Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship, has been equipped with MTN Satellite Communications’ (MTN) state-of-the-art VSAT satellite communications system. The 1,184-ft, 225,282-gross ton Oasis of the Seas carries up to 5,400 passengers and a crew of more than 2,000.
Work on the second largest contract of the Panama Canal Expansion Program has begun. The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) issued consortium FCC-ICA-Meco the Notice to Commence the fourth and final dry excavation (PAC-4) contract. PAC-4 is the most complex expansion project after the design and build of the new set of locks.
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) released its Review of Maritime Transport 2009, suggesting that the global economic downturn and financial crisis slowed growth in world seaborne trade, while an increase in the supply of vessels has kept freight rates depressed:<br
Broadpoint, a full-service telecommunications and network solutions company, announced that it will offer individual rate plans to offshore and marine employees in the Gulf of Mexico for the first time. Workers can now tap Broadpoint’s 100,000 square mile cellular network for voice, SMS and data service,
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) released its Request for Proposals (RFP) for the fourth dry excavation contract, the second largest and most complex project after the locks contract. Rounding out the last of four dry excavation projects, the fourth dry excavation project represents a key
As part of its Expansion Program, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) plans to solicit bids for the fourth and last dry excavation project. The project will be the final phase in creating a critical access channel that will link the new Pacific locks with the Canal’s existing Gaillard Cut (the narrowest stretch of the Panama Canal).
Broadpoint has increased its number of cellular sites in the Gulf of Mexico by more than 30 percent, and said it will continue an aggressive schedule to add additional sites through the end of this year. In addition to expanding its core network, Broadpoint has made technology upgrades to its
Maritime Communications Partner (MCP), provider of onboard communications to the global cruise fleet, has announced a new five-year contract with Germany’s Aida Cruises for the supply of wireless mobile services and systems to three, 2,174 passenger new builds.The contract for three consecutive new builds in 2010,
Trimble (NASDAQ: TRMB) introduced two new Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers designed specifically for marine construction applications—the Trimble® SPS361 and Trimble SPS461 GPS Heading Receivers. These dedicated marine receivers deliver both GPS heading together with Differential
Ip.access, developer of picocell and femtocell solutions, announced that Blue Ocean Wireless, the world’s first global GSM provider for the deep sea merchant maritime sector, is using their nanoGSM system to provide mobile phone service to merchant seafarers.Blue Ocean Wireless’ global
Boatsense Solutions, Inc. announced that it recently installed its wireless remote vessel monitoring system on several Moran Towing Corporation’s tugboats. Moran maintains three major lines of business: shipdocking, contract towing and marine transportation. Approaching its 150th anniversary,
Danaos Corporation (“Danaos”) (NYSE: DAC), a leading international owner of containerships, reported unaudited results for the period ended September 30, 2008. Highlights for the Third Quarter and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008:• Net earnings from continuing operations of $28.
Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) has signed contracts for construction and delivery of four Panamax bulk carriers with STX Shipyard, reports said.These vessels would be of higher capacity in the Panamax size range with 80,655 DWT each compared to the conventional Panamax vessels of 75,000 dwt.. SCI
Broadpoint, a full-service telecommunications and network solutions company, has announced Bryan Olivier as its chief operating officer. Bryan Olivier has more than 27 years of experience in management, engineering and network operations at leading companies in the telecommunications and energy industries.
Broadpoint extended its alliance with AT&T, extending AT&T’s wireless voice and data capabilities further into the Gulf of Mexico. “Our business and enterprise customers need a reliable communications system wherever their jobs may take them, and that’s exactly what Broadpoint offers,” said J.
Maritime Communications Partner AS (MCP), fully owned by Telenor ASA, has signed a contract to install and operate the cellular network onboard all ships in Princess Cruises, Cunard Lines and P&O Cruises Australia's fleet. The agreement covers 21 ships at the signing of the contract.
The fleet
The world’s largest container shipping line — the Maersk Line — pressed into service the largest container ship Emma Maersk in September 2006. At 1,58,000 DWT, a length of 397 m, width of 56.4 m and loaded capacity of 11,000 TEU, this was one of the eight ships ordered at one stroke. Eyebrows were
By Edward Lundquist
Senior Science Advisor
Alion Science and Technology
The United States must engage with maritime partners around the world to create and build trust, according to senior Navy leaders speaking at the 2007 Surface Navy Association West Coast Symposium, held pier side at Naval Station San Diego, in August.
The Union Cabinet allowed the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) to buy 12 vessels.
SCI will acquire four Aframax tankers of about 1,10,000 dead weight tonnage (DWT) each, two large Range-II product tankers of about 95,000 DWT each, four Panamax bulk carriers of about 75,000 DWT each and two cellular container vessels of about 5,000 TEU each.
PetroCom LLC announced that an affiliate of H.I.G. Capital, a Miami-based private investment firm, has completed the previously announced acquisition of PetroCom. Headquartered in New Orleans, PetroCom is a leading cellular carrier in the Gulf of Mexico and a full-service telecommunications solutions provider for the offshore industry.
