Cruise and Ferry Review - Summer/Spring 2020

1 6 5 Inmarsat, a major supplier of mobile satellite communications in merchant shipping, is focusing on delivering services for luxury expedition cruise ships. Its maritime broadband service Fleet Xpress offers highspeed Ka-band connectivity with continuous L-band back-up, supporting real-time smart decision making to optimise vessel efficiency and connectivity. Inmarsat has provided connectivity for ships such as Lindblad Expeditions’ new National Geographic Venture and Oceanwide Expeditions’ Hondius, the world’s first registered Polar Class 6 ship. Inmarsat has also launched two new satellites for Arctic operations in partnership with Space Norway. Due to enter service in 2022, they will be the world’s first and only mobile broadband payloads dedicated to the region. Being able to provide ultra-fast internet connectivity plays a vital role for ship operators when they’re trying to attract customers and drive new revenue streams. Getslash’s revolutionised LTE solution makes nearshore communication much simpler and more cost-efficient for cruise lines. The solution does not only target river cruise ships, but also ocean ships berthed in port or sailing near the coastline. The solution can leverage existing satellite connections as fallback and works seamlessly with existing captive portal solutions, giving guests the same fast internet access as onshore. Always connected Inmarsat’s broadband service offers high-speed connectivity for guests on luxury expedition ships A cost-effective internet experience Getslash has developed a cost-efficient solution for providing internet connectivity to river cruise ships and vessels berthed in ports Cruise lines face many potential dangers in the ocean, but they are often undetectable with traditional navigation tools. FarSounder has developed 3D forward-looking sonar technology to mitigate the risk. Over the years, FarSounder has created an easy-to-understand interface, giving the user a real-time picture of what lies on the seafloor and in the water column up to 1,000 metres ahead. The system helps prevent groundings and marine mammal strikes and provides ample warning when encountering icebergs, shipping containers and post-disaster debris. In the competitive cruise industry, passenger expectations and demands have increased massively. Connectivity is a crucial aspect in providing an elevated cruise experience. SES offers the only service at sea that can address the ever- increasing demand for bandwidth. Its O3b mPOWER system is a terabit-scale satellite constellation that represents a paradigm shift for satellite-based communications. O3b mPOWER builds on the success of the company’s current medium earth orbit constellation, leveraging its extensive expertise and dedicated resources to provide cruise operators with the efficiency and flexibility needed to raise the bar for the onboard customer experience. Safety at sea FarSounder has developed technology to help cruise lines navigate past any hazards in the water The connected cruise SES’s solution can address the huge demand for bandwidth at sea