Vsat Service News

Maritime communications specialist Marlink has signed an agreement to provide hybrid network connectivity services to at least 100 ships operated by shipmanager Thome Group. The contract will guarantee that the vessels are equipped with Marlink’s high speed VSAT service as well as L-band back-up to ensure flexible guaranteed bandwidth at all times. Based in Singapore, the Thome Group provides integrated ship management services, as well as offshore management, oil and gas marine services and crewing.The company has about 200 vessels under full technical management.

Maritime satellite communications services firm Marlink is equipping Solstad Offshore vessels with Starlink connectivity integrated with the Sealink VSAT, L-band backup, and 4G services."Solstad Offshore is the first offshore vessel operator on the Marlink network to trial Starlink testing the network in harsh weather conditions. In September 2022, the company completed the migration of its fleet connectivity to Marlink, including Sealink VSAT and 4G connectivity, and is now evaluating if this should be further extended with Starlink integration…

Maritime satellite communications company Marlink said Thursday that it had secured overall responsibility for the provision of hybrid network connectivity to the Norwegian offshore vessel owner Solstad Offshore. In January 2020, Solstad Offshore renewed its connectivity contract with Marlink, committing 65 offshore vessels to Marlink’s high-throughput  Ku-band VSAT service. The remaining 25 ships will now be migrated to Marlink’s smart hybrid network, with an upgrade to bandwidth…

Marlink unveiled Sealink 60, a Ku-band VSAT service for smaller merchant, offshore and fishing vessels, designed to provide flexible, regional connectivity to vessels seeking to upgrade from L-band services.“The introduction of Sealink 60 marks a further evolution of Marlink’s VSAT services, since it will exclusively cater for vessels requiring reduced antenna size and maximum flexibility in terms of coverage and throughput,” says Tore Morten Olsen, President, Maritime, Marlink.

Maritime satellite communications company Inmarsat now offers a service called 'Fleet Xpress Enhanced', which it says enables digitalization, decarbonization, and crew wellfare for the global shipping sector,."Fleet Xpress, enhanced by Fleet Edge, brings together the best of Inmarsat connectivity solutions to help global shipping companies harness the full power of a connected maritime ecosystem," Inmarsat says."Shipping companies can harness the full power of a digitally connected…

Singapore based shipping company Pacific International Lines (PIL) is installing satellite communication, or VSAT, on its entire fleet as part of its digitalization efforts to enhance seafarer wellbeing and improve productivity on board its ships. Communications technology group Singtel said it is one of the partners providing PIL with communications and cybersecurity solutions for 33 vessels in PIL’s fleet.“As a progressive company, PIL is constantly looking for ways to achieve business excellence and optimize operational efficiency.

KVH Industries, Inc. announced V.Ships Norway has signed up 12 oil tankers for KVH linkHUB, an onboard media player that provides a library of hundreds of hours of licensed premium digital entertainment content from KVH MOVIElink and TVlink services.V.Ships Norway initially trialed the service on one oil tanker and, following positive feedback from the crew, recently rolled it out to a total of 12 tankers.KVH MOVIElink services feature new Hollywood and Bollywood releases curated with seafarers in mind…

Ireland headquartered ship owner and charterer Arklow Shipping has contracted communications solutions provider Satcom Global to install Aura VSAT across 17 newbuild vessels due for delivery from 2021 onward.The new vessels will be activated on a range of Aura service packages, all with Committed Information Rate for guaranteed service quality, and companion options to suit their different sailing patterns. Ten new C-Class vessels will benefit from unlimited Ku-band connectivity with 4G back-up to complement their short sea shipping requirements and operations close to shore.

Norwegian offshore services and supply vessel company Solstad Offshore has renewed its connectivity contract with Marlink, committing 65 offshore vessels to Sealink, Marlink’s high-throughput Ku-band VSAT service. Solstad’s vessels will be provided with Sealink Services and L-band backup to ensure seamless global connectivity.Solstad sought a flexible, customized service to meet the diverse demands of its offshore support vessel (OSV) fleet, Marlink said. Building on more than 10 years of partnership…

NBS Maritime, the ship supply company that provides mobile satellite communications for the maritime sector, has announced  a new complete solution 'SeaDirect' for satellite communications with unlimited Internet connection onboard different types of vessels.Among the first NBS Maritime customers using SeaDirect are international shipping companies as well as superyachts, it said.SeaDirect is now available over the areas of the Mediterranean Sea, the North Sea, the Baltic Sea, the Norwegian Sea, the North-East Atlantic, the Gulf, the Caspian Sea, and the Black Sea, also it is offered with global coverage.The service is applicable for cargo ships and tankers as well as cruise ships…

Intellian has received Inmarsat Type Approval for the new GX100NX antenna, authorizing its use on the Global Xpress satellite network and for the Inmarsat Fleet Xpress service.Launched in May 2019, the GX100NX unlocks the full potential of Fleet Xpress, the world’s fastest growing Maritime VSAT service, empowering maritime customers with maximized RF performance and 10W high power BUC option to ensure high availability of Ka-band connectivity.The GX100NX is a new addition to Intellian’s expanding NX series…

