Marlink’s upgrade to Evolution hardware and software are a key element in addressing evolving customer requirements for increased bandwidth and more efficient solutions for core voice and data connectivity. WaveCall™ offers a high level VSAT communications service designed to support remote business solutions along with email, Internet, voice, news, and banking applications. WaveCall™ is built on one of the most extensive global Ku-band networks providing coverage for leisure yachts and commercial vessels.

iDirect’s Evolution product line enhances the efficiency and reliability of Marlink’s satellite service. Evolution is based on DVB-S2 with Adaptive Coding and Modulation (ACM), which provides significant bandwidth efficiency gains over legacy systems. ACM helps Marlink ensure maximum service uptime for maritime vessels by automatically adjusting signal strength to overcome rain or solar fade outages. Additionally, iDirect’s built-in Group Quality of Service features allow Marlink to efficiently control how it allocates and prioritizes shared bandwidth by market segment, customer group, and even application type. iDirect is the world leader in satellite-based IP communications technology.

“Competition in the maritime VSAT market has recently grown more intense, making it imperative for Marlink to differentiate its services and keep customers satisfied.”Said Tore Morten Olsen, Chief Executive Officer of Marlink. “Our three pillars of distinction are control, flexibility and support – iDirect’s Evolution product line is an integral component to delivering these. By upgrading to Evolution, we have addressed an increased range of customer application requirements and expanded our customer base without sacrificing service quality or affordability.”

Steve Tunnicliffe, Regional Vice President, Europe for iDirect said, “As vessels at sea increasingly become integrated with land-based operations, it’s critical for today’s maritime network to handle emerging corporate data and productivity application requirements as well as recreational traffic. Additionally, providers like Marlink must be able to prioritize critical traffic for their customers and guarantee reliable, always-on access to broadband anywhere. Our Evolution product line is engineered to deliver the industry’s highest efficiency and availability, so Marlink can continue providing a world-class maritime VSAT service now and in the future.”

Current At Sea is a future-proof, modular ECDIS and communication system that can include voyage optimization programs, fleet and ship management systems, and real-time monitoring applications. Orange is bridging the ship and shore by integrating ECDIS with Orange’s fully managed network . The Orange network ensures accurate, precise data and provides value added enterprise communications such as Business Talk Global, IP Telephony, WAN optimization, M2M and video conferencing to ships at sea.

Nicolas Roy, head of the Network Solutions Business Unit, Orange Business Services, said:  “Current At Sea is a one-stop-shop solution that is not about simply replacing paper nautical charts with digital ones but is about completely rethinking business processes in order to improve safety, efficiency and costs. This bundled, fixed-price offering with Consilium will help shipping companies revolutionize the way their vessels operate and significantly improve the way they do business.”

Key customer benefits include:
immediate compliance with regulatory deadlines – All merchant vessels will be required to use an ECDIS in compliance with International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations. The bundled solution from Consilium and Orange provides an efficient way to meet this requirement before the deadline.

Operational cost-savings – Orange’s IP network, which allows for a fixed monthly fee with no usage charges on voice or data, keeps communication costs under control. Fuel savings between 4 to 8 percent can be achieved when voyage optimization programs are integrated into the solution. By accurately pinpointing weather and water currents to determine the most fuel-saving route, hundreds of thousands of dollars can be saved annually per vessel. Additionally, Consilium’s unique concept of chart management enables the system to update only the chart parts that are required for the trajectory of the vessel’s planned voyage, which provides additional cost savings.

Improved safety at sea – With the Consilium ECDIS solution, shipping vessels can access an integrated navigational tool that cuts the time it takes to receive updates, warnings and admiralty overlays from weeks to hours. Because it is connected to the Orange corporate network, vessels are assured of securely receiving this data anywhere in the world. A study by DNV, a risk management foundation, found that such a solution can reduce ship groundings, the third-deadliest maritime disaster, by at least 30 percent.

Corporate-to-vessel integration – Orange’s MPLS-based network allows ships to bypass the public Internet when accessing corporate systems and connect using a much more secure, real-time connection to business-critical applications. Ship personnel can employ the full scope of the applications regardless of location, all at a flat fee; and because the connection is continuous, system maintenance can be done remotely while the ship is at sea.

Improved working conditions – According to estimates, a paperless communications platform as provided by Consilium and Orange can reduce a second officer’s workload by up to 40 percent.  Also of benefit are all the amenities that come with a superior network connection, such as Internet, text, e-mail, chat, GSM and entertainment while at sea. These services are a vital draw for recruiting and retaining crewmembers and improving crew morale.

“Current At Sea is a unique solution as it is the first time a VSAT system and a Dual ECDIS are offered as a package with a monthly flat rate, which will not affect the ship owners capital expenditure,” Anders Roos, president, Consilium Marine Group.

