Inmarsat launches Fleet Xpress for shipyards, Access Evolution

Inmarsat, the world leader in global mobile satellite communications, has made its market-leading maritime broadband service, Fleet Xpress, available to shipyards. Installed during new construction, Fleet Xpress for Shipyards eliminates time-consuming and costly installation work in port, providing owners with a pre-equipped Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) solution included in the initial cost of the vessel.
“Fleet Xpress for Shipyards is a game-changer for shipbuilders and shipowners, streamlining installation, providing remote connectivity from ship launch, and enabling seamless integration between onboard onboard systems,” said Ben Palmer, Chairman of Inmarsat Maritime. “We are delighted to collaborate on the shipyard offering with JRC and Intellian, two of our value-added manufacturers and trusted partners.”
Inmarsat’s newly launched service provides Fleet Xpress capability to the shipyard while the ship is being built. All below deck terminals, cables and units are installed as a Fleet Xpress line fitting service, enabling the yard to provide a one stop solution to the owner that improves safety and provides fast and reliable connectivity from the first trip.
“Working with Inmarsat to provide Fleet Xpress for shipyards allows us to strengthen our relationship with shipyards as a technology partner for smart ships,” said Eric Sung, CEO of Intellian. “As one of the world’s top shipbuilders, we are delighted that Hyundai Heavy Industries is among the first to recognize the value of this line-specific solution – we are seeing significant interest from shipyards across all the steps.”
For shipyards, the early installation of Fleet Xpress will improve responsiveness to growing customer demand for high-speed communications and provide remote vessel monitoring and maintenance capabilities during delivery. Additionally, by using data to counter abusive claims and ensure preventative operations, shipyards can minimize warranty costs.
With the vessel fitted with state-of-the-art VSAT equipment at launch, owners and managers can rest assured that their bandwidth requirements are fully integrated and tested at sea upon handover, while the crew has access to fast connectivity and ultra-reliable as soon as they step on board. Additionally, Fleet Xpress enables the implementation of a range of digital and automation services on board the ship which provide additional benefits for ship performance and crew well-being.
“Fleet Xpress for Shipyards gives shipbuilders the competitive advantage of being able to pre-install Inmarsat’s industry-leading Fleet Xpress service,” said Palmer. “Initial interest in the solution was strong. With the first implementations executed, we already have several other projects in the works. »