An Asian owner and operator of bulk carriers is installing NexusWave satellite communications on Handysize and Supramax ships
Pacific Basin Shipping has signed an agreement to install a new generation of ship connectivity on board five of its vessels to optimise communications channels, improve seafarer wellbeing and advance its digitalisation strategy.
Viasat subsidiary, Inmarsat Maritime, will provide its NexusWave fully managed bonded connectivity service on board five bulk carriers in an initial investment.
These geared Handysize and Supramax ships will be retrofitted with hardware for connecting with Ka-band and L-band to geostationary orbiting (GEO) satellites and low-Earth orbiting (LEO) satellites, to enable high-speed internet, unlimited data, global coverage to support both crew and business applications, and robust communications for operational and safety requirements.
“We are excited to be among the first operators in dry bulk shipping to equip our ships with Inmarsat NexusWave,” said Pacific Basin Shipping head of technical procurement, Samar Das.
“Our seafarers’ wellbeing is a top priority, and this service will optimise communications channels to secure the fastest available connection to their loved ones ashore,” said Mr Das.
“The capabilities of NexusWave also align closely with our expanding use of digital applications across our fleet for better decision-making and efficiencies.”
NexusWave dynamically adjusts traffic routeing to maintain a seamless experience for crew and ship operators. It will be augmented by the upcoming integration of the ViaSat-3 network.
Recent real-world tests saw the fully managed service achieve download speeds of up to 330–340 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 70–80 Mbps, while network availability on vessels exceeded 99.9%.
“With NexusWave, operators like Pacific Basin can enjoy connected confidence, enabled by high speeds and availability, unlimited data, global coverage and robust enterprise-grade security – all from a single, trusted maritime connectivity provider,” said Inmarsat Maritime regional director for sales in Asia-Pacific, Justin Yi.
“By enhancing both crew and business communications, Pacific Basin is ultimately transforming its vessels into floating homes and offices using NexusWave.”
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