Marine Link
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
SUBSCRIBE

Very Small Aperture Terminal News

25 Sep 2023

KCC to Pilot Starlink Internet Service at Sea

Baru, first vessel of the KCC fleet to be outfitted with Starlink (Photo: Klaveness Combination Carriers)

Klaveness Combination Carriers ASA (KCC) announced it is exploring the potential of improved vessel connectivity with a pilot of Starlink, a satellite internet service provisioned by Marlink. The move focuses on improving digital collaboration and data exchange between shore and ship, a key step in reaching KCCā€™s targets set for crew safety/welfare and carbon emission reductions, the company said.Taking traditional VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) connectivity to the next levelā€¦

05 Jul 2022

Maritime Communications: Easier, Faster, Cheaper

(Photo: David Clark Company)

In November 2021, GTMaritime published a white paper: ā€œMaritime Communications - A look over the horizon.ā€ The report, available here, is built around three broad Sections ā€“ 1. ā€œBasics of marine Communications;ā€ 2. ā€œThe connected ship;ā€ and 3. ā€œSpecial services.ā€Then, each Section presents a closer look at various topics. The ā€œBasicsā€ section, for example, covers regulatory issues established by IMO treaties and national agencies. It presents the terms and concepts that define satellite systems and networksā€¦

11 May 2022

Inmarsat Launches Fleet Xpress for Shipyards

(Photo: Inmarsat)

Mobile satellite communications company Inmarsat aid it has made its Fleet Xpress maritime broadband service available to shipyards. Installed during new building, Fleet Xpress for Shipyards eliminates time-consuming and costly installation works in port, offering owners a pre-fitted very small aperture terminal (VSAT) solution included in the initial cost of the vessel, the company said.ā€œFleet Xpress for Shipyards is a game-changer for shipbuilders and owners alike, streamlining installationā€¦

29 Mar 2022

Shipyards the target of Comms Solution from Inmarsat

Image courtesy Inmarsat

Inmarsat now offers Fleet Xpress for Shipyards, which is designed to eliminates time-consuming and costly installation works in port, offering owners a pre-fitted very small aperture terminal (VSAT) solution included in the initial cost of the vessel.ā€œFleet Xpress for Shipyards is a game-changer for shipbuilders and owners alike, streamlining installation, providing remote connectivity from vessel launch and enabling optimal integration between integral onboard systems,ā€ said Ben Palmer, President, Inmarsat Maritime.

06 Mar 2019

KVH VSAT Shipping Reaches Milestone

KVH Industries shipped its 9,000th mini-Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) Broadband system."The milestone highlights KVHā€™s position as a maritime VSAT market share leader providing satellite broadband connectivity to vessels around the world," said a press release from the US-based manufacturer of mobile satellite communications solutions.KVHā€™s TracPhone V-series antenna systems are designed to provide satellite broadband connectivity to commercial and personal vessels globally, by utilizing satellite technology like High Throughout Satellites (HTS).Ever since we launched our mini-VSAT Broadband network more than 10 years ago, our antenna systems have been in demand by the maritime industryā€¦

25 May 2017

Speedcast, COMSAT Partner in Maritime Market

Speedcast International Limited provider of fully managed, remote communication and IT solutions, announced it has signed an agreement with government satellite connectivity provider COMSAT to establish a common global service offering of Ku-band very small aperture terminal (VSAT) services for the government and maritime markets. The combined network will leverage Speedcastā€™s greater than 8 GHz of global satellite capacity and COMSATā€™s security-cleared teleports in the United States to deliver a robust, secure network for customers needing advanced, resilient connectivity for critical operations. ā€œThe opportunity for collaboration with COMSAT fits very well with Speedcastā€™s commitment to delivering robustā€¦

23 Feb 2017

New Sat Comms Expert for the Greek and Cypriot Markets

Marlink has signed an agreement to enter into a joint venture with the satellite connectivity business of Greece and Cyprus based TNL Group, enabling it to launch a brand new maritime satellite communications expert, Marlink CG. Delivering a wide portfolio of innovative Marlink VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) services, Inmarsat FleetXpress, Inmarsat/Iridium MSS (Mobile Satellite Services) and integrated business critical solutions for customers in Southern Europe, Marlink CG will operate from offices in Greece and Cyprus, with expert staff from both TNL and Marlink dedicated to improving the flexibility and reliability of maritime satcom in the region.

