Satellite communication provider Inmarsat has reached an integrated connectivity agreement with Norwind Offshore, a vessel owner that supports the development of renewable offshore energy.
The partnership covers connectivity and digitalisation needs for three Service Operation Vessels (SOV) operated by Norwind. The contract includes an existing PSV undergoing retrofit to become a SOV, with delivery due in May 2022, and a letter of intent covering two newbuilds. All three vessels will have Inmarsat’s Fleet LTE, an all-in-one service that offers continuous connectivity. Fleet LTE allows vessels to switch automatically between 4G offshore fibre networks to Fleet Xpress Ka-band service when sailing out of LTE coverage zones and to access FleetBroadband’s L-band coverage for unlimited back-up. The vessels will have Fleet Data and Fleet Connect to facilitate digitalisation onboard and Fleet Hotspot for crew wellbeing.
Under the agreement Inmarsat will partner with Norwind in its digitalisation efforts and will create a single cost-effective digital infrastructure for various original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) onboard to monitor equipment and collect data without affecting bandwidth. The data collected onboard will assist in making rapid data-driven decisions. In addition, Norwind stands to benefit from Inmarsat’s Certified Application Providers (CAP) programme that hosts various applications designed for the maritime industry to reduce emissions, enhance vessel performance and crew welfare as well as save lives at sea.
Eric Griffin, VP Offshore, Inmarsat Maritime, said: “Inmarsat’s agreement with Norwind Offshore extends beyond core maritime connectivity services, representing a partnership in which we are working closely with our first offshore wind market customer to fulfil its digitalisation objectives. Central to this is the single digital infrastructure through which Norwind and its OEMs will gain actionable insights on fuel efficiency, emissions reduction, weather forecasting and more to benefit its vessels’ operational efficiency.”
The integrated solution means Norwind avoids prohibitive costs of multiple networks or the complications and expense of installing hardware to support individual applications. In addition, through Fleet Hotspot, Norwind can offer high-speed internet access to crew that is independent of operational bandwidth.
Roy Ove Standal, COO Norwind Offshore, said: “We see Inmarsat as the ideal partner for the offshore wind sector. Thanks to our agreement, we now have a clear path to digitalisation which works towards our safety, operational efficiency, sustainability and crew welfare objectives from day one. Fleet LTE allows us to tap into available 4G infrastructure, when such technology is available at the wind parks, thereby minimising the gap between the internet services that can be enjoyed ashore.”
