Owners of box ships see VSAT as critical technology to their business and maritime operations
Owners of box ships see VSAT as critical technology to their business and maritime operations
Digitalisation of maritime logistics chains is driving investment in VSAT for container ship owners, operators and managers.
VSAT provides connectivity for monitoring and managing vessel operations and containers, while providing bandwidth for crew welfare.
Seaspan, which manages 107 container ships worldwide, selected Ku-band VSAT for its fleet to optimise ship operations and fleet management. It chose KVH Industries VSAT to expand its communications capabilities, enhance crew welfare and support IT operations.
KVH completed installing the VSAT hardware across the fleet in March, including TracPhone V7-HTS and TracPhone V11-IP antennas. These open KVH’s AgilePlans and mini-VSAT Broadband connectivity for the managed vessels in its global fleet.
VSAT was chosen for the end-to-end solution that could be customised for business requirements, says Seaspan manager of process improvement Rajesh Gopinathan. He explains that Ku-band VSAT is “helping our business succeed”.
“We see the VSAT solution as critical to our business operations”
“We see the VSAT solution as critical to our business operations,” says Mr Gopinathan. This includes 24/7 support. “KVH assists us in continuously improving the features and functions as our business requirements change.”
Seaspan invested in VSAT to improve welfare and media delivery to its 4,500 employees. Seaspan executive vice president of ship management Torsten Holst Pedersen says close communications between seafarers on these vessel and shore offices is a key aspect of successful ship operation. “We can keep seafarers abreast of current initiatives and updates in the company,” he says.
Seaspan subscribes its ships to KVH’s IP-MobileCast content delivery service that multicasts news, sports, entertainment and operations content to the vessels. It uses IP-MobileCast to send custom video messages to the managed fleet once a month to instruct and encourage seafarers.
“We recognise that video is a particularly effective format for this communication,” says Mr Pedersen. “We plan to use it increasingly as a communication channel, both to deliver dynamic content and to conduct calls.” Seaspan’s monthly operational update videos highlight accomplishments, convey safety information and discuss critical operational topics.
KVH installed CommBox network management devices on Seaspan vessels. These have integrated tools for managing separated onboard networks for operations and crew, email servers and firewall facilitating remote IT management, least-cost routeing and bandwidth management.
KVH installed TracPhone V7-HTS, 60-cm diameter Ku-band VSAT antennas that deliver data speeds up to 10 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload. These have two services, a high-speed data channel and an unlimited-use data channel. Some Seaspan ships had TracPhone V11-IP, 1-m diameter dual-band antennas that connect with satellites over C-band and Ku-band.
Another container ship operator, Nordic Hamburg, has installed KVH’s VSAT hardware and connectivity for faster operational communications and crew welfare. Nordic Hamburg operations and insurance manager Jacobus Varossieau says VSAT AgilePlans provides flexibility in communications for its fleet.
“We now have a service that helps us future-proof our shipboard communications in line with today’s digital demands”
Nordic Hamburg uses network management solutions, fast data speed and crew welfare services on the vessels. “This solution enables us to offer our customers exceptional value and connectivity,” says Mr Varossieau. “This applies to both our operational efficiency as well as offering our valued crew fast, effective, and reliable communications.”
VSAT enables Nordic Hamburg to adopt more digitalisation applications across its fleet. “We now have a service that helps us future-proof our shipboard communications in line with today’s digital demands.”
Container ship connectivity benefits
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