Business Communications News

Marlink has provided high throughput hybrid network solutions for Quark Expeditions’ MV Ultramarine since the start of the 2021 Arctic season. After the first full year with the service, the operater said it found that guests and staff on Ultramarine enjoyed continuous, high-quality connectivity despite the high latitudes and harsh operational environment.While Quark Expeditions has operated a fleet of chartered vessels and icebreakers for more than 30 years, Ultramarine is Quark’s first fully owned newbuild and is the newest ship in its fleet.

There is an increasing expectation that oil and gas firms can demonstrate their value and efficiency through more data-centric processes, managing costs and reacting more quickly to changing market conditions. While the sector has typically been slow to adopt digital innovations, today’s offshore energy markets are fluid and fast-changing, and the ‘business as usual’ model will not necessarily yield the best future results.AI, automation and data-driven solutions are helping companies across industries to reduce costs, improve efficiency and cut emissions.

Transas said it booked an order in Q1 2018 with the Norway-based fleet operator Wilson ASA to supply a Fleet Operations Solution (FOS) including onboard navigational and communication components to provide enhanced connectivity for business communications and crew services, and access to fleet data from shore-based locations for complete situational awareness.For Transas, which was acquired by Wärtsilä in May 2018, the contract marks one of the first applications of the Thesis concept within Wärtsilä’s Smart Marine Ecosystem vision, which uses high levels of connectivity and digitalization.

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.

Norwegian Escape, the newest and largest of Norwegian Cruise Line’s 14-vessel fleet, experienced a record-breaking social media milestone during its inaugural celebrations from October 22-November 11, 2015. Cruisers logged 576,896 Facebook posts, 14,150 tweets and 11,367 Instagram posts for a total of 159 million impressions, surpassing the cruise line’s “social media usage at sea” record set during the 2013 inaugural events for Norwegian Breakaway, exceeded in 2014 with the Norwegian Getaway.

Transformation in the maritime communication sector continues, as Airbus Defense and Space announces plans to sell its commercial satellite communications business. MR spoke with Erik Ceuppens, SVP, Satellite Communications, Airbus Defense & Space Communications, Intelligence & Security (CIS), to help put the development in perspective. The maritime communications sector has been in near continual flux for nearly two decades, with merger and acquisition activity a constant. In tandem with development of innovative software solutions…

Iridium Communications Inc. today announced that its application to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for the provision of mobile satellite communications in the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) was reviewed by the IMO Subcommittee on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue (NCSR). The application will now proceed to the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) at its next meeting in November, before advancing to a group of experts for comprehensive technical and operational evaluation. The delegates stated support for the United States position to advance Iridium's application to the next stage for evaluation. Final approval will be up to the Maritime Safety Committee, following review of the experts' report by NCSR, which is expected by mid-2016.

KVH provides and Harvey Gulf employs possibly the most sophisticated on-board SATCOM and related service package on the water. That’s no accident. If quality service, high tech hardware and quality personnel are the common bonds shared by marine communications provider KVH and its customer Harvey Gulf International Marine, then the relationship is probably a match made in heaven. Harvey Gulf, already a long-time user of the KVH suite of services and equipment, is today converting every vessel in their rapidly expanding 60+ fleet to the latest and greatest equipment standard. From where they sit, that means KVH. For its part, the business relationship allows KVH to showcase to every other customer and potential user as to what is actually possible at sea in today’s environment.

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.

SMSGlobal Ltd., a provider  of personal communications for the global maritime industry, today announced that the number of vessels now equipped with its CrewCommCenter has reached 3,000. CrewCommCenter creates an onboard Internet Café, allowing seafarers to stay in touch with family and friends without interfering with the ship's official business communications. The milestone is doubly significant as SMSGlobal marks its tenth year in the maritime industry. Today, around the globe, more than 120,000 seafarers use CrewCommCenter to exchange approximately 2,200,000 messages with over 1,300,000 friends and loved ones on-shore each month. “This milestone is a testament to CrewCommCenter and cements it as the crew communications solution of choice,” said Capt.

SPEX Group, an Aberdeen-headquartered provider of innovative technology solutions and services to the global oil and gas industry, has strengthened its management team with a round of key appointments. Sylvia Halkerston joins the SPEX board of directors, following a career spanning 35 years in human resource management in both the public and private sectors. The company has also boosted its HR and communication teams, with the appointment of Carole Innes as Business Communications Manager and Jacqui Duncan as HR Manager.

Astrium Services, a global provider of satellite communications-enabled solutions, and Intelsat S.A., a provider of satellite services, signed a multi-year renewal agreement for C-band capacity to be used by Astrium Services' maritime customers in the Mediterranean, Atlantic Ocean, North Sea and Gulf of Mexico. The agreement will enable the new Business Communications unit of Astrium Services to continue meeting the high bandwidth requirements of C-band customized VSAT users, and supports broadband and expanded capabilities in the cruise, ferry and offshore sectors. Astrium Services will use C-band capacity on Intelsat 907 at 332.5° East to provide fast, reliable data connectivity and voice communication for passengers and operational purposes.

