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Value Added Services News

19 Jun 2023

IEC Telecom Debuts Starlink-Powered LEO-based Solution

Image courtesy IEC Telecom

IEC Telecom will showcase the benefits of LEO connectivity to the Philippine maritime sector when it takes part in this week’s PhilMarine, an exhibition which gathers key national stakeholders and international specialists.IEC Telecom will showcase the benefits of LEO connectivity to the Philippine maritime sector when it takes part in this week’s PhilMarine, an exhibition that gathers key national stakeholders and international specialists to help draw a roadmap towards achieving the nation’s 2028 transport vision…

12 Dec 2022

Louisiana Announces $1.8 Billion Port Expansion Project

The new Louisiana International Terminal in St. Bernard Parish will be able to serve vessels of all sizes, dramatically increasing the state's import and export capacity. (Photo: LED)

A public-private partnership between the state of Louisiana, the Port of New Orleans and two global maritime industry leaders will build a $1.8 billion container facility on the Lower Mississippi River, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced.The new Louisiana International Terminal (LIT) in St. Bernard Parish will be able to serve vessels of all sizes, increasing Louisiana’s import and export capacity and stimulating the creation of more than 17,000 new jobs statewide by 2050, Port NOLA estimates.New Jersey-based Ports America…

30 Nov 2022

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

©Zamil Offshore via Inmarsat

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.

07 Jul 2022

KVH Debuts KVH ONE Hybrid Network and TracNet Terminals

(Image: KVH Industries, Inc.)

KVH Industries, Inc. introduces the KVH ONE hybrid network and TracNet terminals for fast, reliable connectivity at sea and at the dock. The TracNet H30, H60, and H90 terminals feature satellite, cellular, and Wi-Fi technology under one dome, with intelligent, automatic switching based on availability, cost, and quality of data connection to continually deliver the best performance. The KVH ONE network includes 276 million sq. km (106+ million sq. miles) of satellite coverage using KVH’s global, layered HTS network, powered by Intelsat.

04 May 2022

Inmarsat Says Its 'Fleet Xpress Enhanced' Enables Digitalization, Decarbonization, and Crew Wellfare

Credit: Inmarsat

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…

01 Feb 2022

ABS, N-KOM Testing Remote Survey Techniques for Shipyard Surveys

Credit: ABS

Maritime classification society American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and Nakilat - Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd. (N-KOM) have teamed up to examine how techniques developed by ABS for its program of remote survey of vessels in service can be applied to surveys and inspections in the shipyard.Remote inspection technologies will be applied to six Class surveys for this trial, to test how they can then be used to verify the required survey or inspection by ABS Surveyors to optimize scheduling and minimize downtime for both the shipyard…

23 Jan 2021

Inmarsat Milestones: 10k Ships with Fleet Express Installed, 'Fleet Data Academy' Launched

Image courtesy Inmarsat

Ship data consumption is booming, and as digitalization and data trends increasingly drive the maritime world, Inmarsat celebrated a pair of milestones, hitting the 10,000 vessel mark on Fleet Xpress installations and launching its "Fleet Data Academy."Traffic DoublesAccording to Inmarsat, the growth in Fleet Xpress now includes the world’s leading container ship and tanker owners, such as MOL, K-Line and Hapag-Lloyd, offshore support giants like Bourbon, Tidewater and Maersk Supply, as well as growing numbers of yachts, passenger ships and fishing boats.

21 Oct 2020

Bandwidth Efficiency will Drive Maritime Digitalization

Applied Satellite Technology (AST)

Gregory Darling and Applied Satellite Technology (AST) works with shipowners to help them use their bandwidth more efficiently for ship business and crew needs.When Gregory Darling, Group MD, AST, worked in the marine industry in the 1980s with a marine survey company, he needed to get word to one of his ships off of West Africa to recalibrate its course and head off to a new job. But the ship had left port, and radio calls to the ship went unanswered, resulting in two days of lost time and revenue.“That was frustrating and costly…

05 May 2020

Crowley Signs Up to Inmarsat’s Fleet Xpress

Inmarsat said successful trials in Alaskan waters on board the Aframax tanker California contributed to the decision by Crowley Maritime Corp. to install Fleet Xpress across the majority of its fleet. (Photo: Inmarsat)

