Satellite Communication System News

Hybrid drive and potential fuel savings are well known — from 10 to 30 percent, according to the sources we’ve written about over the years. Less known, is the potential need to purchase some sort of remote monitoring package to complement that diesel-electric or battery hybrid system from a system operator in order to secure the maximum safety benefits. As the count of system operators offering hybrid drives grows, so too, it seems, there’s continuous need to look at who they are and what they’re offering.

After a two-day delay due to tropical storm conditions, the Navy's fourth Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite launched at 6:18 a.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex 41. MUOS-4, whose signal was acquired approximately three hours after launch, completes the initial operational constellation and provides near global network coverage for warfighters and combatant commanders. This array allows mobile forces, including submarines, surface ships and aircraft, to communicate around the world via the narrowband spectrum. User communities that will primarily benefit include ground forces at the individual soldier level but also include members of all services and special forces.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has coordinated the search and rescue of a solo kayaker off northern New South Wales. AMSA Search and Rescue officers were contacted by the International Emergency Response Centre in the United States about 10.30am (AEDT) on Monday when the kayaker activated the SOS function on a two-way satellite communication system. He had advised his partner he was not in distress but was experiencing steering problems. NSW Water Police activated a vessel from Coffs Harbor to assist at the time. A distress beacon was subsequently activated soon before 2.15pm when AMSA assumed coordination of the incident. A broadcast to shipping was issued and a merchant vessel in the vicinity responded.

Applied Weather Technology, Inc. (AWT), a StormGeo company, today announced a partnership with KVH Industries, Inc. to deliver AWT’s BVS high-resolution weather data via the KVH IP-MobileCast WEATHERlink service. AWT’s BVS 7 weather forecasts and ocean data will be delivered to vessels at sea via KVH IP-MobileCast, a service utilizing multicasting technology for a low fixed monthly fee. The data will be updated up to four times per day to help ships optimize voyage planning and safety. The BVS 7 voyage optimization system provides on-board and around-the-clock weather-routing information. KVH’s IP-MobileCast content delivery service will provide captains access to BVS 7’s global…

Imtech Marine and Danelec Marine, announce at the current Marintec 2013 expo in Shangai, an extension of the remote access service delivered by the Imtech Marine 24/7 GTAC, Global Technical Assistance Centre, to include data from Danelec Marine VDR (Voyage Data Recorder) systems. “We are very pleased to add VDR data from Danelec Marine to our Imtech remote access solutions. The big advantage is that this service provides not only information of the VDR itself, it will also open up all primary navigation equipment data recorded by the VDR to our customers”, says Frank Berends, Global Manager Remote Services at Imtech Marine. Hans Ottosen…

Marine communication and safety specialist Ocean Signal presents what they call the world’s smallest personal locator beacon at this year’s Seawork International, through U.K. distributors International Safety Products. Following receipt of certifications for use throughout Europe and the U.S. in April, the rescueME PLB1 is now available from Ocean Signal’s worldwide network of distributors. The easy-to-use, 116g rescueME PLB1, with dimensions of 77mm (height), 51mm (width) and 32.5mm (depth), is suited for a range of applications in the commercial market.

KVH distributor Mackay Communications offers a unique, transportable terminal for mini-VSAT Broadband service. KVH Industries, Inc., (Nasdaq: KVHI) today announced a portable configuration of its ultra-compact TracPhone® V3 mobile satellite communication system designed for use by emergency responders. The kit, created by KVH distributor Mackay Communications, houses the TracPhone V3 antenna, modem, control unit, and cabling in two compact, hard-sided cases that can be transported easily and are even small enough to be checked as baggage on commercial aircraft.

Consilium Marine Group, supplier of marine products and customer services, and Orange Business Services, integrator of communication solutions, have signed a high-level global cooperation agreement. Consilium will globally market Orange marine VSAT communication solutions through its 34 offices in 19 countries. Orange Satellite Services includes a VSAT satellite communication system specially developed formarine communications and that integrates vessels into a corporate network enabling access to all business applications as if the vessel is a terrestrial office.

