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Satellite Telephone News

30 Apr 2016

Italian Ship Rescues 26 Migrants off Libya

An Italian merchant ship rescued 26 migrants off the coast of Libya in rough seas and others were feared missing, the Coast Guard said on Saturday. The Coast Guard received a call from a satellite telephone on Friday but no voice was heard. It tracked the signal to a location about seven miles off the Libyan coast, a spokesman said. An Italian merchant vessel in the area was diverted and on Friday night rescued the 26 from a rubber boat that had taken on water. The spokesman said such boats used by human traffickers can hold between 100-120 people and are usually full but no information was available on the number that might be missing.

02 Nov 2015

Australian Navy Saves Jellyfish Sting Victim

HMAS Pirie (Photo: Royal Australian Navy)

A rapid response by Royal Australian Navy patrol boat HMAS Pirie’s crew may have saved the life of a crew member onboard an Australian fishing vessel, the Australian Department of Defense announced. The Armidale Class patrol boat was conducting border protection operations when the ship received an urgent call for assistance from a fishing vessel stating a Darwin resident was believed to have been stung by a highly venomous Box Jellyfish, (Chironex fleckeri) while recovering nets near Bigge Island in the Kimberley region.

24 Apr 2015

Judge Orders Migrant Boat to Remain in Custody

An Italian judge on Friday ordered that the presumed captain of a migrant boat that sank with the loss of more than 700 lives should remain in custody after prosecutors asked for him to be charged with multiple homicide and people-trafficking. Mohammed Alì Malek, 27, denies that he was in charge of the heavily overloaded fishing boat that capsized off Libya late on Saturday with hundreds of African and Bangladeshi migrants locked in its lower decks. "He says he's a migrant like all the others and he paid his fare to go on the boat," his lawyer, Massimo Ferrante, said outside the courtroom. However Catania chief prosecutor Giovanni Salvi said the judge had ordered both Malek and 25 year-old Syrian Mahmud Bikhit, who is accused of being a member of the crew, to be detained in custody.

13 Feb 2015

Migrant Boats in Difficulty off Libya

A Maltese cargo ship was heading to assist a migrant boat with around 100 people on board in difficulty off the coast of Libya on Friday, and an Italian coast guard vessel was helping two other boats, Italian coastguards said. More than 300 African migrants have already died attempting to reach Italy from North Africa this week, highlighting the chronic migrant problem in the Mediterranean following the closure of Italy's Mare Nostrum search-and-rescue operation last October. Coastguard headquarters in Rome, which was coordinating both Friday's operations, said it had received a request for help by satellite telephone and had directed the Maltese ship to the location of the first vessel, a rubber boat.

04 Mar 2013

Traditional Micronesian Canoe Sinks, Students Rescued

Cutter Washington: Photo credit USCG

Multiple agencies and Amver ship work together to rescue 10 from the Philippine Sea, 90 miles NE of Palau. The U.S. Coast Guard in coordination with the Republic of Palau Division of Maritime Law Enforcement and the Royal Australian Navy Maritime Surveillance Advisor partnered to provide assistance. The mariners in distress originated their voyage on a 60-foot traditional sailing canoe traveling from Palau to the outer islands of Yap State in the Federated States of Micronesia.

19 Sep 2012

Satellite Phone Helps Rescue 82 From Ocean

Inmarsat's IsatPhone Pro alerts rescue services to assist passengers of a disabled Java Sea passenger boat. Australia Maritime Safety Authority's (AMSA's) Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC Australia) was contacted by Australian Federal Police after they recently received a distress call via IsatPhone Pro from a vessel requesting assistance. "RCC Australia successfully contacted the satellite telephone number and a person on board reported the vessel's engine was not working and there were 82 people on board. At this stage, the vessel's unconfirmed location was south of Java," explained AMSA's spokesperson Jo Meehan. RCC Australia sent…

08 May 2012

Telstra commits $1.5M for Iridium Equipment

Beam receives a $5 M commitment from Telstra for Satellite Docking Stations and Iridium Handsets. Beam Communications Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of World Reach Limited (ASX: WRR), announces it has received a commitment from Telstra to purchase a minimum of USD5.1 M of Iridium based satellite docking stations and product bundles over the next 12 months. The initial shipment (valued at USD1.65 M) is expected to be fulfilled by 30 June 2012, the balance being called upon as required over the 12 month period.

