Gulf Offshore Selects CapRock VSAT

CapRock Communications announced a three-year contract with Gulf Offshore – a wholly owned subsidiary of GulfMark Offshore Inc. – to deploy its broadband maritime service, SeaAccess Communications, onboard its fleet operating in the North Sea and along the coast of Africa. SeaAccess’

Iridium Openport on Fishing Vessels

The FV Aart Maaskant (UK95) is was one of the first Dutch commercial fishing vessels to be fitted with Iridium OpenPort. Gannexion BV, an Iridium service partner, installed the Iridium high-bandwidth terminal to replace the existing satcom system on the 139 ft beam trawler, which operates in the North Sea.

Inmarsat Activates 5,000th FB Terminal

Inmarsat (LSE: ISAT) announced that it has activated the 5,000th FleetBroadband terminal.  This figure represents commercially active SIM cards passing operational traffic. The 5,000 FleetBroadband terminals activated through Inmarsat’s global partner network make it the

U.S. Navy Hosts Small Business Conference

The U.S. Navy Program Executive Officers for Submarines, Aircraft Carriers, Integrated Warfare Systems, Ships, and Littoral and Mine Warfare will be hosting a conference for Small Businesses who seek opportunities with the U.S. Navy. The NAVSEA Small Business Conference will take place at California State University in Los Angeles, Calif.

NOAA Installs System to Improve Safety & Efficiency

Ship captains and pleasure boaters can now get free real-time information on water and weather conditions for Cherry Point, Wash., from a newly installed NOAA ocean observing system that makes piloting a ship safer and more efficient.The NOAA Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System (PORTS) at Cherry Point provides observations of tides,

Iridium Teams Up to Supply Mexico

To accelerate growth in the Mexican market, Iridium Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: IRDM) announced it has signed three additional distribution partners in Mexico. These three new partners supplement the distribution channel for the new Iridium Mexico subsidiary (or Iridium Comunicaciones de Mexico S.A.

Central GOM Lease Sale

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced the Department will hold an oil and natural gas lease sale for the Central Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf that will offer nearly 36 million acres and could produce up to 1.3 billion barrels of oil and 5.4 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.    

Satworx Promotion

Satworx, provider of satellite phone solutions, announced a promotion benefiting those in the maritime industries who spend time on small and large vessels where cell phone service is unavailable. Now through December 31, 2009, any boat owner or captain that signs a premium plan contract with Satworx

Great Lakes Ocean Policy Public Meeting

Obama Administration officials will hold their sixth regional Ocean Policy Task Force Public Meeting in Cleveland, Ohio, on October 29, 2009. The Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force, led by White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley, consists of senior-level officials from Administration agencies, departments, and offices.

USCG Open to Comments on Proposed Regs

The U.S. Coast Guard is scheduled to hold public meetings in Oakland, Calif., Oct. 27 and New York City Oct. 29 to hear comments about a proposed rulemaking for ballast water discharge standards.These meetings are the last two of six public meetings held for the Coast Guard to receive comments

Gulf Coast Ocean Policy Task Force Public Meeting

Obama Administration officials will hold a Gulf Coast Regional Ocean Policy Task Force Public Meeting in New Orleans on Monday, October 19, 2009. The Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force, led by White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley, consists of senior-level officials from Administration agencies, departments, and offices.

Thuraya Targets European Gov’t & Defense

Thuraya has partnered with the UK based Global RadioData Communications (GRC). According to the agreement, the specialist firm in communication solutions, GRC, will promote and distribute Thuraya’s entire portfolio of services to government and defense institutions in Europe.  Thuraya,

Polembros Pleads Guilty, Pollution Charges

Polembros Shipping Ltd., a ship management company headquartered in Greece, pleaded guilty on Sept. 30 in federal court in New Orleans for violating anti-pollution laws, ship safety laws, and making false statements during a U.S. Coast Guard investigation of the M/V Theotokos, the Justice Department announced.

