Mobil Satellite Technologies and Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company Renew Master Services Agreement

March 31, 2015

Mobil Satellite Technologies have renewed their Master Services Agreement with Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company (GLDD), Americas premier dredger. With this Agreement, Mobil Satellite Technologies will continue to support marine satellite communications infrastructure and service to Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company vessels operating in the USA, South America, the Middle East, and Australia through 2018.

Full-time marine satellite internet connectivity from Mobil Satellite Technologies provides reliable voice and data communications even when dredges are operating in areas that are miles from the nearest cellular towers.  Mobil Satellite Technologies has installed SeaTel/Cobham stabilized marine antennas on 23 dredge vessels, including 8 in Bahrain, and there are 3 more installations already scheduled for 2015.

Dredge operators like GLDD are relied upon to keep vital ports and channels open to navigation, including America's largest cities and busiest ports. From creating shorelines and waterways to restoring aquatic habitats, GLDD has helped shape the living environment and transportation resources in communities across the world. As they work, dredges log data of exactly where they dredged and to what depth, how much shoreline was created and where, and this information must be made readily available to their clients. Onboard satellite communications gives them the ability to upload this data, utilize ship management software to order parts, supplies, and groceries, remotely monitor shipboard systems, and communicate with the Company's internal network.

In the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the GLDD dredge California was tasked with reinforcing and expanding a sand berm 23 miles out into the Gulf of Mexico to keep oil from reaching the coastline. Cellular communications were completely unusable that far from shore, so Mobil Satellite Technologies technicians met the vessel at sea and installed a new VSAT antenna while dredging work was underway. The expansion and restoration of this sand berm protected miles of Mississippi shoreline from oil contamination.

"Mobil Satellite Technologies' Sea-Sat marine satellite Internet service is a highly reliable communications resource that is used by our customers to facilitate day to day business operations, even when they are operating in remote and completely unserved areas," said Bud Burton, CEO. "We are very grateful for the opportunity we have had to serve Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company, and are very happy to be continuing this relationship."