Mobile Communications News

Inmarsat's Fleet Data provides data acquisition, processing, uploading, and interface links between engine and Nautilus Labs’ fleet optimization solution so that Mitsubishi Ore Transport and Diamond Bulk Carriers reap rewards of big data without hardware expense.Satellite communications company Inmarsat says it is helping to connect digital stakeholders for Asia Pacific’s first Fleet Data Premium project. Delivered for Diamond Bulk Carriers, the project requires no new hardware…

A group of maritime industry and technology experts in Germany is working on a project to unlock remote control capabilities for safer and more efficient harbor tug operations.Backed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi), the project is being led by Voith in partnership with the Hamburg University of Technology, the Fraunhofer Center for Maritime Logistics and Services, the Federal Office for Hydraulic Engineering, winch and crane manufacturer McGregor…

Extension of broadband communication of key importance to digital change in maritime shipping, said shipowners and pilots in Germany’s coastline.Against the backdrop of the extension of mobile communications networks planned in Germany, the German Shipowners’ Association (Verband Deutscher Reeder – VDR) and the German Federal Chamber of Pilots (Bundeslotsenkammer – BLK) issued a joint communiqué calling for urgent improvement of mobile network coverage in German coastal waters.Maritime broadband communication in the North Sea and Baltic Sea was the topic of a symposium jointly held by the Maritime Cluster Northern Germany (Maritimes Cluster Norddeutschland e.

South Korean container line Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) has announced that its board of directors had approved the hiring of Jae-hoon Bae as president and chief executive officer (CEO).The CEO recommendation committee led by Korea Development Bank, selected Bae as the final candidate for the next HMM CEO following a comprehensive candidate examination.Before his formal appointment, Bae came to the office to meet HMM’s senior executives and thoroughly checked current and future business conditions for the company.HMM official said in a press statement, “Bae, an expert in logistics who successfully served as CEO of Pantos Logistics for six years…

Hamburg Port Authority has joined forces with Deutsche Telekom and Nokia to test 5G applications at the Port of Hamburg. "Testing of 5G is to commence in an industrial environment in the Port of Hamburg, with the Hamburg Port Authority, Deutsche Telekom and Nokia commissioning an 8000-hectare area with which to carry out key tests of various aspects of 5G functionality, including network slicing," said a press release. 5G will be tested with use cases like traffic lights management, data processing from mobile sensors and virtual reality. To provide connectivity, an antenna has already been installed on the Hamburg television tower at a height of more than 150 meters. The primary focus of the project is on testing 5G applications in an industrial setting in the Port of Hamburg.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has announced a joint success with Japan Radio  and JSAT MOBILE Communications in building a network that shares data recorded in Voyage Data Recorder (VDR) by using Fleet Xpress provided by Inmarsat, a high-capacity, high-speed satellite telecommunication service. Like the flight data and cockpit voice recorders on airplanes, VDR records data on vessel movement (position, navigation speed, main engine rpm, and so on), voice communication on the bridge, image data on nautical instruments such as radar, and the Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS). An international treaty mandates that large-scale vessels and passenger ships that ply international waters be equipped with VDR…

26 July 2016: Inmarsat (LSE:ISAT.L), the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services, has announced that its partner JSAT MOBILE Communications has signed an agreement with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), one of the world’s largest shipping companies, to introduce the newly-launched Fleet Xpress service across the majority of its car carrier fleet. Existing Inmarsat customer MOL says migrating its car carriers to always-on, high-speed broadband connectivity will be pivotal in its continuing drive towards ‘smarter and greener shipping’ operations. MOL has long been convinced that the environmental performance of its ships offers a competitive advantage.

KVH Industries has  announced  that Brent Bruun, currently executive vice president of mobile broadband for the company, has been promoted to the newly created position of chief operating officer (COO). In this position, Bruun will assume direct responsibility for KVH’s corporate development, as well as operational responsibility for mobile communications products and services for maritime and land markets. His purview as COO covers the customer lifecycle from sales and manufacturing through customer onboarding and on into long-term services, support, and customer retention.

