INMARSAT Plc. announced on March 15 its Fleet Xpress has been specified by Hong Kong-based Fleet Management Ltd. (FML), one of global shipping’s largest independent third-party ship managers.
In a statement, Inmarsat said FML manages a large fleet of over 400 vessels, consisting of bulk carriers, container vessels, general cargo ships, oil tankers, gas carriers and chemical tankers. FML, which has more than 14,000 crew, has successfully upgraded all vessels to FX. These vessels, according to Inmarsat, were previously equipped with the firm’s old Ku-band service.
Inmarsat said FML expects to roll out the FX to the majority of its fleet globally by 2018. The service will use a Cobham 1m GX antenna for Ka-band connectivity, combined with a FleetBroadband terminal for L-Band back-up.
Launched in 2016, FX sets a new standard in maritime communications. The service enhances vessel efficiency, crew welfare and safety, and facilitates “connected-ship” applications by delivering high-speed broadband connectivity available from a single supplier on a global scale.
According to Inmarsat Maritime Chief Sales Officer Gerbrand Schalkwijk, ship managers are ideally placed to exploit high-speed, ultra-reliable connectivity that puts big data at the heart of operating decisions, and cost-controlled connectivity in the hands of seafarers.