Improved Communications News

Greek passenger shipping company Anek Lines has partnered with Telenor Maritime, which builds 4G coverage offshore to support the oil & gas industry,  to upgrade the mobile ecosystem onboard all its ships.The connectivity platform with Mobile, Premium Wi-Fi, Ka-VSAT and mobile broadband backhaul improves the complete digital value chain with services enhancing operational efficiency and the passenger’s onboard experience.Lars Erik Lunøe, CEO of Telenor Maritime said: "This is an important step for Telenor Maritime’s service-expansion into the Mediterranean, and we are delighted to partner up with Anek Lines, the largest passenger shipping company in Greece."Anek Lines is the first company to install the connectivity platform in Greece…

... one year after the commandant’s Final Action Memo on the El Faro sinking.“… the Coast Guard is ultimately responsible to monitor the performance of third parties that perform delegated functions and also to guarantee the effectiveness of vessel inspections and surveys. Yet the Coast Guard failed to adequately oversee the third party in this case, and the investigation reveals that the Coast Guard has not sustained the proficiency and policy framework to do so in general. The…

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.

The Navy's fifth Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite has reached operational orbit and has successfully deployed its arrays and antennas. On Oct. 22, the MUOS team raised the MUOS-5 satellite to an operationally-suitable orbit. The team completed a series of deployments of the satellite's solar arrays and antennas, with the last occurring successfully Oct. 30. MUOS-5 launched June 24 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and experienced a failure of its orbit raising propulsion system that halted the satellite's transfer orbit maneuver to its geosynchronous test orbit. The MUOS team ensured the satellite remained stable, safe, and under positive control while it investigated the issue and examined options.

ISU’s President weighs in on the current state of international salvage, a changing landscape and the need for mutual fairness from all stakeholders in the global salvage and response arena. The last three decades have seen a significant reduction in marine casualties which is to be welcomed by all. Better ships; better inspection and port state control; the SOLAS convention; improved operational practices, liability concerns – both civil as well as criminal – and better crew training have all played their part.

Ship management company Norbulk Shipping is already seeing the benefits from embracing the move toward paperless ships. The Glasgow-based ship manager explored several options before deciding to move its IT systems to ‘the cloud,’ via the cloud migrator for Google, Cloud Technology Solutions. A need for the industry to move to the digital world has been recognized by InterManager, the international trade association for in-house and third party ship managers, which believes the burden of administrative tasks falling on seafarers in today’s shipping industry is significant. The paperless ship is a big issue facing the shipping industry with many companies trying to reduce time and paper used in form-filling, both onboard and ashore.

Because communication on the water is serious business, David Clark Marine offers a number of system solutions tailored to meet specific needs. On board the City of Marco Island’s Firestorm 32 High Speed Aluminum Fireboat, made by MetalCraft Marine, first responders depend on their wireless communication gear every day. Surrounded by wind and engine noise, salt spray, choppy seas and all of the unexpected variables that come with operating in a harsh, unforgiving marine environment, communication is key to effective performance. Nowhere is that reality more evident than for firefighters and first responders everywhere, as they patrol and perform a myriad of public safety missions.

Thuraya Telecommunications, a Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) operator, said it has further extended its maritime product portfolio with the launch of Atlas IP, a feature-rich broadband satellite terminal. Thuraya Atlas IP is the second maritime-specific product launched by Thuraya in 2014 and is designed to complement the Thuraya Orion IP broadband terminal by offering a fully-featured voice and data product with additional functionality built in. Designed and manufactured for Thuraya by Addvalue of Singapore, Thuraya Atlas IP is capable of standard IP data transfer at rates up to 444kbps and asymmetric streaming capability of 16kbps-384kbps. Thuraya Atlas IP is available with Thuraya’s range of pricing plans.

Naval officers say accord does not directly address problems in disputed waters, but document could be initial step towards guarding against conflict. U.S. has long stood for clearer operational communications with Chinese fleet. Countries embroiled in territorial rows in the East and South China Seas agreed on Tuesday to abide by a maritime communications deal to try to ensure accidental naval altercations do not develop into a conflict. But military officers said the non-binding accord, signed altogether by more than 20 Pacific countries, was no more than a "rules of the road" manual. It was in no way meant to resolve territorial disputes pitting China against several neighbours over waters where fears of accidental clashes have raised the risk of broader turmoil.