Inmarsat, has opened its new Singapore office, which is the company’s largest facility in Asia Pacific region. Inmarsat’s investment in the 1,700 suareq meter office in Toa Payoh, Central Region Singapore, sees the company’s regional hub providing a new solutions lab, demonstration capabilities, training rooms, a knowledge centre and support center, in addition to enhanced production and storage facilities. The opening ceremony was attended by Inmarsat’s CEO, Rupert Pearce, Beh Kain Teik…

At London International Shipping Week held in September, KVH Industries, Inc. introduced the second generation of its mini-VSAT Broadband solution for the maritime market, providing a combination of data delivered at high speeds and at low price points, with vessel operational and crew entertainment/informational content, tools, and support, optimizing broadband effectiveness in serving the needs of seafarers. Tom Mulligan reports. Based in Middletown, RI, KVH Industries is a provider of in-motion satellite TV and communications systems…

General Dynamics successfully completed the initial field deployment and test of the Remote Video Surveillance System (RVSS) upgrade for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection (CBP). This test demonstrated many technical capabilities of the RVSS system and is a key program milestone in its deployment schedule. U.S. Border Patrol agents are currently operating the RVSS in Nogales, Ariz., and CBP has also initiated deployments in both Naco and Douglas, Ariz. "The Remote Video Surveillance System is a critical element of our overall plan to secure the border, increase our mission effectiveness and protect our agents," said Mark Borkowski, assistant commissioner and chief acquisition executive of CBP's Office of Technology Innovation and Acquisition.

The Board of Viking Supply Ships AB (under name change from Rederi AB Transatlantic) has decided to appoint Christian W. Berg as CEO of the company with immediate effect. Christian will in parallel continue as head of the Viking Supply Ships business area just as today. Christian W. Berg is born 1968 and has since 2011 been head of the business area Viking Supply Ships, coming previously from Chief Commercial Officer in Siem Offshore (2008-2011) which is a company listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange. From 1999 to 2008, Christian has had various leading positions at several companies, such as Promarine Ltd and Promarine AS, NavTech AS in Egersund and Horizon Mobile Communications in Singapore. Christian has had various board engagements within the scope of his employments.

There’s a digital disconnect offshore. The communication standards we take for granted on land are cut adrift at sea; hampering data transfer for businesses, while severing individuals’ lifelines to social media networks. What’s to ‘like’ about that? Frode Støldal, CEO of MCP, has had enough. “We think it’s time for a new mobile communications reality,” says a steely eyed Frode Støldal from his seat at the Offshore Technology Days conference in Bergen, Norway. “The offshore community suffers…

Statoil has chosen Maritime Communications Partner (MCP) to deploy and operate its high speed 4G-network on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS). Statoil and MCP have signed a six-year contract with an option to extend for another four years. With that, MCP will immediately start building the world’s largest 4G network at sea. Statoil will benefit from high-speed mobile coverage on all of its 34 platforms on the NCS. This will improve communications between platforms, rigs and supply-vessels.

General Dynamics C4 Systems recently received the Defense Mobile Classified Capability (DMCC) contract from the National Security Agency (NSA). As part of the contract, General Dynamics will deliver up to 1,000 Samsung KNOX™-enabled Galaxy S® 4 smartphones provisioned with added GD Protected® software for the U.S. government. With these new smartphones, authorized government personnel will be able to make secure phone calls and access classified email. The GD Protected Samsung KNOX smartphones represent an important step toward the government’s Commercial Solutions for Classified initiative. “Mobile government workers now have the freedom to read classified emails and talk securely anywhere, every time,” said Chris Marzilli, president of General Dynamics C4 Systems.