New Guidelines, Shipboard Wireless LAN Systems

Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK) announced the publication of a new guideline entitled, Guidelines on Shipboard Wireless LAN Systems.The use of wireless LAN systems is becoming more accessible in public areas onshore such as airports, train stations, and hotels.  However, with the exception of some passenger ships,

M. H. Simonsen ApS Chooses KVH TracPhone V7

Faced with a growing need for reliable connections to shore and increased control over variable and increasingly expensive communications costs, M. H. Simonsen ApS, of Denmark, recently adopted the TracPhone V7 and mini-VSAT Broadband(SM) service from KVH Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ:KVHI) as its primary

NZ Warns against Mobile Phones Underway

Maritime New Zealand issued a safety bulletin cautioning mariners on the use of mobile phones. The bulletin stated that three people have been killed in recent collisions as a result of skippers being distracted by their use of mobile phones.&nbsp; A number of serious injuries have also occurred.<br

500th TracPhone V7 Broadband Antenna

&ldquo;The TracPhone V7 and mini-VSAT Broadband are changing the entire way we do business,&rdquo; explained Scott H. Bryant, captain of the fishing vessel American No.1, operated by Fishermen&rsquo;s Finest of Seattle, Wa. Operators and leisure boat owners are making the change from traditional VSAT

NewCom, KVH Provide Global Broadband

NewCom International, a global provider of communications services via satellite, IP, and fiber, has been selected by KVH Industries to market its Mini-VSAT Broadband Service to the commercial maritime and government sectors throughout the globe, with a focus on Latin America.The Mini-VSAT

Iridium, Telaurus Support Filming Expedition

Iridium Satellite LLC (Iridium) and Telaurus Communications LLC (Telaurus) have teamed to provide satellite communication equipment and services for a six-month Northwest Passage Filming voyage. The voyage got underway from Rhode Island on June 13, 2009 and will end in Seattle on Oct. 31, 2009. The voyage&rsquo;s vessel,

SAILOR 150 Gets Inmarsat Approval

Inmarsat has presented the type approval certificate for SAILOR 150 FleetBroadband to Thrane &amp; Thrane during the satcom equipment manufacturer's Global Partner Conference, held in Copenhagen in June. SAILOR 150 FleetBroadband will be offered as part of Inmarsat's FleetBroadband service, which is

Navy Seeks Ferry Vessel

The Passenger Vessel Association notified its members that the U.S. Navy&rsquo;s Military Sealift Command (MSC) has issued a Market Survey to ask about the cost and availability of U.S. ferry vessels. Anticipated delivery will occur on October 1, although the vessel owner may propose alternate delivery dates.

Iridium OpenPort Wins Award

Iridium Satellite LLC and Cambridge Consultants announced that Global Telecoms Business (GTB) has awarded its 2009 GTB Innovation Award to the two companies for excellence in the Wireless Network Infrastructure Innovation category. The award recognizes the groundbreaking Iridium OpenPort system, which

TITAN Salvage’s New Facility in Singapore

TITAN Salvage has enhanced its marine emergency response and wreck removal capabilities in the Far East with the consolidation of its Southeast Asia operating facilities in Singapore.TITAN personnel in Singapore began moving into the new complex - a modern, self-contained 45,000 square foot site to the west of the city - last month.

KVH mini-VSAT Broadband Service

As part of its global network expansion plan, KVH Industries, Inc., (Nasdaq: KVHI) announced that it has taken operational responsibility of the mini-VSAT Broadband service network supporting North America and the Caribbean. These regions were previously managed under a revenue sharing agreement with SES Americom.

Stratos Comms for MISC Berhad

Stratos Global Corporation announced it has been selected by its long-time customer MISC Berhad to provide a customized crew-communications solution for its entire fleet of more than 100 merchant vessels.Stratos is deploying an MISC-branded version of its AmosConnect Crew communications solution to serve thousands of crewmembers,

Inmarsat Launches Fleetbroadband 150

Inmarsat plc (LSE: ISAT), provider of global mobile satellite communications services, announced the launch of its new FleetBroadband 150 service.&nbsp; FleetBroadband 150 (FB150) was developed for the leisure, fishing, coastal merchant and small defense vessel markets.For the leisure market,

Globe Wireless Iridium OpenPort

Globe Wireless announced that it has concluded a testing program for the new Iridium OpenPort maritime satcom system and is delivering units to customers. As the Charter Distribution partner for the Iridium OpenPort service, Globe conducted an independent testing of Iridium OpenPort to verify that the

New Tech Saves Time for Shipbrokers

Stelvio has reacted to demands from the shipbroking sector for faster and more accurate vessel positioning and cargo order data by developing software which it claims will cut the workload by half.ShipDecision from Stelvio is designed to eliminate the need for brokers to search manually through the thousands of incoming daily emails.

