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Gsm News

13 Oct 2021

Marlink Delivers Connectivity to PONANT Polar Expedition Ship

Built at VARD’s Tulcea shipyard in Romania, with outfitting completed at the VARD shipyard in Søviknes, Norway, Le Commandant Charcot is the first hybrid electric polar exploration ship powered by Liquefied Natural Gas. Photo © PONANT Nicolas Dubreuil

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.

20 Nov 2020

Mackay Marine Outfits Kitsap Transit's New Ferries

(Photo: Mackay Marine)

Mackay Marine said it provided marine electronics systems and technologies for Kitsap Transit's two new 250-passenger vessels built by Nichols Brothers Boat Builders (NBBB).Bremerton, Wash.-based public transit agency ordered the new vessels in December 2018 to provide expedient commuter services to downtown Seattle from both Kingston, Wash. and a planned Southworth, Wash. route.The bow-loading fast ferries, built by NBBB at its Whidbey Island, Wash. shipyard, are state-of-the-art, low-wake vessels.

21 Oct 2020

Bandwidth Efficiency will Drive Maritime Digitalization

Applied Satellite Technology (AST)

Gregory Darling and Applied Satellite Technology (AST) works with shipowners to help them use their bandwidth more efficiently for ship business and crew needs.When Gregory Darling, Group MD, AST, worked in the marine industry in the 1980s with a marine survey company, he needed to get word to one of his ships off of West Africa to recalibrate its course and head off to a new job. But the ship had left port, and radio calls to the ship went unanswered, resulting in two days of lost time and revenue.“That was frustrating and costly…

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.

27 Aug 2020

AST Forms Joint Venture with Wright Technologies

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.

05 Nov 2019

Thuraya Launches MarineStar

Photo: Thuraya

Thuraya has responded to strong demand from the maritime sector and distributors by launching the MarineStar, an affordable maritime voice solution with advanced two-way tracking and monitoring capabilities.Designed by the world’s most innovative provider of mobile satellite communications, the MarineStar is Thuraya’s new flagship voice terminal for entry-level maritime users. It is based on the same successful platform as other Thuraya voice hardware that have sold in excess of 1 million units to date.

11 Mar 2019

Marlink inks deal with O.A.T.

Photo: Marlink

Marlink entered an agreement with Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T.) to supply its satellite voice and data connectivity services for use on five adventure cruise ships in the O.A.T. fleet.Marlink will provide the O.A.T. Small Ships with a suite of solutions; equipment, bandwidth and operations to reliably meet and exceed guest voice and data requirements; uninterrupted voice and corporate connectivity to facilitate ship management tasks; and flexible connectivity services to…

31 Aug 2018

Marlink VSAT Ensures Global Connectivity for Hapag-Lloyd Cruises

Photo: Marlink

Marlink has re-established its commitment to Hapag-Lloyd Cruises to provide its Sealink services on the fleet of four cruise vessels, plus two new cruise ships which are due to enter operational service in 2019. The contract renewal reflects Hapag-Lloyd Cruises' desire to meet the requirements of the growing market for adventure and expedition cruises, as the ships are now in remote areas that were previously considered inaccessible for cruise ships, such as Arctic and the Antarctic.Marlink’s global Sealink services provide stable…

24 Aug 2018

Sea IT Delivers Complete ICT Solutions to Älvtanks New Vessels

Photo: Sea IT

Sea IT, an independent system integrator specialized in the marine sector, has entered an agreement with Älvtank to deliver and install Sea IT’s complete ICT solution as Älvtank expands its fleet with two new vessels.The agreement covers a full suite of products included in the BlueCORE concept: BlueTV, BlueSAT, BlueSTAR, BlueBOX, BlueCONNECT and the phone service BlueSKY. The first ICT installation has been fully completed on the vessel Ramanda, which now has the highest standard available…

31 Jul 2018

Augmented Reality Creates a New Dimension in Marine Maintenance

Photo: Wärtsilä Seals & Bearings

Digitalization and the rapid development of new technologies is fundamentally transforming the marine industry. New innovations increase efficiency and flexibility. However, these innovations are no longer confined to products and systems. They will also revolutionize marine maintenance services. Wärtsilä Seals & Bearings is introducing augmented reality and smart glasses in stern tube seals & bearings services, creating a whole new dimension in repair and maintenance operations.The augmented reality technology does not only have one specific application.

