Digital Ship

SATCOMS NEWSMTN and ERZIA deploy RDS onSpanish research vesselwww.mtnsat.comwww.erzia.comMTN Satellite Communications (MTN)and ERZIA, a provider of VSAT maritimecommunications in Spain, have jointlyannounced the installation of MTN’sRapid Deployment System (RDS) on theSpanish research vessel BIO Hesperides.The RDS solution enables offshoreenergy vessels to establish voice and datacommunications using a temporaryturnkey Ku-band satellite connection andVSAT equipment. The RDS is designed toprovide VSAT communications on a temporarybasis to vessels that require remotebroadband access.The Spanish vessel, bound for the lastsegment of a Spanish National ResearchCouncil-led Malaspina expedition, neededrapid deployment of a temporary broadbandsatellite communications solutionfor the voyage. MTN/ERZIA says that itsteam subsequently managed to install theRDS within one day.“The solution from MTN is essential formeeting the Malaspina expedition's objectives,”says Jordi Sorribas, CTO of Unidadde Tenologia Marina.“Broadband communications allow forus to conduct real-time transmission ofdata such as the vessel's position and altitude,as well as the depth of the ocean andits physical and chemical characteristics.”“We transmit this data direct to shorenow, instead of relying on an onboarddata-processing technical specialist to doso. And the entire system can be repairedand reconfigured remotely in case of anyfailure or needed operational changes.We can even have new software installedremotely as new demands for the projectemerge.”News of this new installation followedshortly after the official opening of a newteleport in Spain developed under a jointventure between MTN and ERZIA.The teleport will serve as a centralisedgateway for MTN's VSAT communicationswith coverage over the Americas,Europe, and Asia. The facility is located inSantander, in northern Spain.The new facility is one of the first inthe world to provide C- and Ku-bandcommercial service as well as X-bandservice for government customers at asingle location.The Santander teleport can see all of thesatellites in the GEO orbit from 60W to65E, covering a region from WesternAustralia to North America, theMediterranean Sea, and the Indian andAtlantic Oceans.“The combined resources of MTN andERZIA within the Santander teleport offerefficient and innovative managed networkingtechnologies from a new and farreaching international satellite gateway,”said Richard Hadsall, CTO at MTN.“Our intent is that this new facilitywill lift the whole industry to a far morecompetitive position by creating attractiveopportunities for not only MTN butfor Spanish and European serviceproviders, enterprise and even consumersubscribers.”FleetBroadband for 211 vessels in India and Germanywww.shipindia.comwww.harren-partner.dewww.stratosglobal.comsonnel and administration.Under its deal with Bremen-basedHarren & Partner Ship ManagementGmbH & Co. KG (H&P) Stratos reportsthat it is nearing completion of its deploymentof an integrated FleetBroadbandsolution, including several Stratos applications,on 55 commercial vessels.The deployment on the last 15 of theH&P vessels will include accountingauthority and point-of-activation services,as well as the AmosConnect CrewCommCenter, online Stratos Dashboardand Stratos ChatCards.To enhance internet security an encryptedVirtual Private Network (VPN) via IPSec hasbeen implemented between Stratos’ LandEarth Station in Burum, The Netherlandsand H&P’s corporate office in Bremen.H&P uses the encrypted VPN’s remotedial-in option from Bremen to connect to allits vessels providing direct access to eachFleetBroadband terminal, the system’s firewalland the captain’s computer system.H&P will use the data connection fornumerous onboard applications, includingplanned maintenance systems, purchasesystems and remote management.“In the design and implementation ofthis FleetBroadband network, Stratosdemonstrated its ability to customise anadvanced system to our precise requirements,”said Caspar Graf von Spee, H&Pdirector.