Communications Package News

Mackay Marine said it provided marine electronics systems and technologies for Kitsap Transit's two new 250-passenger vessels built by Nichols Brothers Boat Builders (NBBB).Bremerton, Wash.-based public transit agency ordered the new vessels in December 2018 to provide expedient commuter services to downtown Seattle from both Kingston, Wash. and a planned Southworth, Wash. route.The bow-loading fast ferries, built by NBBB at its Whidbey Island, Wash. shipyard, are state-of-the-art, low-wake vessels.

Hyundai Global Services (HGS) has signed a contract to deliver its Smart Ship and Satellite Communications package for up to 15 vessels for South Korean shipping company KSS Line.The Smart Ship and Satellite Communications package is a combination of the Integrated Smart Ship (ISS) solution – an IoT platform for ships, developed by HHI Group to support vessel operation and device optimization – supported by Inmarsat’s Fleet Xpress and digital solution Fleet Connect. This achievement is a direct result of a collaboration between HGS…

Global safety products manufacturer and service provider VIKING Life-Saving Equipment has won a contract to build and supply a VIKING Norsafe Munin S1200 patrol boat for the Norwegian police force.The vessel, which will be built in Arendal, Norway and delivered in December this year, will carry out police patrol and rescue missions in the East Police District covering the 38 municipalities from Gardermoen to the Swedish border.Seeing off competition from five other providers,…

Growing options emerge for ever-increasing data and Comms demand. In the United States alone, 625 million tons of cargo is transported along the more than 12,000 miles of commercially navigable waterways each year, moving vital commodities to and from 38 of the nation’s 50 states. The advent of subchapter M has raised the bar significantly for as many as 5,000 inland vessels, both in terms of safety and the need to document and more closely control this tonnage. At the same time, domestic coastal transport and offshore energy support vessels also face growing communications requirements.

Intellian launched the dual-band, 3-axis s100HD WorldView satellite TV system, featuring the company’s latest generation LNB (Low Noise Block-Down Converter) technology. The new system, set to debut this week at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, is an exact aesthetic match to the company’s GX100 and v100 products, which are the most popular satellite communications terminals in the world today. The newly designed 1 meter (40 inch) antenna system simultaneously receives two Ka-band satellite signals and one Ku-band signal for DIRECTV North America’s HD programming, enabling uninterrupted coverage across all channels and the full ‘just-like-home’ experience.

The U.S. Navy recently launched USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000), lead ship of the all-new Zumwalt-class of stealth destroyers. Named for Admiral Elmo R. “Bud” Zumwalt, this new vessel was developed under the US Navy’s DD-21 “21st Century Destroyer” program. Having been selected as the primary navigation and GMDSS emergency communications provider for the USS Zumwalt, Furuno has provided a range of equipment for the vessel, as well as training and support throughout the entire installation and commissioning process, with the system meeting all the high expectations of Bath Iron Works and the U.S. Navy.

Radio Holland, part of the newly formed company RH Marine Group, has been awarded a Remote Monitoring Agreement from The China Navigation Company (CNCo). Under the new agreement, Radio Holland will install VDR Remote Interface on board three more CNCo vessels (Coral Chief, Highland Chief and New Guinea Chief). The company’s decision to place these three vessels under a Remote Monitoring Agreement follows a successful pilot scheme on its multipurpose vessel, the Papuan Chief. RH Marine Group…

Norsat International launches Global-VSAT, an equipment & global airtime services package to leverage Norsat MarineLinkTM maritime VSAT terminals. The package is available via flexible lease and purchase options and will provide Norsat ’s maritime customers with a complete end to end communications solution including terminals, modems, air time, installation, and technical support. Global-VSATTM provides complete coverage through a global satellite network, which features automatic bandwidth levelling for the highest network performance, remote management capabilities for worldwide monitoring and control, and automatic signal switching to prevent signal blockages.