08 Jul 2016

Cobham Upgrades SAILOR 900 VSAT

SAILOR 900 VSAT High Power System (Image: Cobham SATCOM)

Cobham SATCOM has developed a new version of its SAILOR 900 Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) Ku-band antenna, featuring a new Block Up Converter (BUC). The antenna, designed by Cobham, makes it easier and less costly to ensure high availability of service as there is no need for additional hardware. It also delivers the potential for satcom service providers to deliver higher uplink bandwidths. The 20W BUC in the new SAILOR 900 VSAT High Power antenna ensures reliable operation in warmā€¦

17 Dec 2015

World's Largest Cargo Ships Do IT Remotely

MSC Zoe (Photo: MSC)

With Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) Zoeā€™s inaugural voyage completed this summer, the largest containership ever built is now operating with high-speed Marlink Maritime VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) on board. Marlink VSAT services provide connectivity for operational and crew communications on MSC Zoe and 130 other MSC ships. MSC is also saving time and money with a suite of integrated IT solutions designed to reduce network administration on board and provide easy access to communication services for crew, all enabled by the XChange communications management platform from Marlink.

08 Dec 2015

Marlink Upgrades Maridive OSVs to VSAT Broadband

Egypt headquartered Maridive Group, an international offshore marine and oil support services provider, has chosen to migrate 24 of its Offshore Support Vessels to Marlinkā€™s VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) WaveCall Plus services in addition to one new build vessel. Maridive Group has a globally distributed fleet with an operational footprint covering North & West Africa, the Mediterranean, the Caspian Sea and Latin American countries. The company selected Marlink to upgrade its vessels to VSAT in 2012, and this latest contract adds a further five vessels operating in Venezuela and Brazil, while enhancing Maridiveā€™s communication capabilities for business, crew and safety by upgrading to WaveCall Plus.

24 Nov 2015

EASTMED to Add VSAT on 20 Tankers and Bulkers

Greece-based Eastern Mediterranean Maritime Limited (EASTMED), a shipping operator servicing the energy, industrial and agricultural sectors, has chosen to install Marlinkā€™s global VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) communication solution with L-band back-up on 20 tankers and bulkers. EASTMED aims to achieve greater operational efficiency to support its clients with cost efficient transportation in a safe environment. The VSAT solution will be completed with the full SkyFile suite to provide EASTMED crew with high-level Internet access and cost-effective communication. Marlinkā€™s innovative VSAT solution will provide significant levels of bandwidth for vessel and business communication, helping EASTMED to improve e.g.

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 BPā€™s operated fleet. BP Shipping was one of the first operators to adopt maritime VSAT services across its tanker fleet. The companyā€™s current operated fleet will migrate to Sealink Ku-band VSAT. BPā€™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.

04 Nov 2015

Rickmers Upgrades VSAT for Entire Fleet

Photo courtesy of Rickmers

Rickmers Group will migrate to multiband VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) from Marlink Maritime VSAT for its fleet of 90+ vessels including containerships, bulk carriers and heavy lift vessels, in a move  that aims to improve operational efficiency through better integration of ship and shore side networks in addition to providing internet connectivity for crew welfare. High bandwidth availability on Marlinkā€™s Ku-band ā€˜Plusā€™ maritime VSAT services will enable Rickmers to significantly enhance on board IT opportunities while introducing the possibility of live monitoringā€¦

14 Oct 2015

Marlink Installs VSAT for KOTC Fleet

Photo courtesy of KOTC

Marlink announced it has completed the roll-out of VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) connectivity across the entire Kuwait Oil Tanker Company (KOTC) fleet of 26 tankers, during a three month project started in March 2015. The final vessel, Mutriba, was completed and fully online by mid-June 2015. Marlink was awarded the contract to deliver VSAT to KOTCā€™s fleet in January 2015. With easier and more cost-effective access to data and voice communication through Marlinkā€™s Sealink VSAT services, KOTC now is able to enhance its global logistics operations, i.e.

02 Jun 2015

DOF Extends VSAT Contract with Marlink

Skandi Skansen (Photo: Dof Group)

DOF Group has renewed its VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) services contract with Marlink for five more years, with options to further extend the services. Under the new contract announced at Nor-Shipping 2015, Marlink will provide customized VSAT services to 60 DOF owned offshore and subsea vessels, counting an additional eight vessels on the previous contract, including several imminent newbuilds. As an international group of companies, DOF owns and operates a modern fleet of supply and subsea vessels, offering a strong engineering capacity to service the global offshore energy market.