14 Jun 2018

Rock Seven and Blue Sky Network Partner

SkyRouter (Photo: Blue Sky Network)

Communications technology and services developer Rock Seven said it has partnered with Blue Sky Network, a provider of mission-critical, satellite-based fleet management, tracking and operational analytics solutions serving private, commercial and government customers worldwide.This long-term cooperation will support growth in Blue Sky Network’s maritime strategy, but additionally has ramifications for clients in the aviation and land sectors.Headquartered in San Diego with a wholly-owned subsidiary in Brazil…

06 Jun 2018

Globecomm Boosts Presence in Greece and Cyprus

Left to Right: Rea Papadopoulos, Eleftherios Papadopoulos and Malcolm McMaster (Photo: Globecomm)

Maritime connectivity services provider Globecomm has appointed J&E Papadopoulos as its new representative to the Greece and Cyprus shipping markets.J&E Papadopoulos will provide sales and marketing services locally as well as pre- and post-sales support, installation, commissioning and technical services for Globecomm Maritime products in the region.Established in Piraeus in 1968, J&E Papadopoulos SA is a distributor of marine spare parts, representing numerous European and U.S.

01 Mar 2018

Logistec Acquires Gulf Stream Marine

Logistec Corporation announced  the expansion of its network of terminals through the strategic acquisition of Gulf Stream Marine. This transaction will allow Logistec to establish a stronghold in the U.S. Gulf, strengthen its position in a high-growth market in the United States, provide access to an experienced talent pool, facilitate knowledge transfer between the two organizations, and generate immediate positive benefits to shareholders. This acquisition also represents a major expansion of our network of terminals in the USA. With Gulf Stream Marine's 10 terminals in 5 ports, Logistec's cargo handling activities now cover 58 terminals in 35 ports in North America.

28 Jul 2017

GPLink, Wheelhouse Partner on Maintenance & Tracking

gplink has announced a partnership with Wheelhouse Technologies, creating a comprehensive perspective on vessel upkeep through seamless integration to the Wheelhouse marine maintenance system. Pleasure craft, commercial vessel, and fleet owners can now enjoy the benefits of real-time vessel monitoring, tracking and support, from gplink along with a simple and easy-to-use interface; charting the course to proper vessel maintenance, spare parts management, and document tracking.

27 Jun 2017

Telenor Expands Communication Services for DFDS

Photo: DFDS

Global maritime mobile operator Telenor Maritime said it will expand communications services for longstanding partner DFDS, deploying its connectivity platform with Premium Wi-Fi, Ka VSAT and mobile broadband backhaul for the Northern European shipping company. “We are moving fast forward into the Networked Society, and we are expecting the same experience whether we are at home or at sea when using our mobile devices,” said Frode Støldal, CEO of Telenor Maritime. “Speed and connectivity are crucial for passengers, and even more so in situations where a mobile device is used for business.

11 Jan 2017

Stena Line Ferry Joins Marlink's Multi-band Comms Network

Photo courtesy of Stena Line

Marlink has added the first out of four additional Stena Line ships to its multi-band communications network. Marlink now serves the entire fleet of Stena Line vessels, ensuring high levels of connectivity for passengers and crew, in addition to operational applications and commercial businesses on board. Marlink will also further increase available capacity to Stena Line vessels with an additional 10-15%, following the tripled bandwidth increase in June 2016, ensuring that Stena Line can meet the on-going growth in demand for bandwidth at sea.

08 Dec 2016

GSM Tariff Launched for RockFLEET Dual-Mode Vessel Tracking System

Iridium satcom specialist Rock Seven has launched a new fixed monthly GSM tariff for users of its dual-mode vessel tracking system, RockFLEET. The new £10/month subscription covers all vessel tracking and M2M (Machine-to-Machine) data transmitted over GSM networks by the RockFLEET system when operating within GSM coverage. As standard the RockFLEET system provides vessel GPS location reports at user-defined intervals using the global Iridium satellite Short Burst Data (SBD) service, but Rock Seven has seen demand for dual-mode operation using its optional GSM module rise. In dual mode-operation RockFLEET automatically switches from satellite to transmit GPS and M2M data over 2G/3G/4G and GPRS networks when available.

