MTN Satellite Communications Provides Broadband VSAT Services For New Intership Bulk Carriers

October 14, 2010

Cyprus-based Intership Navigation Co. Ltd has signed a service agreement with MTN Satellite Communications (MTN), the global provider of communications, connectivity and content services to remote locations around the world, to provide broadband satellite connections for its two new giant bulk carriers.

The 177,000 deadweight ton ships are being built at the New Century Shipyard in Jing Jiang, China. The first, DHL Pacific, was delivered in August, and the second, Percival, is scheduled for delivery by the end of the year.

Both ships were designed as designated training vessels, which can accommodate up to 12 nautical students and a training officer in addition to their standard crew complement. DHL Pacific has been equipped with a secondary training bridge, separate from the ship’s navigation bridge, with a state-of-the-art simulator for watch-keeping instruction. The practical hands-on training is supplemented by an online education program from Magellan Academy of Shipping & Transport (MAST), a web-based academy that offers e-learning courses for nautical and technical seagoing staff.

“MTN’s VSAT services are critical to the e-learning program, giving our instructors and students unlimited access to this unique online training platform while at sea,” said Pawel Bury, IT manager, Intership Navigation. “Using the MTN satellite connection, the students can participate in chat rooms and online forums to seek advice from career coaches at the company’s shore training center in Manila. It also permits the shipboard training officers to access and check e-learning results of students via the shore-based MAST administration software and provide assistance as needed.”

The installations were overseen by Satlink (Maritime Services) Ltd, MTN’s sales and service channel partner in Cyprus.

“MTN was the only VSAT provider that could offer the extensive satellite coverage and guaranteed uncontended bandwidth necessary for Intership Navigation’s demanding requirements for onboard e-learning,” said Socrates Theodossiou, managing director, Satlink. “MTN offers the most extensive Ku-Band satellite coverage with automatic beam switching across major shipping routes worldwide, backed by a robust global network and world-class technical support.”

“Intership Navigation’s commitment to crew training is truly impressive,” said Bradford C. Briggs, senior vice president and general manager, MTN commercial shipping and energy services. “We hope other major shipping companies will follow their lead in leveraging the availability of VSAT-enabled onboard e-learning to help the next generation of seafarers become fully trained on the new generation of advanced shipboard navigation and engineering systems.”