PRESS RELEASE: Inmarsat has launched a new set of Fleet Xpress plans designed specifically to meet the technical and commercial requirements of offshore support vessels.
The new plan exploits the technical capabilities inherent to Fleet Xpress, such as high-speed connections and guaranteed performance, to offer vessel operators levels of flexibility that are naturally suited to the demanding requirements of a high-end sector such as offshore support.
It recognises that connectivity needs onboard OSVs change frequently and that swings in data usage are likely to be more pronounced than for conventional cargo ships by accommodating free upgrades and downgrades in service levels during the 36-month contract period.
When on-hire, the appetite for bandwidth from OSVs can be immense. Projects often generate considerable volumes of data that need sending back to shore for analysis, with third-party contractors onboard and an intense working environment. Furthermore, OSV operators also traditionally are generous with crew welfare.
Supported by a 1m antenna, Fleet Xpress for OSVs delivers committed information rates of up to 3Mbps for uploads and 6Mbps for downloads with a standard antenna, climbing to 5Mbps and 10Mbps respectively with an enhanced antenna. When off-hire, a more economic 128kbps/128Kbps link may be sufficient to keep core operational data exchange ticking over.
This elasticity means that OSV operators can utilise the full potential of Fleet Xpress for the duration of a project and then switch to a narrower ‘standby’ link between projects, also avoiding early termination costs. A network service device (NSD) manages bandwidth and regulates the flow of data traffic between the vessel and shore. The offer also includes provision for owners to suspend services for up to 180 days, subject to equivalent contract term extension.