30 Sep 2016

Telenor Maritime Acquires Satpoint AB

Telenor Maritime has acquired SatPoint AB, a firm with a strong position in the Baltic Sea with more than 125 maritime broadband installations on ferries, merchant vessels, and floating accommodation units. The merger is dependent on approval from competition laws. SatPoint AB is a provider of broadband satellite communication and IT services for maritime customers in Europe and across the globe, delivering VSAT equipment and capacity, teleport, and operations, enabling services such as VoIP, GSM, VoD, and TV. SatPoint AB was founded in 2002 in Stockholm, Sweden. “It is important to note that the maritime sector has been undergoing a period of consolidation,” said Frode Støldal, CEO of Telenor Maritime.

08 Sep 2016

MN100: GPLink

(Image: GPLink)

GPLink is the most capable remote diagnostic tool available for high horsepower systems. Globally, GPLink helps vessel owners and fleet managers by remotely plotting asset locations while also monitoring engines & critical systems. GPLink remotely monitors fuel consumption, idle time, engine hours, speed, engine load and more. Comprehensive reporting allows vessel managers to identify abnormal or wasteful behavior patterns. The firm has 15 employees. Using dual band technology with both GSM and Iridium satellite networks…

23 Aug 2016

New System Monitors Vessel Motion, Impact

Photo courtesy of Oceanic Dynamics

UK Electronic Solutions (part of NSSLGlobal Group), has announced Oceanic Dynamics, a new self-contained motion and impact monitoring system suited to offshore vessels. Created by UK Electronic Solutions, Oceanic Dynamics protects the longevity of offshore assets by monitoring and reporting vessel impact on structures, passenger comfort and safety, and engine performance and reliability. Offshore structures have highly stringent requirements when it comes to the total impact force allowed from docking vessels.

08 Aug 2016

SpeedCast Acquires WINS Limited

Satellite communications and network service provider SpeedCast International Limited announced its acquisition of WINS Limited, a Europe-based provider of broadband satellite communications and IT solutions for the maritime sector. WINS provides services to more than 100 passenger carrying vessels such as cruise liners and ferries and more than 2,000 merchant shipping vessels with a portfolio of VSAT, L-Band, Accounting Authority Services and International Maritime GSM services. SpeedCast CEO, Pierre-Jean Beylier, commented, “WINS brings a strong local presence in Germany, a major maritime market, as well as expertise in the cruise industry in Europe, a fast growing user of satellite communications.

20 Jun 2016

Stena Line Upgrades Ferry VSAT Connectivity

Photo: Stena Line

Stena Line’s ferry passengers are set to experience new levels of communication services following a upgrade to the VSAT connectivity on board, says Marlink, who has more than trebled the bandwidth in Stena Line’s fleet-wide Closed User Group (CUG) service and integrated GSM 3/4G services for connectivity during voyages in addition to in-port Internet Wi-Fi networks. The upgrade enables Stena Line to offer its passengers faster Internet speeds to meet the growing demand for access to social media and connectivity for working while travelling.

07 Jun 2016

EMC VSAT Service for Seven GulfMark PSVs

EMC has taken orders to supply VSAT equipment and services for seven platform supply vessels in the North Sea as part of a four-year fleet agreement with GulfMark (Norway). The scope of supply for each vessel includes a 60-inch Ku-band stabilized antenna and below-deck terminal interfaced with the ship’s network and third-party GSM voice system. EMC will also provide the satellite airtime for crew welfare and mission-critical voice and data communications. The installations will take place over the next 12 months as the vessels become available. “GulfMark’s vessels operate in an extremely demanding market segment with rigorous requirements for uptime, connectivity, bandwidth, data throughput and content,” said Gilles Gillesen, president of EMC’s commercial marine business unit.