Fleet Xpress will deliver data intelligence to drive smarter and greener shipping operations
26 July 2016: Inmarsat (LSE:ISAT.L), the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services, has announced that its partner JSAT MOBILE Communications has signed an agreement with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), one of the world’s largest shipping companies, to introduce the newly-launched Fleet Xpress service across the majority of its car carrier fleet.
Existing Inmarsat customer MOL says migrating its car carriers to always-on, high-speed broadband connectivity will be pivotal in its continuing drive towards ‘smarter and greener shipping’ operations.
MOL has long been convinced that the environmental performance of its ships offers a competitive advantage. It was the first owner in the world certified under the Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) - the International Maritime Organization’s emissions scheme to benchmark the impact of technical innovations on ship efficiency.
The roll-out of Fleet Xpress on board the MOL fleet will coincide with planned vessel drydockings, with the owner’s car carriers selected for the first installations. Fleet Xpress will effectively and efficiently connect MOL ships to landside offices via VPN.
“Owners have been eagerly awaiting fully integrated connectivity between ship and shore that delivers an unprecedented scale of redundancy and seamless service virtually everywhere on the planet,” says Gerbrand Schalkwijk, Chief Sales Officer, Inmarsat Maritime.
“Fleet Xpress is the first global maritime high-speed broadband service from a single network operator. High-speed, ultra-reliable connectivity will transform the maritime industry by putting big data at the heart of operating decisions and cost-controlled connectivity in the hands of seafarers.”