Rickmers Chooses Marlink VSAT for Entire Fleet
4 November 2015
Rickmers Group has chosen Marlink Maritime VSAT services for its fleet of 90+ vessels including Container Ships, Bulk Carriers and Heavy Lift Vessels. Rickmers decision to migrate to multiband VSAT from Marlink was based on improving operational efficiency through better integration of ship and shore side networks in addition to providing internet connectivity for crew welfare.
High bandwidth availability on Marlink’s Ku-band ‘Plus’ maritime VSAT services will enable Rickmers to significantly enhance on board IT opportunities whilst introducing the possibility of live monitoring, tele-medicine and remote access from shore to ship, supporting various energy efficiency initiatives across the fleet. With Marlink Maritime VSAT Rickmers will also be positioned to enhance communication facilities for crews, through availability of high quality Internet access.
As an international provider of services for the maritime industry, a vessel
owner and an ocean freight carrier, Rickmers works with many of the world’s
leading maritime transport companies. By choosing Marlink VSAT and deploying
modern IP applications designed to deliver cost-savings and improved performance management for vessels, the Group improves its ability to meet
customer requirements by providing reliable and cost-effective services in a
very competitive market.
Marlink’s service suite is a key enabler of Rickmers’ energy efficiency strategy aimed at improving operational efficiency and reducing emissions.
Rickmers will specifically focus on achieving better energy efficiency by extracting data from on board machinery including main engines and auxiliary equipment, which will support improvements in vessel performance and fuel
usage.
“Data Mirroring between ship & shore is one important aspect which we are
considering for our future setup, for which Marlink provides a reliable and
cost-efficient conduit,” said Capt. Ninad Mhatre, Senior VP, Commercial and
Operations, Rickmers. “Further efficiencies will be gained through the use of
real-time applications such as videoconferencing, remote monitoring and the
ability to download ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display and Information System)
updates and weather reports without having to consider the cost of each
download”.
“There are tangible benefits in terms of reduction of logistic and service
attendance cost,” said Saurish Nandi, Vice President, Procurement, Rickmers.
Roll-out of a combination of Marlink Maritime VSAT services with data quota
or dedicated CIR (Committed Information Rate) across the Rickmers' fleet,
which operates primarily in Europe & Asia, started in August 2015. In addition
to the on board VSAT hardware, all vessels will have new MSS (Mobile Satellite
Services) terminals installed for unlimited back-up communication. L-band
back-up solutions are a standard feature of the multi-band approach of Marlink
Maritime VSAT Plus services, which also include readiness for migration to Ka-
and Ku-band HTS services such as Inmarsat Fleet Xpress and Intelsat EPIC.
XChange, Marlink’s innovative service delivery platform, will allow Rickmers
to manage and control its communications networks on board as well as from
shore. XChange supports IT staff in significantly reducing the time needed for
infrastructure administration. Rickmers will also use Universal Remote Access
(URA) on XChange for remotely accessing ICT equipment on its ships.
“URA streamlines our remote maintenance and management tasks, allowing easy control of all terminals and full access to on board IT networks from shore,”
said René Teichmann, Group CIO, Rickmers.
“We needed a higher availability of access to IP connectivity, which will
support our use of applications to improve vessel and fleet efficiency. At the
same time it will give us flexibility for our future connectivity needs,” said
Dr. Ignace Van Meenen, Group CEO, Rickmers.
“Marlink Maritime VSAT services also allow us to expand communications
facilities for our crews, meeting their need to stay in touch with friends and
family whilst at sea,” said Capt. Anurag Mathur, COO Maritime Services,
Rickmers.
“The shipping industry’s desire to operate more efficiently through the use
of state of the art technology in order to reduce fuel consumption and better
manage on board equipment and IT networks requires a quality multi-band link
that is always available,” said Tore Morten Olsen, Head of Maritime Satcoms in
Airbus Defence and Space. “Our VSAT services act as an enabler for ‘Smart
Shipping’, where a more IT and data based approach can enable improved
performance across a vessel or a large fleet.”
