KSS Line Opts for "Smart Ship' Package for Up to 15 Ships

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, maritime satellite antenna systems provider Intellian and mobile satellite communications company Inmarsat. Intellian and HGS signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in July 2019, and a similar arrangement between HGS and Inmarsat was signed in June 2019.

The package will allow large volumes of measured data to be transmitted between ship and shore quickly and easily, facilitating remote operations and vessel management, monitoring and analysis services, through Fleet Connect dedicated bandwidth. This is separate from the vessel’s Fleet Xpress connection that will be used for day-to-day business traffic and crew internet use.

“Our plan is for our entire fleet to be operating using the Integrated Smart Ship and Satellite Communications solutions by 2021,” said a spokesman for KSS Line spokesperson, adding that the shipping company is committed to enhancing its information communication technology (ICT) environment to maximize fleet efficiency and drive cost savings.

A total of 15 ships are covered by the contract, including five new vessels and 10 already in operation. The five new ships will be equipped with ISS from build, allowing their operators to manage assets more economically and efficiently. The 10 existing vessels will be provided with separate supporting web services to relay weather conditions and ship locations.

“This is a breakthrough for our Integrated Smart Ship and Satellite Communications solution and a milestone for maritime digitalization, delivering always-on IoT in a single package with dedicated bandwidth that can be installed on existing ships or embedded at newbuild,” said Kyoungsoo Ahn, HGS Director.

Intellian CEO Eric Sung said, “Smart shipping is an area of growth and importance for the maritime industry, with the opportunity for customers to gain efficiencies and cost savings on vessel operations.”

Inmarsat Maritime President Ronald Spithout said the new Integrated Smart Ship solution with a line-fit satellite communications service at its heart means that an owners can benefit from a service that is built-in by the shipyard and fully operational on delivery. He added that the inclusion of Fleet Connect highlights how the service is more than just a VSAT connectivity pipe.