Staying in touch

The satellite communication sector is keen to ensure that the region's thriving maritime industry stays connected.

Due to its mobile nature, satellite communication plays an essential role for the maritime industry. Satellite communication is vital for GPS and tracking services, as well as sending out the necessary distress calls at times of need.

Furthermore, the use of internet and telephone services ensure that seafarers are no longer isolated whilst at sea, and regular contact is made back to the land-based headquarters. It is not surprising therefore that satellite communications is increasingly such a core ingredient in ensuring a smooth and efficient shipping service.

For providers of satellite communications services, the maritime market has always been a very lucrative sector. "Seas are areas that cannot be covered by GSM or terrestrial networks, and since they are a vast percentage of the globe, they are a huge market segment for satellite communications," agrees Rashid Baba, product manager for ThurayaMarine.

"The main priorities are voice and data communication applications because of the amount of time that freight ships spend at sea." Part of the UAE-based Thuraya Telecommunications Company, ThurayaMarine is a specialised maritime solution designed with a stable omni-directional antenna providing communications for small and medium-sized sea-vessels.

"The product has been specifically designed to serve the needs of various segments of people who work at sea, travel by sea or transport goods through sea," explains Baba. "It is a simple solution that allows ample communication capabilities, as it supports voice, fax, data, GPS and GmPRS communications in the middle of the sea."

In fact, the tracking of vessels was one of the original uses of satellite communication. "Considering the vast coverage that we have, ThurayaMarine allows sea freight vessels to be tracked, located and communicated with over large expanses of water," Baba continues.

Coupled with the predicted growth of the Middle East's maritime industry, Baba is confident that demand will continue to flourish. "The future will be based on an increased demand for data transfer.

What this specifically means is that there will be more need for high-speed internet, video-conferencing and other high speed data applications," he predicts. "This is all related to the fact that in the modern age there are more data applications that we now use and which are required for communication."

To meet these demands by providing access to high-speed broadband services, Thuraya plans to launch its latest broadband solution, ThurayaIP, early next year. "There is a need for advanced communications tools onboard ships which often have to function similarly to a regular office," Baba adds.

Gunnar Andre Valle, regional director for Marlink, agrees that business for the maritime satellite communications sector has been booming. The provider acts as a multi-supplier of mobile satellite communication services from a number of companies, including Inmarsat, Thuraya, Iridium and VSAT.

It presently boasts over 2000 shipping customers, including regional names such as UASC, Vela, Middle East Ship Management and International Tanker Management, and represents more than 8000 vessels registered under 75 different flags. By the end of 2008, Marlink will have more than 1000 vessels in operation with the SCPC (Single Channel Per Carrier) VSAT system onboard.

Marlink has found that one of the major priorities for shipping companies, particularly those within liquid transportation, is on crew welfare. It is not surprising, considering the staff shortages being experienced by the shipping industry, that it is so keen to retain existing crew members by keeping them happy.

As being away from family ranks amongst the highest concerns faced by seafaring employees, shipping companies are keen to use internet technology to bring them closer together.

"Highly educated and younger seafarers need to be given access to low cost phone calls and internet. This enables them to participate in further education and training as well as making the vessel an attractive employer," Valle adds. "The most obvious system to choose would be a SCPC VSAT solution and this also allows for increased operational efficiency."

The maritime satellite communications sector has been undergoing its own rapid development, alongside that of the shipping industry itself. In particular, as Valle points out, the commercialisation of maritime VSAT systems has removed the monopoly situation previously held by Inmarsat for maritime satellite communication.

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