4 November 2015
Rickmers Group has chosen Marlink Maritime VSAT services for its fleet of 90+ vessels including Container Ships, Bulk Carriers and Heavy Lift Vessels. Rickmers decision to migrate to multiband VSAT from Marlink was based on improving operational efficiency through better integration of ship and shore side networks in addition to providing internet connectivity for crew welfare.
High bandwidth availability on Marlink’s Ku-band ‘Plus’ maritime VSAT services will enable Rickmers to significantly enhance on board IT opportunities whilst introducing the possibility of live monitoring, tele-medicine and remote access from shore to ship, supporting various energy efficiency initiatives across the fleet. With Marlink Maritime VSAT Rickmers will also be positioned to enhance communication facilities for crews, through availability of high quality Internet access.
As an international provider of services for the maritime industry, a vessel
owner and an ocean freight carrier, Rickmers works with many of the world’s
leading maritime transport companies. By choosing Marlink VSAT and deploying
modern IP applications designed to deliver cost-savings and improved performance management for vessels, the Group improves its ability to meet
customer requirements by providing reliable and cost-effective services in a
very competitive market.
Marlink’s service suite is a key enabler of Rickmers’ energy efficiency strategy aimed at improving operational efficiency and reducing emissions.
Rickmers will specifically focus on achieving better energy efficiency by extracting data from on board machinery including main engines and auxiliary equipment, which will support improvements in vessel performance and fuel
usage.
“Data Mirroring between ship & shore is one important aspect which we are
considering for our future setup, for which Marlink provides a reliable and
cost-efficient conduit,” said Capt. Ninad Mhatre, Senior VP, Commercial and
Operations, Rickmers. “Further efficiencies will be gained through the use of
real-time applications such as videoconferencing, remote monitoring and the
ability to download ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display and Information System)
updates and weather reports without having to consider the cost of each
download”.
“There are tangible benefits in terms of reduction of logistic and service
attendance cost,” said Saurish Nandi, Vice President, Procurement, Rickmers.
Roll-out of a combination of Marlink Maritime VSAT services with data quota
or dedicated CIR (Committed Information Rate) across the Rickmers' fleet,
which operates primarily in Europe & Asia, started in August 2015. In addition
to the on board VSAT hardware, all vessels will have new MSS (Mobile Satellite
Services) terminals installed for unlimited back-up communication. L-band
back-up solutions are a standard feature of the multi-band approach of Marlink
Maritime VSAT Plus services, which also include readiness for migration to Ka-
and Ku-band HTS services such as Inmarsat Fleet Xpress and Intelsat EPIC.
XChange, Marlink’s innovative service delivery platform, will allow Rickmers
to manage and control its communications networks on board as well as from
shore. XChange supports IT staff in significantly reducing the time needed for
infrastructure administration. Rickmers will also use Universal Remote Access
(URA) on XChange for remotely accessing ICT equipment on its ships.
“URA streamlines our remote maintenance and management tasks, allowing easy control of all terminals and full access to on board IT networks from shore,”
said René Teichmann, Group CIO, Rickmers.
“We needed a higher availability of access to IP connectivity, which will
support our use of applications to improve vessel and fleet efficiency. At the
same time it will give us flexibility for our future connectivity needs,” said
Dr. Ignace Van Meenen, Group CEO, Rickmers.
“Marlink Maritime VSAT services also allow us to expand communications
facilities for our crews, meeting their need to stay in touch with friends and
family whilst at sea,” said Capt. Anurag Mathur, COO Maritime Services,
Rickmers.
“The shipping industry’s desire to operate more efficiently through the use
of state of the art technology in order to reduce fuel consumption and better
manage on board equipment and IT networks requires a quality multi-band link
that is always available,” said Tore Morten Olsen, Head of Maritime Satcoms in
Airbus Defence and Space. “Our VSAT services act as an enabler for ‘Smart
Shipping’, where a more IT and data based approach can enable improved
performance across a vessel or a large fleet.”
