US company Crowley Maritime Corp has agreed a contract to install the Inmarsat Fleet Xpress Ka-band VSAT service across the majority of its fleet of 100 vessels, following the completion of shipboard trials.
The 127-year old Florida-headquartered business owns, operates and manages a diverse fleet, including conventional and dual fuel (LNG) container ships, tankers, tugboats and barges.
The new deal was signed following the completion of trials of the communications service in Alaska on the Aframax tanker California, and on the recently reflagged vessel Rio Grande Express, testing the combination of Fleet Xpress on Ka-band with back up from FleetBroadband on L-band.
“Communication needs for an operator with a variety of vessel types like Crowley are rapidly increasing and we require a level of performance and reliability that is proven and trusted, with a dedicated support network that is continuously available,” said Captain Rodney Jones, Director Operations Integrity with Crowley Global Ship Management.
“Fleet Xpress meets this demand and proved very successful in the trials that were carried out on the California in Alaska and the Rio Grande Express operating in a liner service.”
All vessels covered in the agreement will install either a Fleet Xpress GX60 or GX100 antenna from Intellian, and an Infinity smartbox from Navarino, which will be used to manage access to value-added services like bandwidth control and remote user management.
“This new contract with Crowley, one of the leading operators of a diverse fleet, confirms that vessels anywhere in the world and of all sizes and types can secure the operating efficiency, digitalisation and crew welfare gains available from Fleet Xpress with our global high-speed performance, reliable coverage and 24/7 support,” said Gert-Jan Panken, VP of Merchant, Inmarsat Maritime.