Globe Wireless, a  provider of communications, operational and IT solutions to the maritime industry, has announced Kristian Gerhard Jebsen Skipsrederi AS has selected the Dual Globe iFusion system as the communication solution for both SKS Tankers Holding AS and KGJS Cement Holding AS. The Dual Globe iFusion  solution provides full featured redundancy and reliability for vessels. The dual terminal FleetBroadband configuration allows one Globe iFusion  terminal to act as the primary communication system with the secondary Globe iFusion  terminal acting as a backup.

Partners and customers to benefit from extensive multi-technology service portfolio by provider of global satellite-based mobility services. Astrium Services will showcase their latest innovations in maritime communications at the upcoming Seatrade Middle East 2012 from 27 to 29 Nov in Dubai. The new Astrium Services Business Communications entity will host all commercial satcom activities of Astrium Services, serving three main markets: Maritime, Enterprises and Aero. In the maritime market, the company will continue providing services in the same successful structure as today: indirect through the existing, well-established service provider channel whereas Marlink will remain an independent commercial organisation focusing on maritime end customers.

Vizada will showcase some of its newest updates and innovations in communications solutions for crew and optimization of business data at this year’s Marintec show in Shanghai (29 November - 2 December). Vizada and partner MCN-UK will be available at booth 3E 31-7, Hall W3 for the duration of the event. Eric Jan Bakker, Vizada’s Vice President of Sales for Asia-Pacific, shares a little about Vizada’s strategic presence at this tradeshow in China: “China is an integral part of Vizada’s intensified approach to the Asia market, which has important growth potential for Vizada’s services. During this international maritime show, several maritime crew solutions will be highlighted including the recently-released Crew PC.

Crew PC, new versions of Vizada XChange and SkyFile Mail optimize crew comms and business data management. Vizada, an independent provider of global satellite-based mobility services, will showcase some of its newest updates and innovations in communications solutions for crew and optimization of business data at this year’s Europort in Rotterdam (November 8-11). Vizada and partner Marlink will be available at booth 3117 for the duration of the event. The recently-released Crew PC will be highlighted during the international maritime show. The Crew PC is a pre-configured onboard PC which connects to a satellite data terminal to provide instant plug-&-play access to data communications such as email, chat and internet access.

Following a successful trial on its liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers, MOL LNG Transport Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, is adding the award-winning TracPhone(R) V7 satellite communications system from KVH Industries, Inc., (Nasdaq:KVHI) to three of its LNG tankers. The systems will use KVH's global mini-VSAT Broadband(SM) service, which is being provided by KVH's partner, SKY Perfect JSAT, under the OceanBB brand name. SKY Perfect JSAT is working with Japan Radio Co., Ltd., a prominent Japanese navigation and communications equipment manufacturer, who is providing, installing, and integrating the TracPhone V7 antennas through a wholesale agreement with KVH. The TracPhone V7 was installed for a trial on one of MOL LNG Transport Co.'s LNG tankers in May 2011.

With homeland security becoming more critical in recent months, the 24th annual International WorkBoat Show, to be held November 28-30 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, will host a special security panel entitled "The Changed Waterfront of Maritime Port Security," as part of the event's comprehensive conference program. The panel, to be held on Thursday, November 29, at 2 p.m., will feature experts from the U.S. Coast Guard, Port of New Orleans, as well as fire and safety personnel addressing critical issues of port security. "The issues discussed by this distinguished panel will have relevance to any port in the United States…

In Finland and Sweden, a large percentage of commercial trade is transported by sea. During the winter months, this presents something of a challenge, as most of the trade routes are almost completely frozen over. Through a joint cooperation, the Swedish and Finnish Maritime Administrations enlist a fleet of icebreakers — nine vessels that travel the frozen waters to clear the ice and allow commercial ships to pass through. Thanks to these icebreakers, ports in both countries can remain open year-round. Communications is key to ensure that the icebreakers do their job, as they must be able to communicate to access up-to-the-minute information on weather forecasts and ice conditions…

COMSAT Mobile Communications' (CMC) Santa Paula, California, earth station is celebrating 25 years of continuous, around-the-clock operations, providing the critical communications link for customers on land, at sea, and in the air. CMC's west coast facility provides Inmarsat satellite communications coverage from western North America, across the Pacific Ocean and into Asia, the Pacific Rim nations, New Zealand, Australia, and the eastern Indian Ocean. The Santa Paula station has served as a principal communications lifeline providing instant communications to ships at sea, aircraft, and to people located in parts of the world where there is no communications infrastructure. For a quarter century, Santa Paula has often provided their sole means of contact with the rest of the world.

Julie Treon has been named manager, marketing communications in Ashland’s Corporate Affairs Department with responsibility for Ashland Specialty Chemical Company, effective June 2. The announcement was made by Martha Johnson, vice president, divisional communications, and director, corporate communications, Ashland Inc. Treon will be responsible for marketing communications planning and execution, including brand management and positioning, product publicity, advertising and collateral material, web content, tradeshows, media relations and related activities. She also will serve on the Ashland Specialty Chemical Leadership Team, which reports to Gary Cappeline, president, Ashland Specialty Chemical Company. “I am excited to welcome Julie to Ashland,” Cappeline said.