The fight in the maritime satcom sector is somewhat analogous to the one fought by Apple and Microsoft in the early ‘80s: two tech companies, polar-opposite philosophies and a raging battle for market share. Market watchers  likely have noted an increased “competitive spirit” among providers of ship-to-shore communication services. •    the need to keep crew content with         Email, Internet & entertainment. A corporate driver for change has been Iridium, the McLean, VA-based…

Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq:IRDM) announces that German shipping company Reederei Werner Bockstiegel has selected Iridium Pilot(TM) to upgrade its shipping fleet with broadband communications. Globecomm Maritime, a long-standing Iridium partner, is offering Iridium Pilot as part of an upgraded "Telaurus se@COMM" communications package, and will manage the installation fleet-wide. "We're seeing a rapidly growing appetite among maritime customers to migrate from out-dated narrowband services to satellite broadband communications solutions," said Greg Ewert, executive vice president of global distribution channels at Iridium. "We are proud to expand our service to Reederei Werner Bockstiegel through our innovative partner Globecomm Maritime.

Hamburg, 9 March 2011 – Vizada, the leading independent satellite communications provider and Telemar, the leading integrated service and maintenance provider, have just signed a 3-party deal with the German IT company Buss Data GmbH, a part of Hermann Buss Group, to provide a high-performance broadband communications solution for the company’s fleet of vessels. The Hermann Buss Group shipping company based in Leer, Germany specializes in commercial shipping and runs a fleet of over 85 vessels.

Vizada, independent provider of mobile satellite services, has teamed up with its long-term service provider partner Nautical to provide the Inmarsat FleetBroadband service to more than 300 Spanish fishing vessels, enabling them to comply with new European Union (EU) regulations. The EU regulations came into effect on 1 July 2010 and require all fishing vessels of more than 24-metres (78-ft) to supply reports of catch, trans-shipments, landings and sales electronically to European fishing authorities. Vizada and Nautical have put together a customized communications package based on Inmarsat FleetBroadband to enable fishing companies to easily and cost-effectively transmit this data once recorded.

Coast Guard Marine Safety Office and Group Miami are overseeing response operations to the grounding of the 544-foot cargo ship Eastwind, which was attempting to enter Port Everglades, Fla. early this morning. Titan Maritime, LLC will focus on refloating the M/V EASTWIND at next high tide, at approximately 12:10 am. Commercial salvage engineers are taking precautions, in the event that fuel tanks are threatened aboard the vessel. These will consist of an internal transfer of heavy oil from a lower tank to the upper wing tanks to reduce the risk of a spill. Currently, no signs of pollution or injuries have been reported. The Coast Guard continues to monitor and assist, to protect the marine environment and ensure that operations are conducted safely.

Simrad has launched two sophisticated new satellite communication systems based on the Inmarsat Fleet satellite platform. The MS33 and MS55 are designed to offer voice and data services for leisure and professional vessels with internet, email, fax and telephone functionality providing a total communications solution. The MS33 features an Integrated Data Service that can connect at speeds up to 9.6kbps for voice, fax and batched transmissions. It utilizes advanced data compression technology that makes data transmission up to seven times faster than other comparable systems on the Fleet 33 service. Communications costs can be kept down as the MS33 is also capable of using the Mobile Packet Data Service (MPDS)…

As technologically advanced as communications have become, the bottom line, particularly for business applications, remains basically the same: the need for clear, reliable and cost-effective means to communicate. Trends in the transmission of data, voice and e-mail from ship-to-shore are much like that of land-based operations. The need for more speed and increased reliability are never ending, and the companies that excel are the ones that not only continually innovate, but those that consistently stay on the front of the curve to deliver real-world technologies that deliver benefits in the unique maritime operational environment. In parallel, price pressures are ubiquitous, as shipowners are keen to exploit every outlet to cut costs and generate revenue.

