Inmarsat has launched its enhanced Fleet Xpress connectivity services to shipowners, operators and managers
Fleet Xpress Enhanced provides a wider portfolio of Inmarsat’s connectivity and digitalisation products through the Fleet Edge platform to ship operators, managers and owners over a trusted endpoint security network, enabling Inmarsat partners to integrate their value-added services and host applications.
Fleet Xpress combines Ka-band connectivity over Global Xpress (GX) satellites and L-band from the Elera coverage. This connectivity supports everything from email and basic office applications to the latest solutions powered by internet of things (IoT).
Shipowners can connect onboard IoT sensors to cloud services and select the right value-added solutions from Inmarsat partners to enable crew welfare and safety.
Inmarsat Maritime president Ben Palmer expects this to enable more of the shipping industry to implement services for reducing emissions and improving crew welfare.
“This latest evolution of Fleet Xpress is not a standard VSAT service – it is a versatile, fully integrated modular solution offering our customers a path to operational efficiency, decarbonisation and enhanced crew welfare,” said Mr Palmer.
“The combination of this secure and reliable satellite network with our existing range of value-added connectivity solutions is supporting digitalisation across the industry and improving the safety and performance of international shipping operations.”
Around 70% of shipping companies have embarked on a digital transformation journey.
“The digitalisation of the global shipping industry is putting further pressure on companies to accelerate their transformation projects and overcome their unique connectivity challenges,” said Mr Palmer.
With sustainability and crew welfare initiatives at the top of the corporate agenda, many are now seeking to accelerate these initiatives by implementing solutions that will help to safeguard seafarers at sea, drive voyage optimisation and support regulatory compliance. This leads to a growing demand for satellite communications using Ka-band with L-band as a backup.
Inmarsat is funding a significant expansion in its existing satellite network, with the first of the seven new-generation GX payloads (I-6 F1) launched at the end of 2021.
It also recently announced plans for Inmarsat Orchestra, a network of networks to help meet future maritime connectivity needs, drawing on GX, Elera, terrestrial 5G and low Earth orbit satellites.
Inmarsat will provide satellite communications to OceanGate Expeditions during its multi-disciplinary survey of the wreck of cruise liner Titanic, which lies roughly 400 nautical miles off the coast of St John’s, Newfoundland, in the Atlantic Ocean.
This expedition will embark from St John’s 15 June. On board will be scientists, maritime archaeologists, and marine biologists using Fleet Xpress for communications and uploading their findings to online resources.