So far this year more than 18 countries have signed up to the Paris Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to enforce Marpol pollution regulations. Last month the EU voted to criminalize pollution offences closing the net on this area of maritime pollution. Under these new policies overboard spillage of oil has led to penalties for first time offenders that include custodial sentencing of senior officers and shore based personnel in addition to fines running into many millions of dollars. According to U.S. Attorney’s published statistics violation of MARPOL I,the U.S.

“The TracPhone V7 and mini-VSAT Broadband are changing the entire way we do business,” explained Scott H. Bryant, captain of the fishing vessel American No.1, operated by Fishermen’s Finest of Seattle, Wa. Operators and leisure boat owners are making the change from traditional VSAT solutions to the TracPhone V7 and mini-VSAT Broadband service from KVH Industries, Inc. (Nasdaq: KVHI). Introduced less than two years ago, this compact satellite communication system recently shipped its 500th system, representing almost 10% of the installed base of maritime VSAT systems based on estimates in the “2008 Maritime VSAT Markets Report” published by COMSYS.

7Ccell is the first maritime mobile VoIP operator, offering WiFi network solutions for the maritime industry. Voice, SMS, email and Internet access are no longer unavailable and unaffordable for those working at sea. Network equipment, engineering, operation and termination from a single source help ship owners and managers to keep costs low and administration to a minimum. Branded under the name com4crew the service is a secure WiFi network that can be utilized for onboard communication as well as for crew welfare. 7Ccell sells traffic and numbers to maritime subscribers and enables them to receive calls from shore on their private handsets.

Maritime Telecommunications Network (MTN), of Miramar, Florida, a provider of satellite-based communications, networking and other services to the cruise and offshore oil and gas industries, has signed a three-year lease agreement with Oceania Cruises to install MTN’s advanced satellite technology aboard the luxury vessels Regatta and Insignia. With MTN’s state-of-the-art satellite communication system and services, Oceania Cruises will add fully integrated global connectivity capabilities to its list of guest amenities. MTN’s VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) equipment and superior service will enable passengers and crew aboard the Regatta and Insignia to enjoy reliable telecommunications from even the most remote locations…

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.

Raytheon Co., Network Centric Systems, Marlborough, Mass. is being awarded a $20,600,000 modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-award-fee development, firm-fixed-price and time and material contract (N00039-04-C-0012) for the Navy Multiband Terminal (NMT).The NMT is the next generation military satellite communications terminal to be deployed onboard submarines, ships, and shore installations to provide maritime communications using the Milstar, Advanced EHF, Defense Satellite Communication System and Wideband Global SATCOM families of satellites. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to an estimated $959,890,912.This contract combines purchases for the U.S.

PetroCom’s new Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) satellite communication system is structured around private communication networks. Built with the newest technologies and equipment, this system is designed to offer the ability to turn bandwidth on and off, re-allocate bandwidth or schedule increased bandwidth as business needs change. Recently, PetroCom signed agreements to provide VSAT voice and data services for Onyx Special Services, Superior Offshore International and Tetra Applied Technologies. Last month, Helix Energy Solutions tapped PetroCom to provide VSAT services for its offshore fleet. Multiplex VSAT communication networks with speeds from 64 to 512K are available for fixed and stabilized applications.

The North American inland marine market is neither technologically archaic nor as environmentally hazardous as many individuals outside of the marine market may think. These two issues dominated a recent meeting sponsored by the Ship Operations Cooperative Program (SOCP) held in early March at the Litton-Avondale Shipyard. The profitable process of moving products through North America's vast inland waterways systems is increasingly dependent on vessel owners and operators finding and incorporating new technological means and methods to increase efficiencies. Speakers from industry leading companies such as Kirby Barge Co.; Ingram Barge Co.…