First Commission of Inmarsat’s Fleet Xpress in
Bering waters with Alaskan Leader Fisheries
12 July 2016
Inmarsat announced today
that its partner Network Innovations (NI), together with
Fusion Marine Technology, have signed a contract with
Alaskan Leader Fisheries to install Fleet Xpress, Inmarsat’s
new high-speed broadband maritime communications service,
powered by Global Xpress (GX). The contract marks the
first commission of Fleet Xpress in the remote and hostile
waters of the Bering Sea.
Fleet Xpress sets a new standard in broadband maritime
communications, delivering the highest levels of reliable
high speed broadband connectivity and exceptional
performance across all of the world’s oceans as well as
facilitating innovative Connected Ship applications.
Alaskan Leader Fisheries is an Alaskan based commercial
fishing company, specialising in the harvesting, processing
and marketing of Alaskan seafood. Alaskan Leader Fisheries
have chosen Fleet Xpress to support their daily business
operations.
With Fleet Xpress, Alaskan Leader Fisheries shore based
sales teams can maximise their sales potential with up to
date information on catch qualities and weights, while
also sharing and recording geographical catch areas for more
targeted sustainable fishing methods. Fleet Xpress is also
intended to support the company’s crew welfare initiatives
to provide its seafarers with a vital communication link to
friends and family, and access to the Internet to alleviate
the boredom on the long voyages at sea.
The install was led by NI partner Fusion Marine Technology
and includes a Cobham 100GX 1-meter VSAT antenna, which
together with a FleetBroadband antenna and below deck unit,
form the hardware needed to operate the service. The antenna
manufactured by hardware partner Cobham, has been built to
withstand the toughest weather conditions and provide stable
connectivity regardless of weather and location.
“Fleet Xpress is a game changer for satellite communications
at sea. The new service opens up a new level of connectivity
for fisheries to take advantage of real-time communication
back to shore, to enhance operational performance, maximise
catch potential and start selling even before they have
completed their journey back to shore”, commented Gerbrand
Schalkwijk, Inmarsat Maritime Chief Sales Officer. ‘Through
our partnership with NI, we are excited that Alaskan Leader
Fisheries will be using Fleet Xpress in such hostile waters
and to continue to drive innovation in sustainable fishing
with highly targeted fishing methods.”
“With excellent support provided by Inmarsat and NI
throughout the commissioning and activation of the terminal,
the Fleet Xpress service has allowed the Alaskan Leader
Fisheries to maintain connection and speed even in the
harshest of conditions of the Bering Sea, with antenna
elevation around 8 – 13 degrees,” said David Pratt, VP
Fusion Marine Technology, “We are excited to be a part of
the next generation of satellite communications”.
“NI has built a strong partnership with Fusion Marine to
provide best in class service, support and advice that meets
the communications needs of the fishing market. This
partnership was key in converting Alaskan Leader Fisheries
from an existing mini-VSAT, to the new standard in
communications at sea with Inmarsat’s latest innovation,
Fleet Xpress”, said Matt George, Vice President Global
Maritime Sales, NI. “By realising the power of Fleet Xpress,
Alaskan Leader Fisheries can benefit from continuous
connectivity and guaranteed performance, to become more
efficient and provide a better working experience for their
crew.”
With the continued
success of the first vessel, Alaskan Leader Fisheries will
look to install Fleet Xpress across their entire fleet of
vessels.
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