Office Applications News

Maritime satellite communications company Inmarsat now offers a service called 'Fleet Xpress Enhanced', which it says enables digitalization, decarbonization, and crew wellfare for the global shipping sector,."Fleet Xpress, enhanced by Fleet Edge, brings together the best of Inmarsat connectivity solutions to help global shipping companies harness the full power of a connected maritime ecosystem," Inmarsat says."Shipping companies can harness the full power of a digitally connected…

SpeedCast International Limited (SpeedCast), a global satellite telecommunications service provider, announced that it has been awarded a multi-year communications contract from Gulf Marine Services (GMS). The new dual-beam Ku-band satellite service will provide high-performance broadband connectivity for client office applications and voice services across nine GMS barges. GMS is one of the largest providers of self-propelled, self-elevating accommodation jack-up barges in the world. The vessels work in offshore oilfields, often in harsh weather conditions, and therefore require a reliable and high-quality connection between the vessels and the land-based operations.

L-3 SAM Electronics has retrofitted Carnival Cruise Lines’ fleet of 24 ships with its Voyage Data Recorder (VDR 4350) system. L-3 SAM Electronics’ VDR 4350 system provides extended recording time and ECDIS-based onboard and onshore replay features, together with options for remote control and maintenance via SATCOM. The modular Ethernet-based VDR 4350 series provides a comprehensive backup capability for the storage and downloading of recorded data. Other features include extended graphics analysis tools that provide simplified export functions to standard Microsoft Office applications.

Stratos Global Corporation, global provider of mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, announced it is upgrading Zakher Marine International Inc. (ZMI) vessels to Inmarsat’s FleetBroadband 150 (FB150) mobile broadband satellite service. With each FB150 system ZMI is deploying the popular AmosConnect from Stratos messaging service, which integrates vessel and shore-based office applications. Working with its channel partner Monarch Telecom, Stratos has already activated FB150 service onboard six ZMI vessels: Zakher Duty; Zakher Pelican; Zakher Eagle; Zakher Supplier; Zakher Atlanta and Zakher Emperor. ZMI vessels provide anchor handling, supply and towage for the merchant marine and offshore oil & gas industries in the Middle East.

Stratos Global Corporation, global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, has successfully completed an Inmarsat FleetBroadband field trial with Spain’s Albacora Group. The three-month field trial was conducted onboard the Albacora tuna fishing vessel Albatun Dos in the Indian Ocean. Stratos channel partner Satlink managed the installation of a FleetBroadband 250 terminal manufactured by JRC, which was integrated with the vessel’s local-area network. The successful trial led to Albacora Group retaining the FleetBroadband from Stratos system, which it will use to manage the Albatun Dos’ daily operations at sea.

Maritime training provider Videotel Marine International has announced a significant expansion of its computer-based training packages. Videotel has teamed-up with marine engineering training company Cobalt and is now able to offer a whole spectrum of computer-based training modules on marine engineering and associated topics. London today, Chris Haughton, deputy managing director of Videotel said, "The demand for computer-based training is growing all the time because it allows shipowners and seafarers a flexible, but inexpensive approach to training. We are delighted to be teaming-up with Cobalt as we are now able to offer an additional 160 computer-based training modules. The marine training packages available through Videotel - Cobalt are grouped into 19 topics.