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Maritel News

18 Dec 2013

Free Marine VHF Check Call Expanding, Seeks Hosts

VHF whip antenna: Image in public domain

Sea Tow Services International, Inc., a leading professional marine assistance provider in the USA, says that the number of stations transmitting its free Automated Radio Check service in coastal and inland boating areas across the U.S. has risen to over 130 locations. Claimed to be the first and only service of its kind, Sea Tow continues to seek new host stations in its mission to expand this vital boating safety service. Automated Radio Check, which is provided by Sea Tow in association with MariTEL, lets boaters quickly and easily check that their vessel’s VHF radio is working.

08 Jun 2012

Fleet Broadband – 30,000 Terminals Activated

This milestone was reached with the installation of a FleetBroadband 500(TM) on Olympic Future, a Greek-flagged crude oil tanker, by Inmarsat's distribution partner OTESAT-Maritel. Springfield Shipping, the vessel's management company, selected FleetBroadband as part of an integrated communications solution developed by OTESAT-Maritel. "This solution is an optimal match for our ICT needs, and we are pleased with the comprehensive service offering and first-class support that we have received," said a company spokesperson. Frank Coles, President of Inmarsat Maritime, said, "This is a significant achievement that yet again demonstrates the high regard and continued demand for FleetBroadband in the maritime industry.

06 Jun 2012

Pirate-proof Communication System Launched by Beam

Beam’s new PotsDOCK Extreme Covert Piracy Solution utilizes the Iridium Extreme satellite handset and the Beam Covert Antenna system to provide a dedicated system for a safe room or citadel on board a vessel. The system ensures that essential communications on board the vessel, such as the ability to alert authorities in the event of a piracy attack, can be maintained even if all power or communication equipment has been cut off or destroyed by pirates. The system couples the Iridium Extreme handset and the Beam Extreme PotsDOCK to provide the captain and crew with access to voice communications, tracking and alert functionality from the system. In the event of an attack, an alert can be raised and the vessel can be tracked immediately.

04 Jun 2012

Beam Announces Inmarsat-Based Piracy Solution

Beam Communications Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of World Reach Limited (ASX: WRR), announces a new satellite piracy solution for secure communication on board a vessel. The new system operates with the Inmarsat satellite network. Beam’s new Oceana 800 Covert Piracy Solution provides a dedicated system for a safe room or citadel on board a vessel. The system ensures that, in the event of a piracy attack, essential communications on board the vessel can be maintained and used for alerting authorities.

24 Apr 2012

SatCom XpressLink Dealer Network Established

Inmarsat, provider of global mobile satellite communications services, announce the first appointments for its global network of XpressLink dealers. Twelve of the world's most-respected maritime communications specialists have been approved to sell XpressLink, providing access to shipping fleets worldwide through sales teams based in North America, Europe, Middle East and Asia. XpressLink offers a fully-integrated Ku-band and L-band solution for a fixed monthly cost. A complete solution managed by Inmarsat, it delivers a compelling combination of broadband speed, a reliable and high-quality service, and global coverage. XpressLink supports always-on data speeds of 768kbps, with a committed information rate of 192kbps, when the VSAT service is active.

08 Aug 2011

Sea Tow Installs ARC Boating Safety Service

Sea Tow Services International, Inc. announced it has completed installation of its Automated Radio Check (ARC) boating safety service through its network of Sea Tow franchises, and will make the free public service available nationwide through additional marine outlets. Boaters can now obtain radio checks through the Sea Tow ARC service in major coastal boating markets across the U.S., including the East Coast, Gulf of Mexico, and Southern California, as well as in select inland regions. The first boating safety program of its kind, Sea Tow ARC is made possible due to Sea Tow’s ongoing relationship with marine communications specialist MariTEL.

20 Jun 2008

Telaurus se@COMM Now Broadband Enabled

Telaurus team at this years Posidonia exhibition

This Broadband solution will allow captains and crews to access the internet and all the se@COMM features over any IP based satellite terminal while continuing with, simplicity of use, near real-time communications and vessel side live display of traffic and cost while using the internet. Using similar filters as their current se@COMM email accounts, the Telaurus Broadband solution allows Captains and Office Staff to manage all control features on the vessel or via the Telaurus web based Ship Management Tool (SMT) and monitor shipboard usage.

26 Oct 2001

MariTEL Names Fyock Vice President Sales

Telecommunications industry veteran Lawrence R. Fyock has been appointed vice president sales for MariTEL. Launched in June 2001, MariTEL’s new Marine Wireless VHF Radiotelephone Network and Digital Selective Calling (DSC) currently covers the Gulf of Mexico and lower Mississippi River. Fyock’s will be responsible for MariTEL’s sales activity as the Network expands nationwide over the next few years. Fyock has over 19 years experience in telecommunications. He was most recently vice president ofsales and marketing for Digital Access, Inc. a facilities-based voice, video and data provider. Fyock was also a district director and vice president of sales and marketing for Sprint PCS, where he developed sales and marketing programs for the nationwide wireless provider.

07 Dec 2001

MariTEL Expands Services

MariTEL is nearing completion of its Gulf Coast and lower Mississippi region’s marine wireless VHF radiotelephone network. Launched in June 2001, the network provides mariners affordable and reliable direct dial, automatically connected marine telephone calls vessel location and touch tone services. By the end of 2001, the region will have 29 sites providing coverage from Corpus Christi, Texas, to Sarasota, Fla. Six more towers slated for completion in Spring 2002 will provide uninterrupted marine telecommunications coverage from the Mexican border to Ft. Myers, Fla., and the lower Mississippi River to Memphis, Tenn. MariTEL will introduce its privacy service later this month and e-mail service in March 2002. Privacy service will completely scramble a MariTEL VHF radiotelephone call.

