Inmarsat to Roll Out IoT Solution to More than 60 Zamil Offshore Vessels

Inmarsat, a mobile satellite communications services provider, will roll out an Internet-of-Things (IoT) solution to more than 60 of Saudi-based Zamil Offshore's vessels in the Gulf area.

The solution - powered by Fleet Connect and Fleet Data delivered through Inmarsat’s Fleet Xpress - will allow Zamil to identify, trial and select the best solutions to meet vessel performance expectations set by its charterer, Saudi Aramco. 

The news of the deal between Inmarsat and Zamil Offshore follows a successful trial on the fleet’s anchor tug, Zamil 57. 

 "As the world’s leading energy and chemicals producer, Saudi Aramco is contributing to Saudi Vision 2030, a strategic framework that aims to  reduce Saudi Arabia’s dependence on oil and diversify its economy. This means Aramco needs deeper insight and control over the performance of  its chartered ships, including those piloted by Zamil," Inmarsat said.

Inmarsat's Fleet Connect will provide the dedicated bandwidth to support vessel CCTV capabilities and other value-added services, while Fleet Data will power enhanced data analytics for efficiency and sustainability. 

Scott Middleton, Regional Sales Director, Inmarsat Maritime, said: “In  addition to providing fast and reliable connectivity to improve crew  welfare, Fleet Xpress enables the digital and IoT capabilities that Zamil Offshore needs to meet their needs. We are grateful to our local partner, Petroleum and Energy Trading Services Company, for its support in rolling out our end-to-end solution across Zamil’s extensive and  varied fleet.” 

Fredrik Lang, Technical Manager, Zamil Offshore, said: "Inmarsat has been deeply involved in this project from the outset, offering us guidance  and support in securing value-added services that will allow us to meet Saudi Aramco’s requirements in surveillance and performance monitoring.

"Thanks to the scalability of the IoT solution, we can add more applications and have the opportunity to evaluate different options to establish what best meets our needs within our contract. New applications for  vessel digitalization are surfacing constantly and we are delighted with how Fleet Xpress allows us to find the best providers without being locked in.”  

Aamir Khan, Regional Manager, Petroleum and Energy Trading Services Co. (PETSE), said: “Saudi Aramco is the leading energy company in the Middle East, while Zamil operates the region’s largest offshore fleet. Operations of  such scale require high-performing satellite connectivity. Inmarsat’s offering in this arena is unparalleled.”©Zamil Offshore via Inmarsat

The program will also see an initial pilot of Videosoft Global’s live-video compression and transmission services to meet Aramco’s CCTV requirements, supported over Inmarsat’s Fleet Connect dedicated bandwidth channel. 

Vessel performance management capabilities will be provided by VPS, using Fleet Data’s analytics capabilities to support its solution for data-driven decarbonization, Maress. These separated channels ensure there is no  interference with mission-critical bandwidth onboard.

Iain Janes, Satellite Business Development Manager, Videosoft, said: "Our ultra-low bandwidth streaming service is dramatically more  data-efficient than other solutions. As a result, we are opening new  markets in areas where live video streaming from a vessel was believed  to be too data hungry, unaffordable, or not possible. There is also the  added advantage that Videosoft technology provides automatic variable  bitrate control, so customers should never lose a live stream whilst  there is a connection, even as low as 4 kbps."

“When delivered via a secure, dedicated connection through Fleet Connect - and backed by the high speeds and reliability of Fleet Xpress -  Videosoft offers an onboard CCTV solution that fulfils Saudi Aramco’s  high expectations for round-the-clock monitoring.”

Sindre Bornstein, VP Commercial Decarbonization at VPS, said: “Inmarsat’s  Fleet Data supports the data collection, transfer, and analysis  processes that we will use to offer actionable insights. We are excited  to support Zamil Offshore and Saudi Aramco in improving the efficiency  of offshore operations. Maress will allow these companies to collaborate to minimize fuel consumption and emissions in line with Saudi Vision  2030.”

"In partnership with Zamil and Saudi Arabia’s CST – Communications, Space, and Technology Commission - Inmarsat will continue to highlight the  potential of IoT technology delivered via geostationary orbit satellites as a means of connecting offshore vessels to shore to enable applications such as fuel & emissions savings, condition based monitoring, and remote surveys," Inmarsat said.