT+ service.Thuraya launched VSAT+ in Q4 2018. The service offers global coverage, best-in-class data rates to meet growing demand for high-throughput services…

06 Aug 2018

Uniwise Offshore Selects New High-speed Broadband Service

Offshore support vessel (OSV) operator Uniwise Offshore Limited has chosen a new high-speed broadband service to enhance the operations of its entire fleet of more than 30 vesselsUniwise Offshore will use Thaicom’s Nava enabled high-speed connectivity and solutions to focus on operational improvements, including optimized electronic document handling, as well as ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore communications for safer and more cost-effective operations. The company will also be able to improve its onboard communication services including crew welfare and fleet management.

25 Jan 2018

Piraeus Port Contracts Huawei to Upgrade Network

Piraeus Port Authority (PPA) SA and the Huawei Technologies SA are pleased to announce the contract conclusion for the modernization of the PPA network infrastructure. Huawei Technologies SA, after an international open tender, undertook the project of redesigning and replacement of the PPA's network infrastructure. More specifically, Huawei Greece, using optimal international practices and utilizing the latest technology products and solutions of the Group, will replace the existing network infrastructure of PPA, aiming to satisfy the requirements of the biggest port of Greece. PPA SA, by modernizing its network infrastructure, will enjoy network services of guaranteed availability…

16 Nov 2015

Marlink Inks Broadband Deal with BP Shipping

Marlink will provide BP Shipping with global multi-band high speed VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) services to support operational efficiency and crew communication across its tanker fleet. Under the new contract, Marlink will deliver primary communication capability on its flexible Sealink VSAT service, including MSS (Mobile Satellite System) back-up to BP’s operated fleet. BP Shipping was one of the first operators to adopt maritime VSAT services across its tanker fleet. The company’s current operated fleet will migrate to Sealink Ku-band VSAT. BP’s existing vessels will retain their C-band VSAT antennas, enabling Marlink to deliver a true multi-band broadband service with high availability of connectivity globally.

02 Jun 2015

Intelsat’s EpicNG is on the Ways

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.

22 Jan 2015

Navy Communications Satellite Launched

The Navy's third Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite was launched today at 8:04 p.m. EST from Space Launch Complex 41. This communications satellite will significantly improve capability for Navy and Department of Defense tactical operators. Over the next several days, the satellite will transition to its geosynchronous orbit location 22,000 miles above Earth. Its solar arrays and mesh antennas will then be deployed and on-orbit testing will begin for eventual commissioning into service. Upon acceptance for operational use, MUOS 3 along with MUOS 1 and 2 already on-orbit, will provide communications coverage to more than three-quarters of the globe.

31 Dec 2014

US Navy Prepares for Communications Satellite Launch

U.S. Navy photo by Rick Naystatt

U.S. Navy military and civilian engineers are preparing the latest military communications satellite for a planned Jan. 20 launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. The satellite is part of MUOS, or Mobile User Objective System, which operates like a smartphone network from space, vastly improving secure satellite communications for mobile U.S. forces. Unlike its predecessor system, MUOS provides users a global, on-demand, beyond-line-of-sight capability to transmit and receive high-quality voice and mission data from a high-speed Internet Protocol-based system.

18 Dec 2014

NRL Researchers Demo Ship-to-Shore Data Link

The TREC test assembly shown on the charter vessel as it enters the Port of Miami. Researchers established communications links with a similar terminal located on the roof of one of the buildings in the distance. (Photo: U.S. Naval Research Laboratory)

Scientists at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) along with Mercury Continuity (MC) have demonstrated the Tactical Reachback Extended Communications (TREC) system in the port of Miami. The NRL-developed communications technology, which provides a very high data rate transmission over long ranges, was tested as part of a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with MC and Intelligent Designs, LLC. The full-duplex connection was set up between a node on top of a 760-foot-tall building near the harbor and another on board the vessel Norwegian Sky…

24 Nov 2014

MSC Cruises Advance Onboard Wi-Fi System

MSC Orchestra Cruise Ship (Credit: MSC Cruises)

MSC Cruises has started a fleet-wide optimization installed by Marlink to improve shipboard VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) connectivity. MSC Cruises said it is the first cruise line in the world to benefit from the iDX 3.2 software and X7 modem from iDirect. Their cruise lines will receive enhanced service delivery and performance, resulting in higher allowance and richer end-user functionality for ship management, passengers and crew. After successful testing of the iDirect X7 modem in August 2014, Marlink began the rollout across the 12 ships of the MSC Cruises fleet in October 2014.