Crowley Maritime Corp. has agreed a contract to install Fleet Xpress from satellite communications provider Inmarsat on a majority of its vessels.The 128-year old Florida-headquartered business owns, operates and manages a diverse fleet of close to 200 vessels, including conventional and dual fuel (LNG) containerships, tankers and articulated tug-barges, and ship assist and offshore services tugboats, and various other types of barges.The deal was signed following trials in Alaska on Aframax tanker…

04 Mar 2020

Traxens Joins EU DataPorts Project

French supply chain data services company Traxens has joined the new European DataPorts project, aimed at creating a data platform for cognitive ports of the future.DataPorts is an EU-funded, three-year project with a budget of $7.3 million (€6.7 million). It is coordinated by the Technological Institute of Informatics (ITI) in Spain.According to a press release from the Container IoT company, today, only three per cent of container terminals are automated. However, the future of the industry points towards smart ports as the best way to overcome the challenges and demands that arise in the sector.Challenges include optimizing port operations…

24 Feb 2020

THE Alliance Updates MESN

THE Alliance, which includes Hapag-Lloyd, Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM), Ocean Network Express (ONE), and Yang Ming, announced updated details of its 2020 service network, focusing on the Asia-Middle East trade-lane.THE Alliance will introduce three newly organized express loops from early April and the Middle East Service Network (MESN) will provide higher frequency, direct and expanded coverage, and the fastest connection from the respective regions.Hyundai Merchant Marine has become a full member of THE Alliance in January. With the backing from the South Korean government, the company has ordered 12 Korean-built 23,000 TEU Megamax-24 vessels…

12 Dec 2019

L&B Long-Term Fleet Contract With Marlink

Leonhardt & Blumberg (L&B), Germany’s largest independent charter owner of 15,000-35,000 DWT container ships and ship management company, has renewed its long-standing partnership with Marlink for the provision of quality  global VSAT connectivity."Marlink’s managed connectivity service excellence and digital solutions are recognized as a strong foundation for the ship management company L&B’s on-going fleet digitization, which will deliver more efficient and greener maritime operations," said a press release."Marlink has established a firm position of trust through its existing partnership with L&B, thanks to consistently high quality of service and an active…

25 Oct 2019

Iraq's Umm Qasr Ready for Bigger Ships

Philippines-based International Terminal Container Services Inc. (ICTSI) formally inaugurated two new berths in the port of Umm Qasr, Iraq’s main dry cargo port.The inauguration marked both the opening for business of the two new berths 25 and 26 with a depth of 14 meters, and the completion of ICTSI’s overall $250m investment program at its Basra Gateway Terminal (BGT) making the port capable of receiving box ships of up 14,000 teu.Located in Umm Qasr’s North Port, BGT operates a high capacity container terminal together with specialized facilities for the handling of general cargo, ro-ro, dry bulk and project cargo for the oil and gas sector.Earlier development included the construction of Berth 27…

16 Oct 2019

Marlink, Intelsat Renew Connectivity Pact

L-R: Samer Halawi, Intelsat’s Executive Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer and Erik Ceuppens, Chief Executive Officer, Marlink Group. (Photo: Marlink)

Marlink and Intelsat have announced that the companies have agreed to a multi-year renewal and expansion of their partnership to provide broadband services to maritime vessels around the world. The multi-year agreement will deliver additional throughput to vessels via multiple layers of space-based coverage, ensuring that ship owners and operators have the flexibility and access to reliable, high-quality, always-on connectivity.Initiated in 2014, the partnership between Marlink and Intelsat enabled Marlink to enhance its extensive portfolio of maritime VSAT services.

07 Oct 2019

K Line to Promote AI in Shipping Industry

Japanese shipping company Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line) has partnered with Hiroshima University, the National Institute of Maritime, Port and Aviation Technology and Marubeni Corporation to jointly work on research and analysis of maritime logistics and shipping market conditions using artificial intelligence (AI).In recent years, it has become possible to use comprehensive, chronologically ordered ship movement and static data, such as position (coordinate information), speed, direction, port of call and drafts, for ships with over 300 gross tonnage traveling internationally. This data is being applied in a variety of ways.Additionally…

02 Sep 2019

Grindrod Sells NWK Stake

South African freight and logistics company Grindrod signed an agreement to sell its 20.3% stake in grain services provider NWK to NWK Holdings for R204-million (USD 14 million).According to the press release, the sale is subject to the fulfillment of conditions precedent which is expected to be concluded by the end of the last quarter of 2019.During August 2019, Grindrod announced as part of its strategic review process, its intention to dispose of certain non-core businesses which included its agricultural investments in NWK and Senwes.Said Andrew Waller, CEO Grindrod Limited: “As was communicated at the interim results announcement…