“We appreciate being able to secure thistype of comprehensive solution – includingnew terminals, airtime, cost-containmentapplications, remote-access tools, our owne-mail domain and encrypted VPN tunnel –from a single provider.”Intellian announces 83cm Ku-band antennawww.intelliantech.comIntellian Technologies has announcedthat it is to release an 83cm 3-axis Kubandstabilised VSAT communicationsantenna, to begin shipping in September2011.The antenna will feature Intellian’sgyro-free satellite search algorithm,to find and lock ontothe satellite without using aseparate input from the vessel’sown gyro-compass.The company also says thatit has incorporated a "highergain performance design" toallow the v80G to increaseoperational dependability onthe edge of a signal footprint.The three-axis v80G hasunlimited azimuth, and usestwo cables between the v80G’sADU and BDU by combiningthe BUC power and TX signalinto one cable. The other cablecarries the RX signal.The antenna has an elevationrange from -15° to +110°,a maximum roll of +/- 25° andpitch of +/- 15°.Intellian has developed anAntenna Control Unit (ACU)for the v80G that supports Wi-Fi connectivityfor control and monitoring of thesystem. A Bluetooth Connection Moduleis also provided to connect directly withthe antenna dome.The antenna supports a range of BlockUp Converters (BUC) including NJRC 4w,8w, Codan 8w mini BUC.Intellian’s 83cm VSAT unit will begin shippingin September 2011Tesacom granted Iridium licence in PanamaThe Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) isto deploy an integrated FleetBroadbandsolution on its fleet of 156 vessels, whileHarren & Partner Ship Management ofGermany is to equip 55 ships with the satcomtechnology. Both companies have partneredwith Stratos on the new installations.SCI is India's largest shipping company,and will implement theFleetBroadband system in conjunctionwith Stratos’ AmosConnect 8 communicationsoftware, as well as introducingcrew communications via AmosConnectCommCenter and deploying the BlueOcean Wireless (BOW) GSM service.AmosConnect 8 integrates vessel andshore-based office applications, incorporatinge-mail, fax, telex, GSM text, interofficecommunication, and access for mobilepersonnel into one messaging system aswell as bringing ship-relevant data to acentral information page.AmosConnect Crew CommCenter provideseach crewmember with a separateaccount for calling, private e-mail andSMS at flat rates.SCI says it expects to deploy the internetcafé function of the system later this year,and that it hopes to improve crew welfareand promote crew retention as well asincrease productivity and control costs."In our ongoing mission to ensure optimalbusiness efficiency, crew productivityand cost control, we understand the criticalimportance of broadband connectivity,"said Kailash Gupta, SCI's director, perwww.tesacom.netwww.getdatacom.comCommunications provider Datacom hasannounced the launch of its new solutionfor electronic Notice of Arrival/Departure(eNOAD) compliance.eNOAD is a requirement by the UnitedStates Coast Guard (USCG), which obliges arepresentative (i.e. the captain or fleet operator)of a vessel to notify the USCG uponarrival and departure at the US border.Fulfilling this obligation, says Datacom,can create an administrative challenge,especially if vessels were not previouslyTesacom, a provider of telecommunicationsolutions in Latin America, hasannounced that the company has beengranted licences to provide Iridium voiceand data communications in Panama, thefirst company to have such a licence in thecountry.Tesacom has developed and certified aVKI Tesacom product, for use on theIridium global network, providing integratedvoice, data, e-mail and vessel monitoringsolutions for the Panamanian maritimesector.“This announcement reinforces thestrong relationship we have maintainedwith Iridium since 2007, as well as ourcommitment to the region,” said JoseSanchez Elia, CEO of Tesacom.“Acquiring this licence enables us toexpand the Iridium footprint, bringingadvanced voice and data communicationsinto Panama. Tesacom’s first-rate customerservice and after-sales service inSpanish, Portuguese and English, makesus uniquely qualified to serve end-customerswithin the region.”Datacom to launch eNOAD solutionrequired to carry a satcom system withaccess to the internet.As a result Datacom and KVH havejointly created a system for the workboatsector, incorporating KVH’s mini-VSATbroadband system using 60cm or 30cmantennas, and offering specialised rateplans.“This solution now makes it affordablefor vessels like tugs, barges, and fishingboats to get reliable broadband service,”said John Poindexter, CEO of Datacom.“There’s no better combination of size,speed, and coverage on the market today.”Digital Ship June/July 2011 page 6