Shipboard Satellite Communications News

Harris Corporation has been awarded a potential $37m contract modification by the U.S. Navy Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, San Diego, California, to supply additional multiband shipboard satellite communications terminals for Navy's Arleigh Burke DDG-51 class of guided missile destroyers. The modification is part of a contract originally awarded to the company in 2000, and increases the overall potential value of the contract to more than $172m by 2010. Under terms of the contract, Harris is responsible for systems integration, production, and logistics support for the AN/WSC-6(V)9 Super High Frequency Multiband Shipboard Satellite Communications Terminal (MSSCT).

OSLO, Norway and ROCKVILLE, Maryland (October 27, 2003) - Marlink today announced that it has signed a five-year agreement with the owners of the MV Mona Lisa, represented by Kyma Ship Management, Inc. of Miami, Florida, to provide complete satellite communications onboard the vessel. The agreement calls for Marlink, a company within Telenor Satellite Services formed to serve as the preferred interface between maritime customers and the satellite communications industry, to provide Sealink high-speed communications service. Operating at speeds up to 2 Megabits per second, the Sealink solution allows guests and crew to enjoy greater access to the Internet, e-mail, fax services, and telephone service.

Telenor Satellite Services signed a three-year agreement with Brittany Ferries to provide high-speed data communications via satellite. Telenor will provide Ku-Band service for two Brittany vessels, the Val de Loire and Brittany's newest vessel the Pont Aven, with an option to install as many as six additional Sealink systems for the rest of the company's ferry fleet. Operating at speeds up to 192 kbits per second, Telenor's Sealink service provides high-speed data communications. The system now installed aboard the Val de Loire and early in 2004 aboard the new Pont Aven offers one of the industry's most advanced shipboard satellite communications solutions available today complete with the highest reliability for the maritime community.

Telenor Satellite Services, a subsidiary of Telenor of Norway, today announced that it has signed a three-year communication agreement with Neste Oil Corporation of Helsinki, Finland for maritime broadband services. Under the terms of the contract, Telenor will provide Sealink Ku-Band services onboard 11 tankers with all vessels scheduled to have Sealink service by August of this year. Sealink's Ku-Band service provides Neste Shipping with high-speed data communications coverage throughout Western Europe. Offering maritime broadband communications at speeds of up to 2 megabits per second, Telenor's Sealink service enables efficient and cost-effective 'at sea' communications for ship operations including Internet access, video conferencing, e-mails, faxes, and telephone calling.

Marlink officially announced that it is establishing a new business entity in Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Marlink FZ LLC. The new business will be located in Dubai's Internet City and the company has plans to expand operations and increase technical and sales support in order to serve its growing roster of shipping companies and maritime customers operating throughout the region. Marlink is now strategically positioned to rapidly attend to the communications requirements of its maritime customers operating in the Middle East, reducing equipment installation and configuration downtime and ensuring shipboard satellite communications are ready to go when the vessel is scheduled to embark.