29 Jan 2002

Maritel Appoints Smith as President and CEO

MariTEL, Inc. today announced that Dan Smith has been named President and Chief Executive Officer effective February 1, 2002. Smith joins MariTEL from BellSouth, where he has been executive vice president of Latin America North for BellSouth International since 1998. Prior to his assignment at BellSouth International, Dan was vice president of sales and marketing for BellSouth Cellular and earlier, regional vice president of BellSouth Mobility. Dan has also been group vice president of American Cellular. Donald DePriest, Chairman of the Board of MariTEL stated, “We are thrilled to have Dan Smith join MariTEL. Dan brings us tremendous knowledge and experience in the wireless field at this critical time when MariTEL is about to roll out its first regional service.

30 Apr 2001

FCC Certifies Maritel Transceiver

MariTel announces that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has certified a new radio transceiver, which is a vital component in MariTel's new VHF marine communications network. Maritel is building the modern network to provide the maritime community with automatic telephone interconnect link using marine DSC radiotelephones. Once completed, the MariTel network will be comprised of 286 radio towers positioned along the coast and inland navigable waterways of the U.S. These towers are designed to provide seamless coverage for VHF marine telecommunications and links to landline telephones anywhere in the world.

09 Jul 2001

MariTel Launches New Marine Telephone Service With Vessel Location

The owner of a small inland tug company has no choice but to come in to the office every Saturday morning to update his fleet and load locations for his customers; he can't reliably update his crew with change orders as the tugs frequently travel in rural areas with no cell phone coverage. On the coast, a marine ops center frequently needs to get change orders to its vessels transiting the area. Unfortunately, the center often has to wait until the boats have moved inshore before contact can be made and new orders communicated. In this case, the fastest way between points A to point B often takes an alphabetical detour, costing time and money, negatively impacting the management of valuable marine resources. Common problems? Yes.

13 Sep 2001

MariTEL Offers Free Marine VHF Telephone Calls To Vessels Affected By Disaster

MariTEL, "The Marine Telephone Company" has announced that all vessels in or near New York/New Jersey and Baltimore Harbors can utilize the company's "Marine Operator" VHF marine telephone service to make calls to home, update relatives, call operations centers, or for any other purpose. The call is both for ship-to-shore calls as well as shore-to-ship calls, which can originate from any US area code. This "Free Five-Minute Call" offer will stay in effect until Wednesday, September 26, 2001. The USCG issued emergency regulations earlier today affecting closures of New York/New Jersey Harbor, Baltimore and the Potomac River that restrict most vessel movements.

27 Aug 1999

MariTEL to Build Nationwide Broadcast Towers

MariTEL, the nation's leading provider of VHF marine wireless telecommunications, finalized an agreement with American Tower Corp. to develop a 250-300 tower network. American Tower owns and operates approximately 3,200 wireless communications towers in 44 states. The new towers, which are to be built according to MariTEL's specifications, will serve as the physical backbone of the MariNET, the marine wireless local loop. Under the agreement, American Tower will construct or place MariTEL on tower sites as the anchor tenant. The towers will be sited along the coastal and inland waterways of the U.S.

26 Aug 1999

Mariners Rely on Maritel For VHF Telecommunications

When a call must go through, many mariners rely on MariTEL for all-around superior VHF marine telecommunications. MariTEL, the nation's leading provider of VHF marine communications, with offices in Gulfport, Miss.; New York, Washington D.C., and New Orleans, currently offers coverage of more than 7,000 miles of coastline and rivers. "I was inside the harbor at Block Island, Rhode Island, surrounded by hills, and MariTEL…some 20 miles away - picked up the call instantly and delivered the best ship-to-shore connection I've ever had," said Capt. Chris Kelly. Mariners who own a VHF radio appreciate it for its power and dependability, and MariTEL…

01 Sep 1999

MariTEL Wins Nine FCC Maritime Licenses

MariTEL, a nationwide provider of VHF marine wireless telecommunications, has won all nine Federal Communications Commission maritime licenses for an aggregate cost of $6.8 million. After eight days and 44 rounds of competitive bidding, MariTEL won sole rights to 20 channels in the spectrum range 156-162 mHz. The nine territories cover 43 states and 100 percent of U.S. navigable waterways. The licenses will enable the company to create a single nationwide system. Expanded channel coverage, the newly acquired spectrum and amended regulations also allow MariTEL to offer land mobile systems on a secondary basis to approximately 235 million people. In conjunction with its acquisition of VHF licenses, MariTEL will begin construction of MariNET, the marine wireless local loop.

30 Sep 1999

MariTEL Appoints VP Of Operations

MariTEL Marine Communications System has elected Steve Skalski as vice president of operations, focusing on construction of the MariNet - the marine local loop. Before assuming his current position, Skalski served as vice president eastern division with EchoStar in Atlanta.

24 Apr 2003

MariTEL Discontinues Voice Network

After over 30 years of service to mariners across the United States, MariTEL is discontinuing Marine radio voice communications service, effective June 6, 2003, citing rising operating costs and declining service revenues. “MariTEL appreciates the opportunity to serve the marine industry over the years. I sincerely hope that MariTEL service has been useful and regret that this action is necessary,” said Dan Smith, President and CEO of MariTEL. “Over the past decade, the coastal radio station voice communications market has been eroded by the proliferation of public mobile services (cellular and PCS), satellite communications, and other commercial mobile radio services.