“We require a robust communications solution onboard our vessels to support our crew and our day-to-day operations,” said Cato Engebretsen, director of supply chain for Siem Offshore Inc. “It’s important for our fleet to be fully connected to headquarters and our other offices at all times, and after assessing the capabilities of Harris CapRock and its ability to provide local service and support in Brazil, it was the clear choice for our team.”

Harris CapRock will deploy end-to-end VSAT communications to enable corporate networking, Internet access, Voice over IP, real-time monitoring and reporting, and crew morale services. All equipment will be tested in Aberdeen, U.K., and then shipped and installed locally in Brazil. The turnkey solution includes network design, equipment and installation, as well as service and 24/7 support from Harris CapRock’s Customer Support Center (CSC).

The contract has the potential to be extended to an additional four vessels. Harris CapRock was selected as Siem Offshore’s communications partner as a result of its deep experience in providing local service and support in Brazil, combined with its reputation for delivering highly reliable solutions.

“The agreement with Siem Offshore’s Brazilian operations highlights the quality communications technology that we’ve built a solid reputation on in the market,” said Pal Jensen, president of SeaAccess, Harris CapRock. “Our presence in Brazil continues to grow as we broaden our systems integration services, project management capabilities and in-region field service and support. This partnership is a natural extension of the progress we have made.”

“The feedback we’ve had from the market has been extremely positive from both direct and indirect providers. We’re happy to have struck a balance of flexible and reliable services which work well for shipping companies and at an affordable price,” says Jeffrey Irwin, Product Director, Vizada. “In addition to these contracts, we have other requests that could total over 250 concluded contracts in the next few months.”

Vizada was the first provider to offer all-in-one combined connectivity packages to the maritime community. Since launching the bundles in June 2011, more than 100 contracts have been signed, including with large shipping companies such as Scorpio Ship Management. Thanks to this best-in-class offering, Vizada guarantees the best broadband options and most extensive coverage. The number of contracts signed and the positive customer response proves Vizada’s top-position in the market for airtime combination packages across multiple satellite services.

The bundles offer a great variety of choice to shipping companies: a combination of VSAT, MSS hardware and airtime can be chosen based on their specific needs. Upgrades to a plan with more bandwidth or to a next generation satellite service are possible during or after contract termination.

Packages range from an unlimited 256Kbps VSAT airtime-only starting at $1,500 per month, up to an unlimited 1024Kbps VSAT plus MSS airtime and hardware, for a monthly fee of $2,750. Customers can choose between a VSAT antenna from Thrane & Thrane, as well as Intellian or SeaTel, with the Inmarsat FleetBroadband 250 and 500 or Iridium OpenPort service.

Vizada’s Bundles are designed to fit the needs of clients who are looking for unlimited global coverage and cannot risk lower throughput or limited broadband capabilities. The addition of value-added services, such as Vizada’s proprietary Vizada XChange platform guarantees a seamless user experience onboard, regardless of the connectivity service chosen.

“Vizada Bundles are available and being installed today by a large number of our service provider partners with an onboard experience which is unique in the market. From continuous service enhancements on the Vizada VSAT network, to our leading Solutions portfolio, Vizada is in-tune to deliver what is needed for the most demanding maritime companies. We are bringing the best value for their money, and our customers can be confident that we are committed to safeguarding their future with a variety of upgrade options for Ku- and Ka-band connectivity, whenever available,” added Jeffrey Irwin, Product Director, Vizada.

In mid-2011, ORBIT and Milano Teleport supplied the tanker company with a single C-band system for testing purposes, which examined the quality of service and data transfer rates available with the system.

The shipping company will now equip its entire fleet of tankers with this VSAT solution over the course of 2012 and 2013, to support various broadband applications, including centralised management and control from company headquarters, VoIP telephony, as well as VPN and internet connectivity for the ship’s crew.

“With the increasing demand for true global broadband at sea we have invested in a wide range of satellite airtime services, as well as value added services and highly innovated remote diagnostic solutions for the maritime market,” commented Nicola Mossino, maritime managing director for Milano Teleport.

“Our service is specifically tailored to meet the requirements of maritime customers, providing always-on data and voice communication. With OrBand, our solution guarantees constant quality of service under any weather conditions across the globe.”

ORBIT’s recently launched OrBand can be shipped as a single, fully assembled and tested unit in a standard 20-foot container, for single-day installation, which the company notes is much quicker than what was possible with traditional C-band antennas.

“This substantial order is further confirmation of the quality and innovation that our revolutionary OrBand solution brings to the field of maritime broadband communications,” said Avi Cohen, president and CEO of ORBIT.