Construction of Three Sludge Ships

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Engineering Design and Construction (BEDC) has released an invitation to submit sealed bids for the construction of three identical 140,000 cu. ft. self-propelled sludge ships to service its Newtown Creek Water Pollution Control Plant in Brooklyn, NY.

Navionics Chart Support Added to iPhone

Software manufacturer Northport Systems Inc. announced that its popular Fugawi X-Traverse online map collection for use with iNavX marine software for the Apple iPhone now supports Navionics marine and outdoor charts. Adding to iNavX&rsquo;s support of raster maps including NOAA RNC, Swedish Marine Charts,

Virginia Port Launches Trusted Agent Program

Orsus(R) announced that the Virginia Port Authority has initiated a project to leverage Orsus' Situator(TM) to monitor visitors without the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC). The program, being called Trusted Agent by the Virginia Port Authority, allows trusted visitors

Mediterranean Project Chartering Moves

Mediterranean Project Chartering (MPC), a subsidiary of BBC Chartering &amp; Logistic, is moving its head office in Genoa. Business growth since it was established in 2007 to foster the commercial business activities of BBC in markets across the Mediterranean, has necessitated a move to a larger dedicated office.

C-Nav World DGPS Changes UK Location

C-Nav - World DGPS announced their office in the UK has relocated and is now fully operational. Rick Davey, Regional Manager, will be directing sales and support for C-Nav in Europe.New UK office address:5 Hillside Business Park (1st Floor)Kempson WayBury St EdmundsSuffolk,

Wesmar’s HD850 Aboard Ice Exploring Vessel

Lindblad Expedition&rsquo;s newest vessel, The National Geographic Explorer, is an ice-class expedition vessel. Among its technology is WESMAR&rsquo;s new 850 series all digital stabilized searchlight sonar, a high-resolution sonar that can detect underwater hazards near the surface as well as everywhere beneath and around the vessel.

Marine Hwy Fleet Builder Seeks Shipyard Site

Santa Maria Shipowning &amp; Trading, based in Santa Rosa, California, is looking to purchase or lease a 15 or more acre industrial site with 600 feet of waterfront property and a minimum shoreline depth of 15 feet. The site will be used to build and launch a fleet of fuel-efficient, ocean-going container

KVH and ViaSat Expand to Persian Gulf

Crews on commercial oil and gas, shipping, and government vessels in the Persian Gulf now have access to affordable broadband Internet and crystal-clear telephone service throughout the region with the recent expansion of the mini-VSAT Broadband(SM) service from KVH Industries (NASDAQ:KVHI) . The new

99% of Towing Operators Are Properly Licensed

The Eighth Coast Guard District recently completed Operation Big Tow, a three-month long effort designed as a result of a collision between a cargo vessel and a loaded oil barge on the Mississippi River that spilled more than 282,000 gallons of #6 fuel oil to spill into the river.&nbsp; Operation Big

Blue Ocean, Ip.access Provide GSM Coverage

Ip.access, developer of picocell and femtocell solutions, announced that Blue Ocean Wireless, the world&rsquo;s first global GSM provider for the deep sea merchant maritime sector, is using their nanoGSM system to provide mobile phone service to merchant seafarers.Blue Ocean Wireless&rsquo; global

Guido Perla & Associates Int’l Expansion

Guido Perla &amp; Associates, Inc. (GPA), a U.S. Naval Architecture and Marine, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Firm, founded in 1979 and headquartered in Seattle, Wa., is further expanding its international focus. After establishing the subsidiaries GPA Shanghai in 2004 and Guido Perla Europe GmbH (GPE) in Germany in early 2008,