11 Sep 2011

Global Satellite USA Launches New Satellite Telephone

Global Satellite USA is pleased to announce the launch of Iridium’s smallest handheld satellite phone, the Iridium Extreme. The Iridium Extreme is the most compact handset to date and has a compact physical footprint for streamlined portability. It has greater durability with its water, shock, and dust resistant features and has an intuitive user interface, making it easy to use. Commenting on the new Iridium Extreme, Martin Fierstone, President of Global Satellite USA, says, “This is the first handheld satellite phone to have GPS tracking integrated. I believe that tracking is becoming an industry standard when it comes to global mobile communication.

30 Mar 2011

ITIC Exposes Real Cost of Crew Internet Access for Ship Manager

International Transport Intermediaries Club (ITIC) has explained how a ship manager was recently asked to pay $436,000 in communication costs as the result of an error which unwittingly allowed the crew of a ship unrestricted access to the internet over a three-month period.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> In the latest issue of its Claims Review, ITIC notes that it was the policy of a particular shipping company to upgrade the communications packages on all its time-chartered and owned vessels from systems which provided email and satellite telephone communications only…

17 Apr 2000

Calling All Mariners

Globalstar, L.P. brought its next-generation strategizing to fruition with the release of full commercial access of its mobile satellite service in the U.S. through its distributor Globalstar U.S.A. With the recent demise of Iridium, and ICO Global Communications' ongoing recovery from bankruptcy, Globalstar's entry into the market is seemingly ideal. Vessel owner/operators increasingly rely on state-of-the-art communication tools to ensure safe, efficient operations. Much as has transpired in consumer markets, the wider availability of communication technology — and subsequent drive-down of equipment and airtime pricing — fuels airtime usage.

13 Apr 2000

Raytheon Enters Agreement With STN Atlas

Raytheon Marine Company High Seas Products (RMC) has entered into a cooperative agreement with STN Atlas Marine Electronics for worldwide distribution of Inmarsat-B Satellite Communication Systems. The agreement, which calls for Raytheon to offer its own branded supplemental Inmarsat-B satellite communication system, is expected to raise annual sales for the company. The company's already extensive selection of navigation and communications systems includes the Raytheon Mini-M 3064A Maritime Satellite Telephone, medium frequency/high frequency, Inmarsat-C and very high frequency products. The company will offer the Inmarsat-B as a component of its communication package and as a stand-alone unit.

16 Jan 2001

Is Globalstar Headed for A Downward Spiral?

Shares of Globalstar Telecommunications Ltd. plunged 50 percent on Tuesday after the satellite telephone operator said it would stop paying debt holders so it can save cash to fund its operations into 2002. Globalstar, which was founded by Loral Space & Communications Ltd. and Qualcomm Inc., said it would save $400 million in 2001 by suspending payments on its funded debt, including its credit facility, vendor financing agreements and senior notes. The company said it will also halt dividend payments on its preferred stock. Shares of Globalstar were 29/32 lower at $1 at midday on Nasdaq, on volume of 10.1 million shares, after dipping as low as 15/16.

03 Apr 2001

Could it Be Curtains for Globalstar?

Mobile satellite telephone company Globalstar L.P. said on Monday it recorded a net loss of $3.8 billion in 2000 and it could seek bankruptcy protection if it cannot execute a restructuring plan. The company warned in an annual filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that its restructuring plan may fail if it conflicts with certain restrictions under existing agreements or if it cannot forge an accord with its creditors. Globalstar is a partnership that was formed in November 1994 by satellite firm Loral Space & Communications Ltd. and cellular telecommunications company Qualcomm Inc. Loral owns about 38 percent of Globalstar L.P. Globalstar Telecommunications Ltd., the public Globalstar entity, owns more than 40 percent of the business.

