Marlink teams up with Red Sea Marine Services

RSMS provides a wide range of services to the shipping and oil industries, which include port operations, port services, stevedoring, crew manning, marine services and full agency. The company currently manages the largest family owned fleet of its kind in the region.

Awarded a full service, 60-month contract across eight vessels in total, Marlink's @SEAdirect VSAT service is already in operation aboard three RSMS vessels in the region. Launched last April, Marlink's entry-level-band VSAT service provides multiple data rates of up to 1024/256 kbps, offering Internet, e-mail and voice capability for increased operational efficiency and crew communication at sea. With renewed growth across the maritime and related sectors, including investment in workboat fleets as oil prices remain high, the Middle East region is seeing an increase in demand for more sophisticated vessels with more advanced communications capability.

"As a ship management company which believes firmly in both its technical excellence and its people, we are pleased to be working with Marlink and are already benefiting from using their @SEAdirect VSAT service. This now provides us with unlimited 24/7 Internet access to operate our vessels with best possible efficiency, not to mention the unparalleled customer service experience which is undoubtedly the best in its class," said Muhammad G. Al-Bakri, Executive, Red Sea Marine Services.

Mireille Abdo Nakad, Marlink's Regional Sales Manager for Middle East, India and Africa explained, "This is an important contract for Marlink in the MENA region as the maritime and related sectors such as workboats begin to recognise the increasing requirement for more sophisticated telecommunications at sea.

"Looking ahead at potential areas of growth within the satellite communications sector, Marlink has introduced an extensive range of new 'VSAT/Fleet Broadband Bundles' which can be purchased with its multi-year price plans. The new bundles will enable customers, including those operating within the workboat and marine support sector, to lease equipment from a choice of three different vendors, as well as purchase broadband time for data and voice, all at a fixed time monthly cost," she continued.

Marlink will be exhibiting at Seatrade's Middle East Workboats 2011 in Abu Dhabi (ADNEC) running 3 - 5 October (Stand L9) and is hosting a round table discussion on 'The Importance of Advanced Connectivity Solutions for the Offshore Industry'.

As the world's largest provider of maritime satellite communications, Marlink's portfolio incorporates an extensive range of services including Wavecall - Marlink's regional multi-regional and global Ku-band service and Sealink - Marlink's global C-band/Ku-band maritime VSAT service. Also available are Marlink's on-demand services such as Inmarsat, Iridium and Thuraya.

All communications are routed through Marlink's own teleports to ensure high quality, reliability and flexibility for its customers. With offices worldwide including Athens, Brussels, Dubai, Hamburg, Houston, London, Mumbai, Oslo, Singapore, Stavanger, Tokyo and Washing DC, Marlink delivers a wide choice in satellite communication solutions as well as installation and customer support on a global basis.