Digital Ship

SATCOMS NEWSVessel tracking available on Marlink VSATwww.marlink.comMarlink has introduced a new vesseltracking service for customers of itsWaveCall VSAT solution.Available as part of Marlink’sCustomer Portal service, the vessel trackingfunction allows WaveCall customersto identify the exact location of all activevessels in real-time.Status and communications statistics foreach vessel are available, so that positioningcan be identified and plotted at any giventime, with no on-board set up required.Users of the Portal can also access datasuch as bandwidth usage, terminal managementand support enquiries.“Vessel tracking has always been availableto customers of our high-end Sealinksolution and we have now introduced theservice for WaveCall customers so theyare able to manage their fleet more efficientlyby easily keeping track of each vessel’slocation,” said Tore Morten Olsen,CEO, Marlink.“Vessel tracking is one of a wide rangeof services available at our CustomerPortal, which is designed to offer vesseloperators and owners increased control oftheir satellite communications services.”In other news, Marlink has alsoannounced that it has reached an agreementwith Intellian Technologies wherebythe Korean company will become an officialsupplier of VSAT antennas to be usedin Marlink VSAT services.Intellian offers a range of VSAT communicationsand satellite TVRO antennas.“Marlink has been established formany years as a market leader in the provisionof satellite communication services,so we are delighted that they have selectedIntellian as one of their premium VSATantenna manufacturers,” said Eric Sung,president and CEO of Intellian.“Intellian prides itself in designingadvanced technical solutions that providethe constant and consistent communicationscapabilities that our customersdemand.”“Our relationship with Marlink willmean that an even wider customerbase will have access to our world leadingtechnology.”Both companies will be able to offer serviceand local support for customers globally.FleetBroadband tracker launchedVessels with Marlink’s WaveCall product can be tracked from shorevia the Customer PortalITC buys Broadpointwww.globalsatellite.usGlobal Satellite USA has introduced atracking system that integrates with theInmarsat FleetBroadband terminals manufacturedby Thrane & Thrane, SatLink,Glocom, and JRC.The GSAT Track FleetBroadbandTracker allows a ship to be tracked anywherein the world. The hardware requiresno additional power, just needing to beplugged into the FleetBroadband systemto begin transmitting position to a trackingplatform at GSatTrack.com.The tracker contains six status indicatorlights to display the current status of theterminal, and a single Ethernet port toplug into the Fleet Broadband.“Having listened to our customers, wewanted to develop an all-in-one packagethat provided broadband connectivityonto the boat and tracks it in one simplesolution,” said Martin Fierstone, CEO ofGlobal Satellite USA.“The FleetBroadband Tracker providesan excellent, easy-to-use IP connectionthat capitalises on functionality whenspace is a premium.”Indicator lights on the unit display thestatus of the tracking systemwww.itcglobal.netwww.broadpointinc.comITC Global reports that it has entered intoa definitive agreement to acquire the satelliteoperations of Broadpoint LLC, aprovider of VSAT and communicationsservices to the oil and gas sector in theGulf of Mexico.Broadpoint's satellite communicationsbusiness provides customers with managedcommunication services includingbroadband IP networking, MPLS, voiceover IP, real-time video and internetaccess.Its managed satellite communicationssolutions include stabilised, portable andfixed satellite communications servicessupported by its teleport and networkoperations centre located in Harahan,Louisiana.ITC Global's worldwide coverage footprintand support services will be avail-able to Broadpoint customers after theacquisition is completed, thoughBroadpoint will retain its core cellulartelecommunications business followingthe deal."Broadpint is a respected serviceprovider that has built a top-tier marketpresence and a track record of responsivesupport for demanding customer requirements,"said Joseph Spytek, vice presidentof business development for ITC Global."The acquisition supports ITC's strategicgoal of growing its already strongpresence in the global resource segmentin addition to providing a strong beachheadinto the Gulf of Mexico's oil and gasmarket for our customer base.""Our vision is to fully integrate theBroadpoint operations into ITC Globaland firmly establish ITC as one of a veryshort list of companies able to providefully managed networks on a truly globalscale."Satcom Direct has become aDistribution Partner for Inmarsat’ssatellite phone services, including theIsatPhone Pro.Alphatron Marine's PABXAlphaconnect 48 and 128 systems, and relevanttelephone sets, have been typeapproved for use on all ships and mobileoffshore units by DNV. The Alphaconnectproduct line is developed and produced atthe company’s own facilities in Denmark.Errol Olivier has been appointed aspresident and chief operating officer(COO) of MTN. Prior to joining MTN,Mr Olivier served as the president andCEO of Broadpoint, and was formerlypresident and COO of CapRockCommunications.Tom Eaton has been appointed as presidentof Harris’ global communicationsservices business. Mr Eaton served asHarris CapRock's global operationsofficer and formerly led the business' governmentdivision.Intellian has appointed Jon Harris assenior director of global sales & businessdevelopment. Mr Harris formerly managedthe European sales and service operationof another satellite communicationssystems provider, and has over 20 years’experience in the marine telecommunicationsfield.Intellian has also opened a sales andsupport office, Intellian B.V. in Rotterdam,Netherlands as part of its global expansionwithin marine markets. The new officewill be able to provide sales and technicalassistance to Intellian customers.Marlink has opened a new customersupport office in Stavanger. Based on theWest Coast of Norway, the new office willaccommodate Marlink’s field engineersand logistics personnel.Globe Wireless has appointed DonWamsley as the senior vice president ofcustomer care. Mr Wamsley previouslyworked for JDS Uniphase andHughes Network Systems.Telaurus has appointed GeoffDavison as product manager – valueaddedservices. Mr Davison joinsTelaurus with 20 years’ experience inelectronics, having spent the last 10 yearsat AND Group.Radio Holland Connect has beenawarded Gold Partner status under theInmarsat Connect Accreditation programmefor service providers. The companyoffers communications services fromInmarsat, Iridium and Thuraya, as well asVSAT connectivity.www.satcomdirect.comwww.alphatronmarine.comwww.mtnsat.comwww.harris.comwww.intelliantech.comwww.marlink.comwww.globewireless.comwww.telaurus.comwww.imtech.nlwww.inmarsat.comDigital Ship June/July 2011 page 4