02 Aug 2005

SeaWave to Provide Communications for Round the World Race

Clipper Ventures based in Southampton England , selected US-based SeaWave LLC of Middletown, RI to provide voice and data communications to all ten yachts for the Clipper 05-06 Race. Each SeaWave unit provides email, telephone, daily log, weather and daily contact with the Race Office through the Iridium satellite network. While at sea, crew can share this unique racing experience with shore based friends and family via satellite telephone or individual email accounts. Clipper chose SeaWave in order to ensure reliable and efficient communications, as well as enhance the safety at sea. September 18, 2005, the Clipper Race 05-06 is the world's longest circumnavigation event measuring 35,000-miles.

05 Jan 2000

"Boutique" Cruise Vessel Keeps French Cruisers Nicely Coiffed

A "boutique" luxury cruise catamaran - set to meander the islands of the French Caribbean - has been delivered by Australian ship and boat builder Austal Ships. The vessel, built for discerning French owner Rivages Crossieres, is dubbed Rivage St. Martin and embodies many of the advanced technical and aesthetic design features, which define the latest advances in passenger vessel construction and outfitting. Measuring 197 x 49 x 6.9 ft. (60 x 15 x 2.1 m), Rivage St. Martin is powered by a pair of MTU 12V 2000 M70 engines, which drive two fixed pitch propellers through ZF BW 256 gearboxes to a speed of 14.5 knots. While the vessel features a host of advanced design and equipment features…

29 Oct 1999

EuroCom Downgrades Forecast

Maritime communications equipment maker EuroCom Industries (ECI) downgraded its 1999 sales and earnings forecast last week, citing slow demand for a key product after U.S. global satellite telephone firm Iridium filed for bankruptcy protection. Issuing its second profit warning within as many months, Danish-based ECI cut its full-year turnover estimate to 580-600 million crowns ($83-85.5 million) from 630-650 million crowns. It now saw break-even on the bottom line, down from a 20-25 million crown profit forecast. By comparison, in January-June, ECI's pre-tax profit more than doubled to 47.7 million crowns. The major problem is that…

15 Nov 1999

KVH Wins 4 NMEA Awards Again

For the second year in a row, two communications systems and two navigation products from KVH Industries, Inc. have earned "best product" awards from The National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA). TracVision 3, a new 1999 system based upon last year's award-winning TracVision II, was voted Best Satellite Television System, and Tracphone 25 was again named Best Satellite Telephone System. The company's new Azimuth GyroTrac was named Best Gyro Compass and the Azimuth 1000 was once again voted Best Electronic Compass. TracVision 3 is unique in that it combines proprietary orientation sensor and antenna pointing technologies to deliver impressive satellite tracking performance.

15 Nov 1999

Globalstar Appoints Globe Wireless as Provider

Globalstar, a worldwide mobile satellite telephone service, has expanded its marketing reach to the maritime industry by appointing Globe Wireless as a franchise service provider. Globe Wireless, Inc. owns and operates a worldwide wireless network used to move messages and data to and from ships around the world. Under the new franchise agreement, Globe Wireless will now also offer Globalstar voice and data services to the commercial maritime market through its 141 sales, service and support facilities located in 44 countries. Also, Globe Wireless customers who subscribe to Globalstar service will be able to make and receive telephone calls from all maritime areas covered by the Globalstar gateway network.

13 Apr 2000

New Vessel Deliveries

Seacraft Shipyard Corp., Amelia, La., recently delivered M/V Sea Holly, a 110 ft. live-aboard long range yacht, designed for extended excursions. The entire exterior of the vessel was faired and painted to a yacht-quality finish and the bottom of the vessel was coated with a high-performance anti-fouling paint. On the aft main deck are a flat bottom skiff and a vee bottom runabout, both of which are secured on removable boat cradles. The main deck cabin features a full service galley. Forward of the galley is the six-person settee and table complete with television. Located on the upper deck is a large pilothouse equipped with a modern electronic package…