KVH, ViaSat Bring Broadband to the Pacific

Live mini-VSAT Broadband service in the Pacific is a major milestone in joint effort by KVH and ViaSat to support broadband Internet &amp; VoIP telephone service for maritime applications globallyBroadband Internet and telephone service is now available to vessels crossing the Pacific Ocean due
Contracts Statoil Awards Drilling Services Contracts. EPE to Prep Hazmat Inventory for Ship Recycling. Keppel, J. Ray Win $1B Contract. Major Ballast Water Management System Contract. General Dynamics USS New Hampshire Contract.
Cruise Ship Trends Silversea's New Flagship Arrives in America. Costa Deliziosa Completes Sea Trials. Port Everglades Opens Cruise Terminal. InnerSea Discoveries Purchases Two Vessels. Island Breeze Continues with East Asian Plans.
Education/Training Hirschmann Regional Training Courses. Free SUNY Maritime Conference. DHS Awards $2k Grant to Cal Maritime. Castle Shipboard Security Program at University. Maritime Environmental Mgmt, Distance Learning.
Environmental Clarifying In-Port Sulphur Limits. EPE to Prep Hazmat Inventory for Ship Recycling. UAE, NAMEPA Environmental Summit. Ingram Barge Named to EPA SmartWay Program. CG Final Update on Port Arthur Spill.
Finance Northrop Grumman Q4 2009 Results. Hornbeck Offshore Exchange Offer. Panama Canal FY 2010 Q1 Metrics. Horizon Lines Reduces Debt in Q4. WQIS Holds Covered, No Premium Increase.
Marine Electronics New DGNSS From Kongsberg Seatex. NAVICO Honored at 2009 NMEA. Hispano Radio, WESMAR Dealer in Spain. Furuno Manufacturer of the Year. OSIL Uses Sontek ADCP.
Marine Propulsion Rolls-Royce Supplies Netherlands Navy. Rolls-Royce for Offshore Vessel Upgrade. Scandic Diesel Services Opens in Montreal. PCT Acceptance for Miratech’s V-CAT Catalyst. Wärtsilä Sales Success, RT-flex82 Engines.
Navigation Easier Access to Electronic Charts. Sabine-Neches Waterway Open, Limited Traffic. Hong Kong Emergency Wreck Buoy. Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal Closure. NOAA Installs System to Improve Safety & Efficiency.
Navy This Day in Naval History – Feb. 8. USS Ashland Loads Supplies for Haiti. Sunken Sub in Balabac Strait is USS Flier. This Day in Naval History – Feb. 5. This Day in Naval History – Feb. 4.
Offshore Aegean’s New Bunkering Tanker. Rolls-Royce for Offshore Vessel Upgrade. Statoil Awards Drilling Services Contracts. Keppel, J. Ray Win $1B Contract. AMEC Wins FPSO Contract Offshore Brazil.
Ports Port of Hamburg Expects Moderate Growth. New Krishnapatnam Port Records. Wilhelmsen Supports Major Port Construction. Ports America Chesapeake 50-Yr Lease. Port of Kiel Close to its 2008 Handling Mark.
Ship Sales Star Bulk Sells Capesize Vessel Star Beta. Tsakos Energy Ship Sales. Globus Maritime Sells Handymax Dry Bulk Carrier. Oceanfreight Inc. Acquires Capesize Vessel. South Korean Shipping Slump.
Shipbuilding Ciane Returns to Çiçek for Second Vessel. One More in Series for Waxler. Keppel Clinches Shipbuilding Contracts. China Launches Three Models LNG Vessels. Nakilat, Damen Shipyards Join Forces.
Technology Shipwrecks: Cleaning Up from the Past. Ship-to-Ship Wireless Broadband Tracking. AVEVA Marine Offers New Features. Penn State Receives Grant. Lockheed Martin Awarded Grant.
Workboats Z-drive Tug Delivered from China to Peru. Two RAstar 3800 Tugs from Robert Allan. Donjon’s Tug Fleet Continues to Grow. Colle Shipyard Contract, New ASD Tug. Kvichak Marine Builds NYPD.
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