Maritime sector sees breakthrough in satellite communications and safety

Type-approved hardware is now available for use from manufacturer Thrane & Thrane, and Telenor and Xantic Land Earth Stations have been authorized in all four ocean regions. Pravin Raghavan, general manager of Tile Marine, a leading Marine Services provider and authorized appointee for Singapore Telecom Inmarsat Services, for the UAE & Middle East, commented: "A large number of ships in the region today are waiting for Fleet 77 to become available. Ships that are above 500 gross tons have to comply with the International Safety Management code - ISM Code -, which is a maritime version of the ISO. This calls for continuous reporting and communication between ships at sea and offshore offices to ensure continuous compliance and Fleet 77 is going to make this process much easier, faster and more efficient."

Fleet F77 combines the high quality and speed of a 64kbit/s Mobile ISDN service with the world's first global, high-speed, maritime Mobile Packet Data service via satellite, to deliver e-mail, secure Internet and intranet access and voice, plus a choice of two fax services, making it possible to have a truly mobile office at sea.

"Fleet F77 is the first in a new family of Inmarsat services for the maritime industry, and our most significant maritime service development in eight years," said Michael Butler, managing director of Inmarsat Limited. "We're confident that it will deliver the powerful, solutions that shipping companies need to meet their ever increasing communications requirements."

Seafarers will be able to choose the most cost-efficient two-way communications service to suit their varying data requirements. The Mobile Packet Data service is a unique maritime solution, charging users only for the data they send and receive, not the time they are connected. Via this service it's possible for vessels to remain 'permanently connected' throughout their voyage - it could be the more efficient choice for applications involving shorter bursts of data, such as e-mail or web access. Mobile ISDN is ideal for transmitting large files such as oceanographic chart updates or when speed is of the utmost importance.

Safety and reliability are paramount in the maritime industry, and Fleet F77 is the only satellite communications service that meets the International Maritime Organisation's latest criteria for new services within the GMDSS safety standard. Voice prioritisation and pre-emption functions are an integral part of Fleet F77, enabling high priority distress, urgency and safety calls to override any lower priority communications.

"Access to online information on the corporate intranet is an everyday communications need for many people. Inmarsat Fleet F77 makes this a reality for seafarers, seamlessly integrating shipboard networks into the corporate IT network to enable a truly mobile 'office at sea'," continues Raghavan.

The high data rates available through Fleet F77 mean that a new, wider range of applications are available to the deep-sea market. Maritime-specific information such as sea and weather charts, can be made available online and updated in real time. Users can also enjoy the benefit of reliable, easy access to e-mail whenever and wherever is needed.

ENDS