Wilhelmsen Ships Services (WSS) General Manager for Japan Yoshihiro Iizuka said that he expects more customers to sign up for its Ships Agency Re-Defined (SARD) solution throughout 2013 and beyond as the company prepares for Bariship 2013. Mr. He added, “Japanese vessel operators and owners are positive about SARD because it guarantees efficient operation and fast turnaround. We ensure that our service experts make visits to customers on a timely basis to run evaluations on their time spent at each port. This enables us to improve our port operations in order to optimize the way we service our customers. WSS is investing in resources and expertise across North Asia to meet the increasing demands of this growing maritime hub.

Herbert-ABS Software Solutions LLC released the latest version of their Load Management Program (LMP) for offshore vessels. For day-to-day weight management, stability evaluation and regulatory compliance, LMP 2.1 provides an accurate, simple, yet feature-rich set of displays and entry tools for the offshore user. LMP 2.1 is customized for an individual vessel including semi-subs, SPARs, TLPs and jack-ups and can account for all loads acting on a vessel. LMP has been on the market for more than 10 years on a number of different drilling and production vessels and already boasts a strong suite of features including automatic communications with tank level systems, detailed deck survey tools, lightship modifications tracking and customizable reports.

Industry and the federal government continue to work together to improve less than optimal conditions on the U.S. inland waterways. Measurable, although slow progress is being achieved. The summer of 2012 brought drought and poor navigating conditions to the inland waterways. Low water levels continued into the fall and threaten to move into winter, but the event has demonstrated how barge industry and government relations have changed over the years and what challenges remain.

Wilhelmsen Ships Service (WSS) has reported strong growth in the number of owners in Japan and North East Asia signing up for its Ships' Agency Re-Defined (SARD) offer. Neal De Roche, Area Director WSS North East Asia said: “Since launching SARD globally at the end of 2010 we have seen high levels of uptake from the North East Asian shipping community, with growth levels of around 15% throughout 2011. Japanese vessel operators and owners are extremely positive about the fact that SARD provides a unique ‘one point of contact’ system. In fact, SARD can save up to three hours per port call for our Japanese customers. This is crucial to guarantee efficient operations and fast turnaround”.

As it prepares for Sea Japan, Wilhelmsen Ships Service (WSS) has reported strong growth in the number of owners in Japan and North East Asia signing up for its’ Ships Agency Re-Defined (SARD) offer. “Since launching SARD globally at the end of 2010,” we have seen high levels of uptake from the North East Asian shipping community, with growth levels of around 15 percent throughout 2011,” said Neal De Roche, Area Director WSS North East Asia. “Japanese vessel operators and owners are extremely positive about the fact that SARD provides a ‘one point of contact’ system. In fact, SARD can save up to three hours per port call for our Japanese customers.

The Ohio class guided missile submarine USS Georgia (SSGN 729) rests pierside at Naval Station Norfolk. Georgia made a brief stop at NS Norfolk while conducting sea trials after leaving Norfolk Naval Shipyards November 29, 2007, following the ship's conversion from a ballistic missile to a guided missile submarine. Georgia is the last of four submarines to be converted to SSGN. U.S. submarines (SSGN), successfully completed sea trials Dec. 11. rejoined the fleet yesterday. (SSBNs). full set of sea trials," said SSGN Program Manager Capt. Mark Bock.

In a survey of chief information officers (CIOs) at leading North American independent oil and gas producers, Zeus Development Corporation has learned that most rate e-commerce as their top priority for 2001. "We learned that most mid-market independents (some 300 companies worldwide that have between $10 million and $14 billion in oil and gas reserves) are interested in Internet-based technology to help them expand offshore and overseas," said Bob Nimocks, president of Zeus Development Corporation, the sponsor of the survey and organizer of the E-Business for E&P: Examining Inside- and Outside-the-Firewall Solutions for Independents conference. "We conducted the survey to learn of the key topics these independents want to learn about.