“We are proud that this premier tanker company has selected our joint solution with Milano Teleport for global maritime broadband services, following its in-depth validation of system performance under difficult maritime conditions. We continue to pursue further commercial partnerships, which will help to position ORBIT as an industry leader and to expand the scope of our business activities.”

se@FLEX is the result of the fusion of services from Globecomm Maritime companies designed to offer a complete solution from a single source, providing a global coverage footprint, guaranteed bandwidth throughput and full transparency of costs and service levels.

se@FLEX is offered using flat rate monthly pricing, with options including hardware leasing for approved packages and customers, Ku band unlimited usage and L-band airtime starting at US$2,850 per month. This core package includes all components and configuration needed to provide the vessel with global seamless connectivity.

The service provides both ship and crew with always-on, unlimited bandwidth for business and personal applications. Combined with our existing se@COMM cost management, remote access and imaging applications, users can implement cost-savings while relying on dedicated quality of service.

Globecomm Maritime is able to guarantee that users get the true Committed Information Rate (CIR) they pay for while using its global Ku-band service. Access to Globecomm Maritime’s Ku-band network keeps overall costs down by limiting the time spent on L-band. se@FLEX offers class-leading maritime Ku-band global coverage providing a high bandwidth experience for users. se@FLEX customers will benefit from a service that includes seamless and automatic switching between Ku-band beams and L-band service.

Malcolm McMaster, VP Globecomm Maritime, said:“We think that se@FLEX has the capability to be a game-changer in the maritime market, which is moving progressively towards higher bandwidth VSAT solutions. With a high quality global Ku-band service at its core, se@FLEX offers the best available coverage and throughput speeds at very competitive prices. Globecomm Maritime offers guaranteed service levels and dedicated bandwidth, delivering our customers significant long term cost savings.”

As part of a new agreement with global transportation provider Odfjell Management AS, Marlink is to supply WaveCall™ VSAT systems for installation aboard 40 vessels. Having worked with Odfjell for several years supplying MSS on-demand services, Marlink’s renewed contract represents a further move to VSAT for the transportation company, to support higher usage at a fixed, predictable monthly cost.

Odfjell Management AS is one of the world’s leading logistics service providers and owns and operates a global fleet of chemical tankers for the transportation of special products. Access to high quality and reliable broadband is critical to support a variety of applications for the company, including improved operational efficiency, crew welfare and business administration.

Knut Fredriksen, Vice President of Technology Management, Odfjell Management AS comments: “We have been working with Marlink for many years and throughout this time the company has demonstrated exceptional commitment to offering us satellite communications solutions that satisfy our evolving needs. Marlink’s WaveCall™ solution will ensure the provision of reliable and high quality bandwidth aboard for continuous communication between our vessels and offices ashore which has become crucial to the successful operation of our business.”

The new contract follows a successful workshop with Odfjell Management AS at Marlink’s Eik Teleport, where the provider was able to develop a customised service package to meet Odfjell’s specific requirements for higher usage and increased cost efficiency. Tore Morten Olsen, CEO, Marlink, added: “There is no one-size-fits-all communications solution, so through maintaining an open dialogue with our customers such as Odfjell, we are able to evaluate their requirements and package systems and services together to best match their needs.”

WaveCall™ installations will commence on 9 vessels and each vessel sailing with WaveCall™ will have access to 4 simultaneous voice lines and 3 LANs for crew retention and admin purposes, including Internet web access and crew calling functionality. The vessels will also be equipped with FleetBroadband 500 terminals supplied by Marlink, to provide seamless connectivity for business critical operations.

Marlink’s extensive product range for the transportation industry includes its own regional, multi-regional and global Ku-band and C-band Maritime VSAT systems WaveCall™ and Sealink™ as well as on-demand services such as Inmarsat FleetBroadband, Iridium and Thuraya. The maritime satellite communications provider has also established regional customer service facilities in major regions of the world, supporting its global customer base.

“While the particulars of customer missions vary across the three vertical markets Harris CapRock serves – energy, government and maritime – we consistently hear one need: customers must have confidence in their communications so they can stay focused on their core missions,” said Tom Eaton, president, Harris CapRock Communications. “AssuredCare provides field-deployed personnel and headquarter offices with complete peace of mind in their remote communications, making it an extension of Harris CapRock’s mission to be the industry’s most trusted communications provider.”

Harris CapRock has made considerable investments in training to ensure customers are supported by engineers with wide-ranging expertise. The common industry model operates network “call centers” where those answering customer calls take basic information, and the call is passed up the skill chain as needed. By contrast, Harris CapRock’s five 24/7 customer support centers are staffed by comprehensively trained personnel. As part of AssuredCare, Harris CapRock’s multi-disciplined engineers answer and handle customer calls from end to end, frequently solving issues by accessing networks and equipment remotely. This comprehensive remote AssuredCare support saves customers the time and costs associated with sending technicians to their sites, while still providing hands-on service whenever necessary.