15 Jul 2019

IRClass Takes Over Chairmanship of IACS

Arun Sharma (Photo: IRCLass)

Arun Sharma, Executive Chairman of the Indian Register of Shipping (IRClass), has been elected as the new Chairman of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) in a recent Council meeting held in Busan, Korea.Sharma took over as Chair on July 1st and has outlined his key priorities during his year long tenure which includes IACS to take a larger role in industry matters with a view to provide value added services to owners on the implementation of regulatory…

22 May 2019

Peel Ports Acquires Quality Freight

Peel Ports Group has announced that it has acquired Quality Freight (UK) Limited, which provides chartering and a range of port services operating from a 40 acre multimodal facility at Ellesmere Port in Cheshire.The value of the transaction has not been dicslosed.Commenting on the acquisition, Mark Whitworth, Chief Executive of Peel Ports Group said: “Our strategy is to be a leading UK provider of port centric logistics solutions. The acquisition of Quality Freight (UK) Limited is an important step in extending the range of value added services beyond the core stevedoring and storage services typically offered by Peel Ports.

03 Apr 2019

Seaspan Rolls-out KVH VSAT Across Fleet

Manufacturer of mobile satellite communications KVH Industries informed that the container shipping giant Seaspan  completed the implementation of KVH mini-VSAT Broadband connectivity for all 107 managed vessels in its global container ship fleet.Seaspan selected KVH’s TracPhone V7-HTS/AgilePlans and KVH’s TracPhone V11-IP for the vessels.“We chose KVH for the ability to have a superior end-to-end solution from one provider, which can be customized as per our business requirements” says Rajesh Gopinathan, manager of process improvement for Seaspan.Rajesh added: “KVH, working together with our IT department, were able to complete 60 installations in less than 12 months…

14 Mar 2019

Fortune Technologies, RINA form Alliance

Fortune Technologies, a Greek provider of integrated maritime software solutions and Microsoft's Dynamics NAV partner, announced a strategic alliance with RINA, the classification, certification, inspection, testing and consulting multinational, to create value added services for the Greek and global shipping market.RINA aims to further enhance its presence in the maritime market, and in particular within the digital technology sector, by further developing the RINACube digital platform with Fortune Technologies, a leader in IT and maritime ERP systems.By leveraging RINA's network and know-how, as well as Fortune Technologies' specialization in maritime ERP…

12 Feb 2019

Piraeus Port Signs MoU with Italian Ports

The Greek port of Piraeus signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Italy’s port authorities from the cities of Venice and Chioggia.The agreement seeks to develop port services and promote increased trade flow between Europe, the Mediterranean and the Far East.The MoU was signed during a meeting between the chairman and CEO of Piraeus port Fu Chengqiu and the president of the Northern Adriatic Sea Port Authority (Venice and Chioggia) Pino Musolino.The MoU envisages cooperation in improving the exchange of best practices and knowhow in port management, particularly in IT, attracting investments and communications."The common target is to improve the performance of the two ports…

17 Jan 2019

ABS, Fleet Management Join Force on Cybersecurity

Global provider of classification and technical advisory services to the marine and offshore industries ABS Advanced Solutions and Hong Kong-headquartered Fleet Management Limited signed an agreement to implement the ABS industry-leading cyber security solution for Fleet Management’s 220-vessel liquid cargo fleet.“Fleet Management Limited is one of the world’s leading ship management firms, and their decision to select the ABS FCI Cyber Risk model underlines its position as an industry leader,” said Russell Medeiros, Vice President, ABS Advanced Solutions.“Working together, we will provide a comprehensive cyber security solution to assist in ensuring compliance with the International Maritime Organization (IMO)…

29 Jan 2019

NSSLGlobal, Teekay Sign Four-Year Satcom Contract

The global satcom provider NSSLGlobal has announced a four year, multi-million enhanced contract for communication and entertainment services with Teekay Shipping Corporation, the marine energy transportation, storage and production company.According to a release, the latest contract will provide an upgraded bandwidth capability across the Teekay fleet alongside the installation of NSSLGlobal’s new virtualised Cruise Control+ appliance and the rollout of CrewVision, its crew entertainment service.The new contract cements the longstanding relationship between NSSLGlobal and Teekay dating back to 2004. The winning formula stems from NSSLGlobal’s…