Belgium: Marlink to Supply VSAT Systems to Odfjell’s Fleet of 40 Vessels

As part of a new agreement with global transportation provider Odfjell Management AS, Marlink is to supply WaveCall™ VSAT systems for installation aboard 40 vessels. Having worked with Odfjell for several years supplying MSS on-demand services, Marlink’s renewed contract represents a further move to VSAT for the transportation company, to support higher usage at a fixed, predictable monthly cost.

Odfjell Management AS is one of the world’s leading logistics service providers and owns and operates a global fleet of chemical tankers for the transportation of special products. Access to high quality and reliable broadband is critical to support a variety of applications for the company, including improved operational efficiency, crew welfare and business administration.

Knut Fredriksen, Vice President of Technology Management, Odfjell Management AS comments: “We have been working with Marlink for many years and throughout this time the company has demonstrated exceptional commitment to offering us satellite communications solutions that satisfy our evolving needs. Marlink’s WaveCall™ solution will ensure the provision of reliable and high quality bandwidth aboard for continuous communication between our vessels and offices ashore which has become crucial to the successful operation of our business.”

The new contract follows a successful workshop with Odfjell Management AS at Marlink’s Eik Teleport, where the provider was able to develop a customised service package to meet Odfjell’s specific requirements for higher usage and increased cost efficiency.

Tore Morten Olsen, CEO, Marlink, added: “There is no one-size-fits-all communications solution, so through maintaining an open dialogue with our customers such as Odfjell, we are able to evaluate their requirements and package systems and services together to best match their needs.”

WaveCall™ installations will commence on 9 vessels later this year, with the remaining installations to be carried out in 2012. Each vessel sailing with WaveCall™ will have access to 4 simultaneous voice lines and 3 LANs for crew retention and admin purposes, including Internet web access and crew calling functionality. The vessels will also be equipped with FleetBroadband 500 terminals supplied by Marlink, to provide seamless connectivity for business critical operations.

Marlink’s extensive product range for the transportation industry includes its own regional, multi-regional and global Ku-band and C-band Maritime VSAT systems WaveCall™ and Sealink™ as well as on-demand services such as Inmarsat FleetBroadband, Iridium and Thuraya. The maritime satellite communications provider has also established regional customer service facilities in major regions of the world, supporting its global customer base.

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Source: marlink, November 29, 2011;