Globecomm, one of the leading providers of maritime connectivity services has delivered its first Inmarsat Fleet Xpress terminals to Helikon Shipping Enterprises.
The two units were commissioned in Globecomm’s Biddinghuizen facility and delivered to the Tsuneishi Heavy Industries Cebu shipyard in the Philippines, where the ships are under construction.
The vessels are due both due to complete sea trials by mid-September for delivery in early October, and marks the first commission of Fleet Xpress by Globecomm.
“Globecomm is very proud to have commissioned Inmarsat’s Fleet Xpress service,” says President of Globecomm Maritime, Malcolm McMaster. “Helikon has long recognised the value of communications to its business and the strength of the long relationship between our companies has been reinforced as they adopt Inmarsat Fleet Xpress.”
Helikon operates a fleet of 10 Supramax bulk carriers trading world-wide. The newbuildings are both ‘TESS 58 Aero’, a highly efficient design featuring a number of innovative fuel saving features, including aerodynamic optimisation with low drag hatch coamings and accommodation block.
“The ability to be reliably connected to the internet when at sea, for both business and crew communications, with redundancy built-in is a strong benefit of Fleet Xpress,” says Helikon Principal Michael Papaioannou. “Being able to combine that level of connectivity with unlimited data usage at a fixed price means Helikon will be able to leverage better communications as a competitive edge.”
Fleet Xpress is a new global service from Inmarsat, combining the high speeds of Ka-band with unlimited L-band back-up for continuous connectivity, designed to provide high quality voice and data services across the world’s oceans.
Globecomm Maritime has more than three decades experience of meeting the connectivity needs of shipowners and mariners. Its pedigree in the maritime industry is unmatched and our reputation for innovation has seen it provide services to over 4,000 ships. Its solutions range from entry-level voice and data communications to high end connections that can enable internet, email and mission-critical, value-added applications.
Caption: The Helikon newbuildings are due both due to complete sea trials by mid-September for delivery in early October. (Hi-resolution version available)