Vessel tracking and asset/document management software, used by hundreds of U.S. commercial workboat and fishing customers,  is now available internationally for integration into existing partner applications. McMurdo Group, a company in end-to-end search and rescue (SAR) and maritime domain awareness (MDA) solutions, has announced that its fleet management software platform is now available worldwide for partners to integrate into their existing maritime applications and solutions. The McMurdo Group software platform, the most widely used vessel tracking and fleet management software in the U.S. commercial maritime market, will be demonstrated at the V-Tracks Vessel Tracking and Monitoring Conference in London (Radisson Blu Portman Hotel) February 27-28.

Maritime Communication Partner (MCP) has been contracted by DeepOcean to provide state-of-the-art online and mobile communications for a Kleven newbuild MT6022 offshore vessel which will provide Inspection, Maintenance and Repair (IMR) services for all Statoil operated fields on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS). This five-year IMR agreement, say MCP, commencing in Q1 2014, is worth more than NOK 1.5billion (USD 253million). MCP’s role will be to keep DeepOcean and Statoil connected.

Having served as the editor of Maritime Reporter & Engineering News for more than 20 years, it is my running joke that Jim Rhodes, president, Rhodes Communications, Inc., is the first person I see at every trade show I attend, anywhere I attend, around the world. This, I think, is testament not to dumb luck, rather to Rhodes, who this month celebrates the 30th Anniversary of his self-named PR firm, as an astute and always-present PR machine. Rhodes Communications, Inc., an international public relations and marketing services company based in Norfolk, Va., celebrates its 30th year of business this month. Founded in 1983 by Jim Rhodes, the company originally focused primarily on the commercial and recreational segments of the marine industry.

Maritime Communication Partner (MCP), a global provider of onboard communications solutions, has announced the recruitment of two highly experienced senior executives to lead its dedicated Offshore and Cruise and Ferry Business Units. Tom Lowehr, until recently the Head of Program Management at Astrium Business Communication, has joined as Senior Vice President (SVP) of the newly launched Offshore business unit, while Lars Munkso, formerly of US stock-listed energy services group Cameron, becomes SVP of the Cruise and Ferry business unit.

Maritime Communication Partner (MCP) has signed a three-year contract with leading offshore shipping operator Gulf Offshore Norway, owned by GulfMark Offshore Inc. The deal provides three vessels, all of which operate on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, with solutions enabling seamless mobile phone coverage and internet access. MCP is the first firm to offer this custom-made offshore solution to vessels operating in the North Sea. MCP, an established leader in the mobile communications market for cruise and ferry operators, is now bringing its expertise and proven global network capabilities to the offshore segment. Its new solution allows crews to communicate at sea as they would on land.

Intelsat S.A., a satellite services provider, announced that its board of directors has elected John W. Diercksen to serve on the board as an independent director effective today. Mr. Diercksen will also serve on the Audit Committee. Mr. Diercksen is currently an executive vice president of Verizon Communications, with responsibility for key strategic initiatives related to the review and assessment of potential mergers, acquisitions and divestitures. At Verizon, he previously held the position of executive vice president…

Maritime Communications Partner (MCP) has signed an extended contract to deliver wireless communication services to Stena Line’s European ferry operations. MCP, a  onboard communications provider, has announced  the extension of its partnership with Stena Line. The new contract is an extension of the existing contract, and expands MCP’s wireless communication services on to an additional two Stena Line vessels. These vessels include the former Scandlines vessels Sassnitz and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The new contract will ensure the most reliable end-to-end wireless services available. Passengers will have access to state of the art mobile communication services, with MCP enhancing today’s GSM service with higher bandwidth systems like 3G and LTE in the coming years.

U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) has accepted the first Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite for initial operational use. MUOS is a next-generation narrowband tactical communications system designed to improve communications for U.S. forces on the move. The Naval Satellite Operations Center (NAVSOC) at Point Mugu, Calif., began "flying" the satellite in June. In addition to providing continuous communication for all branches of the U.S. military, Navy delivered space…