SeaMobile Enterprises, a provider of at-sea communications, connectivity and content services, signed an agreement with Holland America Line. SeaMobile will provide wireless cellular phone and PDA services for Holland America Line’s guests throughout the world. Installations of wireless broadband communications
PetroCom LLC has entered into a binding agreement to be acquired by an affiliate of H.I.G. Capital, a Miami-based private investment firm. Headquartered in New Orleans, LA, PetroCom is a leading cellular carrier in the Gulf of Mexico and a full-service telecommunications solutions provider for the offshore industry.
SeaMobile Inc. signed an agreement with Crystal Cruises to provide communication solutions for its guests throughout the world. SeaMobile will begin installing wireless broadband communications equipment on board two luxury Crystal Cruises ships, Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony, later this year.
According to reports, SeaMobile, a Seattle company that provides cellular and wireless service on cruise and cargo ships, acquired a Florida-based competitor, Maritime Telecommunications Network.
The $168m all-cash deal, announced, will boost SeaMobile's position in the growing market to
SeaMobile, Inc. has acquired Maritime Telecommunications Network, Inc. (MTN), a provider of satellite-based broadband communications and networking services for the maritime industry. The acquisition has been approved by the Federal Communications Commission. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Venturi Wireless announced that PetroCom has deployed the Venturi optimization solution within its offshore cellular network. PetroCom operates a 100,000-square-mile GSM network in the Gulf of Mexico and maintains a variety of onshore/offshore satellite networks both domestically and internationally.
SeaMobile Inc. has signed an agreement with Oceania Cruises to provide communication solutions for its guests throughout the world. The first ship in the Oceania Cruises fleet to deploy the SeaMobile advanced wireless services will be the line's flagship, Regatta. Guests and staff aboard the ship will
Shipping Corporation of India has floated global tenders for acquiring 11 ships, including two cellular container ships with carrying capacity of 4,300 twenty feet equivalent each, six Handymax bulk carriers of 50,000-58,000 DWT each, and two product tankers. These tenders were part of SCI’s $500 million 14-ship acquisition plan,
Wireless Maritime Services, a joint venture between Maritime Telecommunications Network (MTN), of Miramar, Florida, and Cingular Wireless, the largest wireless carrier in the United States, launched its customer and service driven website, www.cellularatsea.com.
Wireless Maritime Services (WMS)
Iridium Satellite and Impeva Labs will expand their current collaboration in the implementation of a real-time container monitoring, tracking and security system on behalf of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ). PANYNJ recently awarded a contract to Impeva Labs as part of the federal Operation Safe Commerce (OSC) Phase III.
Impeva Labs, Inc., announced that it has received 18-month contract from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ).
Impeva Labs will supply the PANYNJ with advanced container security technology
for Operation Safe Commerce (OSC) Phase III. Impeva Labs was competitively
selected
The Shipping Corporation of India Ltd (SCI), today signed contracts with Daewoo Ship Building and Marine Engineering CoLtd of South Korea for building and delivering two Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCS).
The tankers, to be built at DSME's shipbuilding yard in South Korea, would have a deadweight of about 300,
Ocean Specialists, Inc. has been awarded a consultancy contract from Unocal Thailand, Ltd. to study Unocal’s offshore communication network alternatives in the Gulf of Thailand. The study will involve assessment of Unocal’s existing network, forecasting future network capacity requirements and analyzing
PetroCom is making great strides in repairing its communication systems that were damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Patched very small aperture terminal (VSAT) satellite and wireless systems that were quickly operational with ingenuity and resourcefulness are now repaired properly and working near capacity.
Maritime Telecommunications Network (MTN), of Miramar, Fla., a provider of satellite-based communications, networking and other services to the cruise and offshore oil and gas industries, announced completion of its acquisition by an affiliate of Perseus, L.L.C. Perseus is a merchant bank and private
World Communication Center (WCC), a leading provider of global satellite voice and data communications, has provided nine satellite phones to assist Mercy Corps in its multi-country tsunami aid programs. WCC’s Iridium-based satellite communications solutions enable the field-based relief workers to
Autohydro: An Exciting Future
The early 1980s witnessed the birth of the first generation Autohydro by Coastdesign Inc. (now called Autoship Systems Corporation (ASC)). Autohydro was one of a very few PC-based first principles stability and longitudinal strength programs available on the market of the day.
As technologically advanced as communications have become, the bottom line, particularly for business applications, remains basically the same: the need for clear, reliable and cost-effective means to communicate.
Trends in the transmission of data, voice and e-mail from ship-to-shore are much like that of land-based operations.
As a range of container ship charter indices reach their highest ever levels, the inevitable question must be, how long can this bull run last? Container ship charter rates have reached highest ever levels across a broad range of sizes with Howe Robinson’s container charter index edging up further this week, to another record of 1571.
Marlink unveiled new cost-saving enhancements to its industry-leading account management tool, MarlinkOnline, available exclusively to Marlink customers.
MarlinkOnline is a secure Web-based tool allowing both maritime and land-based customers to more directly manage their Marlink communication