AssuredCare also expands customer service far beyond the customer support center. Customers also benefit from network optimization services including network performance diagnostics, in-depth recommendations and implementation of performance optimizations.

In a separate development, Harris CapRock has recently been named the number one organization in an annual industry ranking of Independent Top Twenty satellite communications companies by the World Teleport Association (WTA). The WTA presents its Teleport Awards for Excellence each year to companies whose accomplishments have been recognized as outstanding by the association and its awards committees, comprised of industry members from around the world.

In addition to the 2011 Independent Top Twenty ranking, Harris CapRock also secured the seventh spot on the Global Top Twenty list, along with placing in the Fast Twenty. Rankings are based on annual revenue and year-over-year growth. Harris CapRock is the industry’s single largest buyer and supplier of satellite bandwidth other than the U.S. Government.

“We are honored that our industry peers have recognized our efforts to further establish our position as the leading, end-to-end communications provider,” said Eaton. “We look forward to leveraging Harris CapRock’s increased service portfolio and new solutions in 2012, with a continued focus on meeting customers’ needs in remote, extreme environments with the reliable communications they can depend on.”

SeaCast SIGMA delivers uninterrupted connectivity around the globe using SpeedCast’s global Ku-band VSAT network as the primary connection and Inmarsat’s Fleet Broadband L-band network as the back-up connection.  The Ku-band VSAT provides the unlimited data connection required for today’s maritime applications, whether it be for crew welfare, operations or regulatory reasons.  The L-band service provides the back-up connection in case the primary is unavailable or to troubleshoot and restore the primary connection in the event of an issue.

Shipping and offshore O&G customers have the choice of three different packages that range from an unlimited 256kbps broadband connection, all the way up to an unlimited 1Mbps, with an entry price of $2800 per month.  These packages include all required VSAT + L-band equipment both above and below deck, as well as back-up Fleet Broadband airtime, at the fixed monthly price.  SpeedCast offers SeaCast SIGMA for all packages with a fixed period of 60 months.

Packages are further enhanced with the most comprehensive set of ICT applications ever offered by SpeedCast.  These services are delivered from the cloud as value added services, to provide link acceleration, WAN optimization, vessel tracking, web filtering, voice calls and, for the IT manager, an advanced online monitoring and reporting portal. The principle benefit is to provide a total communications solution that responds to the needs of the crew as well as the IT needs of the shipping company.  SpeedCast further augments the solution with its industry-leading technical support for SeaCast SIGMA and its ICT applications, delivered via SpeedCast’s network of in-house engineers and via remote access to the on-board LAN.

“SpeedCast was the first company to introduce a global Ku-band maritime service, which allowed seamless auto beam switching between many different satellites and across many Maritime VSATs from different manufacturers, delivering unparalleled coverage and performance for our global maritime customers,” said Nick Dukakis, VP of Maritime and Offshore, SpeedCast.  “In addition SpeedCast was one of the first companies in maritime back in 2007 to realize that the main primary link for most vessels would be Ku-band VSAT with a secondary back-up system dependent on an L-band service.  Now many of our competitors have adopted a similar model. SeaCast SIGMA represents the evolution of our maritime services and experience in the marketplace over the last four years, and we will continue to roll out more innovative products and services in future.”

SpeedCast pioneered the delivery of a seamless auto-beam-switching broadband communications service using multiple satellites operating in the Ku-band for maritime customers.  Over the past several years, SpeedCast has developed an extensive infrastructure for providing this seamless connectivity for maritime data, video and voice communication services.

SeaCast SIGMA is available via SpeedCast’s global network of certified partners, who provide the highest level of service and support for SpeedCast customers wherever they are around the world.

The end-to-end service deployed over the iDirect TMDA network will provide corporate networking, internet access, crew calling solutions and an email service for Farstad, a supplier of offshore supply vessels that operate in the North Sea, Brazil, Australia and Indian Pacific regions.

The turnkey solution includes equipment and installation, service and 24/7 support from Harris CapRock’s help desk.

“We need a reliable information and communication technology infrastructure onboard our vessels to support our values and meet our crew and clients’ needs,” said Helge Warholm, corporate purchasing manager, Farstad Shipping.

“Harris CapRock’s SeaAccess service enables us to extend our corporate applications to the vessels and provide critical maintenance, operations and administrative services. As a result, the vessels operate more efficiently and in turn it reduces our operational costs.”

“We’ve been very satisfied with the reliability of the SeaAccess service and Harris CapRock’s global reach for installations and maintenance. We had five pilot vessels leveraging the SeaAccess service and it met our needs for service availability and quick installs as the pilot vessels were dispersed around the globe.”