EXMAR has begun the rollout of Inmarsat NexusWave across its fleet of gas carriers, with the Belgian shipping company implementing the managed service to meet evolving commercial demands and improve seafarer welfare on board its vessels.
The technology bonds multiple network underlays, including Global Xpress (GX) Ka-band, Low Earth Orbit (LEO), LTE, and L-band, to maintain a consistent connection. For EXMAR, the implementation is intended to preserve business continuity and support crew retention by providing reliable access to communication tools and business applications.
The company reported that the upgrade is expected to reduce fleetwide operating expenditure by 20% by consolidating connectivity under a single provider. Crew members on the vessels will receive access to free, unlimited data for personal use.
“Inmarsat’s understanding of our business needs, its round-the-clock global support offering, and its commitment to developing services in line with evolving requirements were all key factors in our decision to upgrade our fleet to NexusWave,” said David de Roock, IT Director at EXMAR.
“The solution gives us the reliability, performance and security we need to operate efficiently, while also meaningfully enhancing life onboard for our crews.”
The system is designed to integrate with EXMAR’s existing Information Technology (IT) and security infrastructure, using end-to-end encryption and data splitting across various network underlays to protect maritime data.
Prior to the rollout, engineering teams from both companies conducted configuration testing in a ship laboratory environment, which allowed for a rapid deployment. The deployment follows on from a trial of the service announced by the two companies last year.
“EXMAR’s decision to deploy NexusWave across its growing fleet of gas carriers underscores the trust and reliability we’ve built together for more than 20 years,” said Ab Argam, Senior Sales Manager, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) at Inmarsat Maritime.
“This is just the beginning, and I’m proud to continue our partnership to unlock future NexusWave enhancements with EXMAR that grow alongside their fleet and future ambitions.”