02 Jun 2015

Maritime VSAT Resource Launched at Nor-Shipping

A new online resource providing in-depth, impartial information and advice on maritime VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) technology has been officially launched at Nor-Shipping 2015. maritimeVSAT.com is based on an initiative led by maritime communication services provider Marlink and supported by major industry organizations. Its purpose is to educate the wider maritime industry on all aspects of maritime VSAT by providing a detailed knowledge base and clear understanding of the technology available, thus helping ship-owners to make an informed choice when upgrading vessel and fleet communications. From a neutral standpoint, maritimeVSAT.com provides essential information related to VSAT technology, services and installation.

20 May 2015

Worldā€™s Greenest Containership Comes under Malta Flag

MV Barzan, a vessel recognized as the world's most environmentally friendly ultra-large container vessel, has been registered on the Malta flag. MV Barzan is one of 17 (11 x 15,000 TEU and 6 x 18,800 TEU) advanced used containerships built by Hyundai Heavy Industries for United Arab Shipping Company (UASC). It will set new standards for fuel and energy efficiency, due to optimized vessel design, an array of propulsion and equipment efficiency technologies. Preliminary calculations indicate an energy efficiency design index value that is close to fifty per cent below the 2025 limit set by IMO. MV Barzan will start their operational life with IP connectivity using Marlink VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal).

19 May 2015

Marlink VSAT to Connect MV Brazen

MV Brazen (Photo: UASC)

The worldā€™s first 18,800 TEU LNG-ready ultra-large containership, M.V. Barzan, was recently named at a ceremony in South Korea. MV Barzan is one of 17 (11 x 15,000 TEU and 6 x 18,800 TEU) advanced new containerships built by Hyundai Heavy Industries for United Arab Shipping Company (UASC), all of which will start their operational life with IP connectivity using Marlink VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal). With reliable broadband, this new generation of containerships is online and connected to shore 24/7ā€¦

05 May 2015

Tampnet, Marlink Partner for Offshore 4G Services

A key aspect of Tampnetā€™s 4G infrastructure service for offshore communication is low latency. (Image: Marlink)

Marlink and Tampnet have signed a partner agreement for the delivery of offshore Long Term Evolution (LTE) based services in the North Sea. The agreement forms the foundation for Marlink to integrate low-latency 4G services into its established Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) and Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) portfolio, which today is used by Marlink equipped offshore support vessels for operational and crew communication in the North Sea. A key aspect of Tampnetā€™s 4G infrastructure service for offshore communication is low latencyā€¦

11 Feb 2015

MTN Expands Cruise Client Base

Photo courtesy of MTN Communications

MTN Communications (MTN) has expanded its cruise client base with three additional operators leveraging enhanced services for passenger, crew and corporate communications. MTN provides products, solutions and content to address each lineā€™s passenger segment with Internet and calling communications, entertainment and content. Noble Caledonia specializes in ā€œsmall ships delivering big experiences.ā€  With the goal of generating lasting memories for like-minded travelers, the operator revolves its itineraries around world eventsā€¦

21 Jan 2015

Van Oord Chooses Marlink VSAT Services

Marlink VSAT for Van Oord fleet. (Photo: Marlink)

Marlink has been selected to provide Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) services for the fleet of the international dredging and offshore contractor Van Oord. The contract is expected to include 30 vessels being supported by Marlinkā€™s customized VSAT services by the end of 2015. Marlinkā€™s VSAT services have provided voice and data connectivity services for three Van Oord vessels as from June 2013. The company is headquartered in Rotterdam and is a contractor for dredging, marine engineering and offshore energy projects.

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.

11 Sep 2014

Marlink VSATs Chosen for UASC Containerships

United Arab Shipping Company (UASC) has selected WaveCall Plus VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) services from Marlink to provide reliable connectivity for its new build fleet of 17 containerships, first vessel due for delivery by the end of 2014. All 17 new container ships ā€“ eleven 14,000 TEU and six 18,000 TEU ā€“ are designed to embrace ā€œsmart shippingā€ to reduce fuel use and environmental impact. UASC is deploying various technology solutions to support this, including a web-based fleet management system and electronic document handling systems, in addition to enhancing its crew welfare offering. Wavecall Plus, the global connectivity solutionā€¦

Subscribe for
Maritime Reporter E-News

Maritime Reporter E-News is the maritime industry's largest circulation and most authoritative ENews Service, delivered to your Email five times per week