Wärtsilä’s new AHTI laboratory vessel, designed to test maritime technologies in real-world conditions at sea, is to be outfitted with Inmarsat Maritime’s Fleet Xpress service to support data exchange between the ship and shore offices.
The AHTI programme aims to offer real-time insights into a vessel’s performance and energy use after implementing new technologies, providing a more cost-effective setting for tests than a ship in service while still delivering accurate data on performance at sea for test centre staff ashore.
“AHTI reduces time to market by providing a faithful reflection of a technology’s capabilities and limitations on the open water without the risks, red tape and costs that come with full-scale sea trials,” said Michael Christiansen, Vice President, Wärtsilä ANCS (Automation, Navigation and Control Systems).
“As a floating laboratory, the vessel depends on reliable, high-speed connectivity, meaning that Inmarsat’s market-leading VSAT service, Fleet Xpress, is an important addition on board.
The service will be provided by local German Inmarsat service provider for the project, DRYNET.
