T he digital transformation of the commercial shipping industry will pass a major milestone this September. Inmarsat has today confirmed that the 5,000th ship installation of Fleet Xpress, the world’s only high-speed, globally-available Ka-band VSAT service designed for mobility and available from a single operator will be completed by the close of the month.
Following its launch in March 2016 Fleet Xpress has emerged as the market-leading pathway to digital transformation as shipping companies seek to deliver improved vessel and fleet efficiency, boost profitability, and enhance seafarer well-being.
The latest data compiled by the respected specialist market analyst, Euroconsult indicates that six out of ten VSAT installations undertaken in the first half of 2018 were for Fleet Xpress. Euroconsult’s independent research also confirms that Inmarsat was the fastest growing VSAT provider to the maritime industry in the first six months of 2018 accounting for over 1,500 terminals out of an industry total of 2,550.
“The adoption of Fleet Xpress for so many vessels across the globe over such a short period of time indicates that it has become the key platform for converting industry talk into action on digitization,” says Ronald Spithout, President, Inmarsat Maritime.
“It is the combination of greater bandwidth via the globally available Ka-band Global Xpress and VSAT constellation and the proven reliability of our integrated FleetBroadband L-band service, which makes Fleet Xpress so compelling a choice. Since its launch Inmarsat has had more than 10,000 vessels committed to Fleet Xpress including from all of the major airtime providers.”
“The appetite within the maritime industry and VSAT for digitization is underscored by the new Internet-of-Things (IoT)-based solutions across global supply chains,” continues Spithout. “The ‘Industrial IoT on Land and at Sea’ report published by Inmarsat in July based on independent market research by Vanson Bourne and drawing on responses from hundreds of participants across a range of sectors reveals that shipping is no longer the IoT laggard of popular conception and in some instances, is leading the way.”
The upcoming 5,000th ship installation is evidence of how major ship operators are prioritizing digitization and establishing remote fleet operation centers as well as investing strongly in emerging technologies. “The example of major companies is spurring on smaller owners who are rapidly closing the gap to explore digital offerings and accelerate their efforts to exploit available efficiencies for competitive gain,” continued Spithout.
“Many small and medium-sized vessel operators are at the start of their digital voyage. They are fully aware that their existing ship-to-shore communications infrastructure is not sufficient to realize their goals within VSAT. Over the last two years we have seen a growing willingness within this group to transition from legacy solutions to Fleet Xpress as the compelling benefits of data-centric operations show themselves more clearly.”
Notably, the global Fleet Xpress technology platform offers the flexible architecture that allows digital solutions providers to bear the cost of data and content delivery, thereby removing a barrier to the uptake of new services within VSAT. Inmarsat’s committed data rate plans ensure that connectivity for running mission-critical operational services is always available.
A wide selection of subscription packages allows communication costs to be trimmed to match actual connectivity needs in VSAT, which is one reason why Fleet Xpress has found favor in segments ranging from dredgers to research vessels and from commercial fishing boats to superyachts. Opportunities are also re-emerging in the offshore oil and gas sector where rig and vessel utilization prospects are looking up after nearly four years of low oil prices.
References
Bonner, D. (2018, September 04). Inmarsat unveils major new IoT service for the shipping industry. Retrieved November 17, 2018, from https://www.inmarsat.com/press-release/inmarsat-unveils-major-new-iot-service-for-the-shipping-industry/