ENSCO International Incorporated announced that they will install a new communications system onboard all of its Gulf of Mexico jackup rigs. The company will provide VSAT, telephone, fax, broadband internet, data and email services, all through a secure onshore hub facility. C. Christopher Gaut, ENSCO Senior Vice President, commented on the new service, ``We believe this enhanced system will enable us to better meet the communication needs of our customers and other service providers on our rigs. Tom Chapman, ENSCO's Director of Information Technology, continued, ``Telecommunications on a mobile offshore structure presents some difficult challenges. Limited real estate, short well durations, and changes in infrastructure drive up costs for our customers.

Schlumberger has affirmed its commitment to the deepwater market with launch of the DeepSTIM II - the second in a new line of advanced stimulation vessels for deepwater service. The new vessel surpasses the size of the first DeepSTIM by 10 ft., making it the largest stimulation vessel operating in the Gulf of Mexico. The new-generation DeepSTIM design integrates Schlumberger expertise in marine, mechanical, electronic and chemical engineering, and DeepSTIM II incorporates design improvements made after the first vessel was launched in 1999. Measuring 270 x 56 ft., the vessel's large capacity provides reliability in severe weather and allows the vessel to remain at sea for long periods.

The United States Coast Guard announces the switch to new command, control and communications technology monitoring distress calls throughout Puget Sound, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the West Coast of Washington, north of the Quinault Indian Reservation. Rescue 21 allows the Coast Guard to monitors Digital Selective Calling (DSC) emergency transmissions. When properly registered with a Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) number and interfaced with a GPS receiver, a DSC distress call provides the Coast Guard a vessel's identity and exact location, greatly improving emergency response. Rescue 21 also includes advanced direction-finding capability, allowing Coast Guard watchstanders to more accurately locate the source of a VHF distress call.

Tiburon Divers, a commercial diving company servicing the inland and offshore sectors, has signed an agreement with CapRock Communications to outfit its entire fleet with a communications package. Under the terms of the agreement, CapRock provides Tiburon's fleet of dive vessels with Voice over IP, Internet access and wireless access points supported by 24/7 customer service and network monitoring.

The U.S. Coast Guard announced Friday that on June 30 it began using the new Rescue 21 command, control and communications system along the Alabama, Mississippi and Florida coastlines. General Dynamics C4 Systems, is the prime contractor for development and deployment of the Rescue 21 system. Advanced direction-finding capability, a critical component of Rescue 21, allows Coast Guard watchstanders to more accurately locate the source of a distress call. That capability also allows the Coast Guard to locate the source of hoax calls. Rescue 21 also includes a network of towers to help reduce coverage gaps in coastal areas and ensure more calls get through to the Coast Guard.

The U.S. Coast Guard has begun using a new command, control and communications system known as Rescue 21, for search and rescue, marine environmental protection and homeland security missions along the Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida coastlines. Advanced direction-finding capability, a critical component of Rescue 21, allows Coast Guard watchstanders to more accurately locate the source of a distress call. That capability also allows the Coast Guard to locate the source of hoax calls. Rescue 21 also includes a network of towers to help reduce coverage gaps in coastal areas and ensure more calls get through to the Coast Guard. "The system provides a revolutionary leap in enhanced command, control, and communications capabilities," said Capt. Dan Abel, Rescue 21 Project Manager.

Northrop Grumman Corporation's Sperry Marine business unit has been selected to supply a state-of-the-art navigation and communication systems for the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research (IMR) and University of Bergen's new fisheries research ship in Norway, the G.O. Sars, which is named after a renowned Norwegian marine biologist. X- and S-Band BridgeMaster E 340 ARPA radars, ADG4000 self-tuning autopilot, dual SR2100 fiber optic gyrocompasses, repeaters and steering indicators, and a full A4 GMDSS communications package. The IBS consists of three workstations, which can be configured to display radar, ECDIS or conning information. The 3,800 gross ton vessel, being built at the Flekkefjord Slip & Mek shipyard, is scheduled to enter service in early 2003.