India: SCI Selects Stratos to Deploy FleetBroadband on 156-Ship Fleet

Stratos Global, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it has been selected by The Shipping Corporation of India Ltd. (SCI) to deploy the Inmarsat FleetBroadband satellite communications service as part of an integrated maritime communications solution that will help the operator increase productivity and control costs. Stratos was selected by SCI through Stratos Channel Partner Station Satcom.

Based in Mumbai, SCI is India’s largest shipping company, with an expansive fleet that operates globally and includes tankers, bulk carriers, liners and supply vessels.

In addition to deployment of FleetBroadband on the entire fleet of 156 ships owned and managed by SCI, the Stratos solution includes: upgrades to AmosConnect 8, Stratos’ sophisticated new maritime communications software; upgrades to crew communications via Stratos’ new AmosConnect CommCenter application; and deployment of Blue Ocean Wireless (BOW) GSM service.

“In our ongoing mission to ensure optimal business efficiency, crew productivity and cost control, we understand the critical importance of broadband connectivity,” said Kailash Gupta, SCI’s director, personnel and administration. By offering an integrated approach that combines the reliability of FleetBroadband with advanced applications and other value-added services, Stratos has proven it is ideally suited to meet our needs.

Gupta added, “The use of AmosConnect 8 to improve our interoffice communications is especially advantageous, as it meets the requirements of the new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Planned Maintenance Systems we are implementing throughout our company. Also, we expect AmosConnect Crew CommCenter to positively impact the quality of private, controlled communications that we offer to our seafarers and officers.”

Station Satcom CEO Anshul Khanna said, “As service provider to SCI for the past six years, it has been very gratifying to see SCI’s applications evolve from SAT-C, text-based communication to a fully integrated ERP system that provides constant mirroring of information between vessels and corporate offices onshore. It has been a privilege to help SCI achieve these advances by deploying the very latest, high-performance satcom systems.”

Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm said, “The decision to undertake a comprehensive communications upgrade is a daunting task for any operator. We will continue to honor the confidence that SCI has shown in our abilities by implementing the industry’s most effective solutions – and by consistently providing the highest levels of customer support.”

BOW GSM Service is a dedicated GSM service for crewmembers and officers of merchant ships. It is the first service – using Inmarsat satellites – enabling seafarers to utilize their existing mobile phones onboard merchant ships in deep ocean waters, exactly as they would in port or on land.

AmosConnect 8 integrates vessel and shore-based office applications. It is an easy-to-use, yet highly sophisticated application that seamlessly integrates email, fax, telex, GSM text, interoffice communication, and access for mobile personnel into a single messaging system. The AmosConnect 8 portal brings all ship-relevant data to one central information page.

AmosConnect Crew CommCenter improves crew welfare by enabling personnel at sea to stay in contact with home via calling, private email and SMS at affordable, flat global rates. The solution’s high functionality helps retain qualified seafarers. The application features an easily manageable, separate account for each crewmember. SCI expects to deploy the Internet café functionality of the latest version of AmosConnect Crew CommCenter later this year.

These applications and others comprise The Stratos Advantage, a range of value-added services that provides ship managers with optimal communications performance and cost efficiency.

About FleetBroadband from Stratos

FleetBroadband from Stratos provides cost-effective, high-speed data and voice communications – available simultaneously – at speeds up to 432kpbs. FleetBroadband from Stratos also provides on-demand guaranteed IP data rates, regardless of the vessel’s location. The above-deck, stabilized, compact directional antennas are smaller than most existing Inmarsat Fleet products used today.

FleetBroadband also helps Stratos continue to provide ship managers with innovative crew-communications solutions, to support the recruitment and retention of well-trained seafarers. For example, FleetBroadband from Stratos now is available with a pre-paid web-browsing solution and other valuable services.

Communications managers have discovered that FleetBroadband from Stratos can be rapidly deployed across an entire fleet and, as a standard IP service, seamlessly integrated with head-office networks. Terminals operate globally and the user interface is standard across all products. FleetBroadband from Stratos supports any IP service, as well as traditional circuit-switched voice and ISDN data for legacy applications. Terminal costs are relatively low and the network supports all the latest security protocols.

Stratos offers a wide range of value-added services to provide ship managers with optimal communications performance, management control and cost efficiency. Stratos is the largest supplier of mobile satellite services to the maritime industry, with communications to more than 40,000 maritime terminals worldwide. In addition to FleetBroadband, Stratos’ industry-leading portfolio of maritime broadband satellite services includes Iridium OpenPort and the VSAT solutions OceanVSAT and StratosITek.

FleetBroadband from Stratos Features The Stratos Advantage

With the benefit of The Stratos Advantage, FleetBroadband from Stratos is elevated far above baseline FleetBroadband services. The value-added services comprising The Stratos Advantage, including Stratos Dashboard, provide users with cost and traffic control, high-usage metering, firewall management, data optimization, real-time traffic overviews, instant remote provisioning, high security options, easy VPN access, messaging services and a full range of IP options.

In addition to offering The Stratos Advantage, Stratos works with application partners to deliver broadband business solutions in key maritime business areas. These solutions include voyage management, remote management, IT management and cargo management, which help reduce fuel and operations costs and improve crew and customer satisfaction.

About The Shipping Corporation of India Ltd.

Established in 1961, SCI is India’s largest shipping company. SCI’s owned fleet of 79 ships includes bulk carriers, crude oil tankers, product tankers, container vessels, passenger-cum-cargo vessels, chemical carriers and offshore supply vessels. SCI also has substantial interests in various segments of the shipping trade. SCI is a government of India enterprise.

About Stratos

Stratos is the world’s trusted leader for vital communications. Stratos offers the most powerful and extensive portfolio of remote communications solutions including mobile and fixed satellite and microwave services. More than 20,000 customers use Stratos products and industry-leading value-added services to optimize communications performance. Stratos serves U.S. and international government, military, first responder, NGO, oil and gas, industrial, maritime, aeronautical, enterprise, and media users on seven continents and across the world’s oceans. Stratos is a wholly owned subsidiary of Inmarsat plc.

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Source: StationSatcom, May 18, 2011.