02 Oct 2014

Unlocking Seabed Secrets with Underwater Robots

Photo courtesy of CMRE

From September 22 to October 13, 2014, the NATO Research Vessel Alliance is conducting the Multinational AutoNomy Experiment (MANEX ‘14) along the Ligurian coast to demonstrate the advantages of mapping the seabed using autonomous vehicles. Throughout the experiment, multiple autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) equipped with modern sensors relevant to NATO minehunting missions are being employed in the Ligurian Sea along the Italian coast between Framura and Bonassola to collect data that will allow NATO researchers to advance the area of seabed mapping using autonomous vehicles…

19 Sep 2014

General Dynamics Wins US Navy Award for F/A-18 Mission Computers

General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics, was awarded a $16.2 million contract by the U.S. Navy to produce Type-3 Advanced Mission Computers (AMC) for the F/A-18 E/A-18G Super Hornet aircraft. Since 2002 General Dynamics has produced, tested and delivered the F/A-18 AMC, which serves as the nerve center of the Super Hornet and provides the Navy with situational awareness and combat systems control. "By leveraging commercial off-the-shelf technologies and an open architecture, we are helping the Navy keep lifecycle costs down, while strengthening mission-critical performance capabilities for the flight crew," said John van Dyke, senior director, Sensors and Processing at General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems.

11 Sep 2014

Shippers Must Reduce Costs, Boost Efficiency

Michael Wilson

So what’s keeping ship operators awake at night these days? Plenty, it seems. Sluggish recovery from a lingering worldwide recession, unsustainable debt loads, endemic overcapacity in most shipping trades, punishing freight rates, rising costs of fuel and regulatory compliance and a lingering sense that ships are not running as efficiently as they could. The last two topics – reducing fuel costs while complying with emission regulations and improving ship operating efficiency – will take center stage at SHIPPINGInsight 2014, scheduled for Sept. 30 – Oct. 2 in Stamford, Conn.

12 Feb 2013

Intellian Debuts FleetBroadband Hardware

Photo: Intellian

Intellian introduced three Inmarsat FleetBroadband (FB) networks as the latest additions to its line of satellite communication antenna systems. The FB150, the FB250 and the FB500 comprise a product line supported by Intellian’s industry-leading three year warranty. All three terminals of the new Intellian FB product line include a broad range of IP and networking related value-added features such as IP routing, Firewall capability and vessel fleet tracking. The Intellian FB150 is a satellite communication solution designed to provide global data and voice for business…

13 Aug 2013

Vessel Communications: Inland Comms Evolve

SATCOM’s Availability, Pricing and Utility tempts marine users left unsatisfied by limitations of cellular communication. The inland operator hoping to survive in tomorrow’s rapidly emerging business environment using cellular communications alone is likely to be, as a minimum, disappointed. In a worst case scenario, they may find themselves out of business. That said; there are options that inland transportation businesses can turn to when trying to effectively manage their far-flung businesses. One such option involves the KVH inland solution. According to Steve Griffin, Manager, Commercial Sales at KVH Industries, Inc., the launch of the TracPhone V3ip gave inland operators a solution that had not previously been made available to them…

02 Jan 2014

Five Minutes With: Tore Morten Olsen, Astrium Services

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.

27 Mar 2014

RHL Hamburger Lloyd Selects KVH Broadband Service

Compact and rugged, KVH’s TracPhone V7-IP Ku-band VSAT system was chosen to meet growing bandwidth usage and Internet demand onboard the RHL Hamburger Lloyd tankers.

To meet growing bandwidth usage and Internet demand onboard its tanker fleet, RHL Hamburger Lloyd Tanker GmbH & Co. KG, of Hamburg, Germany, an international shipping company known for managing sophisticated, innovative tankers, has chosen KVH Industries, Inc., for its mini-VSAT Broadband satellite communications solution. Twelve oil and chemical tankers will be outfitted with KVH’s TracPhone V7-IP satellite antenna systems in the next month, with a potential for 16 additional container vessels to receive KVH systems.

08 Apr 2014

Intellian FleetBroadband Terminals for 38 Containerships

Photo courtesy of Intellian Technologies

Intellian has won the contract to supply Hanjin Shipping of South Korea, with FleetBroadband FB500 terminals for a fleet of 38 container ships. The installation process has already commenced and will be completed by Intellian over the coming months as the ships arrive into port. The FB500 is the largest of Intellian's FleetBroadband product range and provides the fastest and most cost-effective FleetBroadband service available. It is designed specifically for intensive use onboard merchant and offshore vessels using Inmarsat’s I4 satellite, global broadband coverage.