British satellite telecommunications company Inmarsat plc has signed a business cooperation agreement that allows Hyundai Global Service (HGS) to offer ship owners and managers a total care solution route to maritime digitalisation.South Korea's HGS was established in 2016 by parent group Hyundai Heavy Industries as a digital transformation solutions provider to optimise ship operations and performance.The ground-breaking agreement paves the way for a cooperation that will include the use of Fleet Xpress Dedicated Bandwidth Services by HGS to support its digital services for ship owners, plus recognition of HGS as an Inmarsat Certified Application Partner (CAP).The formal agreement has been announced after the completion of trials on board three ships over a three month period…

Teekay Offshore, one of the largest marine energy transportation, storage & production companies, has renewed and expanded its agreements with maritime connectivity provider Marlink to continue utilizing high quality global VSAT services for a further four years. The contract extension ensures reliable global broadband connectivity for data sharing and smart vessel operations, improved facilities for crew welfare and a flexible platform to generate efficiencies from the maritime…

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…

Satellite communications specialist Marlink has been awarded a contract renewal to expand its Sealink VSAT service to international ship owner Transpetrol.The provider of satellite communications services for the maritime industry claimed that the higher levels of guaranteed bandwidth ensure global connectivity for 14 strong tanker fleet.The renewal secures access to Marlink’s global network and specially-chosen business critical VSAT solutions for the entire tanker fleet and two planned new buildings due for delivery within 18 months.Operating a sophisticated and diverse fleet from medium range tankers to Aframax and Very Large Gas Carriers on global routes…

The 5,000th ship installation of Inmarsat Fleet Xpress, the world’s only high-speed, globally-available Ka-band VSAT service designed for mobility and available from a single operator, is set to be completed by the close of the month.Following its launch in March 2016, Fleet Xpress has emerged as the market-leading pathway to digital transformation as shipping companies seek to deliver improved vessel and fleet efficiency, boost profitability and enhance seafarer wellbeing.The latest data compiled by the respected, specialist market analyst, Euroconsult, indicates that six out of ten VSAT installations undertaken in the  first half of…

Globecomm has supplied its global Ku-band VSAT service to specialist shipowner and manager Briese Schiffahrts in support of its fleet growth plans.Long-time Globecomm customer Briese is undertaking a program of fleet renewal, constructing a series of eight ‘Open Top Eco 5000’ multi-purpose vessels, designed to consume 30 percent less fuel but with increased crane and cargo capacity.The first of four ships was christened in mid-April 2018 at Zhejiang Zengzhou Shipbuilding Co with three more of the 90-meter long…

Shipowners who want to get the value out of data, applications and smarter shipping have realized that VSAT is the new L-Band, says Malcolm McMasterAt Globecomm we spend as much time as possible talking to shipowners about their communications needs. It’s always a rewarding conversation because we hear about what they actually do with bandwidth, which gives us insight into what systems and solutions might suit them best.Over the last decade that would almost always mean L-Band satellite systems; but this is changing.

International ship management company Zodiac Maritime has extended its satellite communications agreement with Satcom Global, rolling out flagship VSAT service, Satcom Global Aura, across its globally trading fleet of tankers, bulk carriers and container ships. To date, 36 vessels are live on the Aura network enjoying reliable high-speed communications, and upwards of 80 will be installed on Zodiac-managed vessels by the end of the year.Committed to providing seafarers with a superior quality of life aboard its vessels…

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.

Marlink has boosted satellite capacity in the Indian Ocean and around the Falkland Islands with specific focus on delivering reliable, high bandwidth VSAT services to commercial fishing vessels.The new capacity is already enabling improved vessel and fleet operations and providing greater access to voice calling and Internet for crews on a number of Spanish tuna vessels in the Indian Ocean serviced by Marlink partner Nautical, while the extra bandwidth around the Falkland Islands has been put in place to meet a predicted spike in demand as more companies look for new fishing grounds.While delivering services direct to the end-user, Marlink also partners with leading satcom providers globally, such as Nautical, to deliver multi-band services to fishing fleets.

Antwerp based crude oil tanker company Euronav has signed a deal with Satcom Global for its Aura Ku-Band VSAT service. With Satcom Global Aura on-board, Euronav’s fleet will benefit from a global service that provides guaranteed bandwidth via a generous Committed Information Rate (CIR). The crew will experience significantly enhanced connectivity while business critical applications are supported with ease. During 2017, Euronav undertook a comprehensive series of sea trials using Aura and following excellent results decided to begin a fleet wide rollout of the service.

Marlink customers using the Sealink Allowances maritime VSAT service plans can now enjoy without any extra-charge a burst rate, or Maximum Information Rate (MIR), up to 6 Mbps. Providing even faster connectivity and more bandwidth for business operations and crew onboard when network capacity is available, the new MIR is twice as fast as the previous 3 Mbps. Doubling the throughput while keeping pricing unchanged will deliver even more value for money to Marlink’s maritime customers.