Inmarsat makes renewables breakthrough with digital ecosystem contract for Norwind Offshore

Norwind Offshore signs flexible connectivity agreement based on strongest signal and digital platform to support safe, sustainable operations and enhanced crew welfare. 

Inmarsat, the world leader in global, mobile satellite communications, 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 Platform Supply Vessel 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, the 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’sresilient L-band coverage for unlimited back-up. The vessels will also 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 easily without affecting bandwidth. The data collected onboard will further assist in making data-driven decisions at the touch of a button. In addition, Norwind stands to benefit from Inmarsat’s Certified Application Providers (CAP) programme that hosts a myriad of applications designed for the maritime industry to reduce fuel emissions, enhance vessel performance and crew welfare as well as save lives at sea.

“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,” said Eric Griffin, Vice President Offshore, Inmarsat Maritime. “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 the 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. This provides a more attractive working environment for vessel personnel and meets the expectations of external engineers attending the ship.

“We see Inmarsat as the ideal partner for the offshore wind sector,” said Roy Ove Standal, Chief Operating Officer, Norwind Offshore. “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.”

Initially launched in 2020, Fleet LTE is now part of Inmarsat’s far wider investment plans for maritime, which include the seamless integration of multiple technologies into one cohesive ORCHESTRA of solutions. Inmarsat ORCHESTRA is a unique ‘dynamic mesh network’ that will bring together existing geosynchronous (GEO) satellites including ELERA (L-band) and Global Xpress (Ka-band) with low earth orbit satellites (LEO) and terrestrial 5G into an integrated, high-performance solution to offer the lowest average latency and fastest average speeds available in the maritime industries.

About Inmarsat

Inmarsat is the world leader in global, mobile satellite communications. It owns and operates the world’s most diverse global portfolio of mobile telecommunications satellite networks, and holds a multi-layered, global spectrum portfolio, covering L-band, Ka-band and S-band, enabling unparalleled breadth and diversity in the solutions it provides. Inmarsat’s long-established global distribution network includes not only the world’s leading channel partners but also its own strong direct retail capabilities, enabling end to end customer service assurance.

The company has an unrivalled track record of operating the world’s most reliable global mobile satellite telecommunications networks, sustaining business and mission critical safety & operational applications for more than 40 years. It is also a major driving force behind technological innovation in mobile satellite communications, sustaining its leadership through a substantial investment and a powerful network of technology and manufacturing partners.

Inmarsat operates across a diversified portfolio of sectors with the financial resources to fund its business strategy and holds leading positions in the Maritime, Government, Aviation and Enterprise satcoms markets, operating consistently as a trusted, responsive and high-quality partner to its customers across the globe.

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