NYK To Upgrade Entire Fleet To Broadband

Is your ship still relying on text-only emails sent via the GMDSS terminal. Most still are but this is a truly antiquated way to run a fleet of ships, especially ones running on tight schedules. NYK has taken the leap and decided to integrate broadband internet on all of its containerships. And, in addition to more effective management and increases in crew moral, NYK believes their new system will also help the environment. Onboard tests of the broadband communication system started in October 2010, producing a significant amount of data which NYK has applied to its IBIS (innovative bunker and idle-time saving) project.

The IBIS system has been implemented on NYK containerships with the aim of achieving optimal ship operation and reducing CO2 emissions, through the transfer and analysis of large volumes of real-time data between ship and shore.

The broadband communications systems will be used to facilitate these transfers in the future.

NYK says that, during its tests, the new satcom systems also enabled the acquisition of more specific weather and sea-current forecast information on board, improving the automatic transmission of ship operation data and facilitating ship operation monitoring on land.

The improved connectivity also allowed for greaterinformation-sharing and communication between staff on land and onboard the vessels.

Based on the results of these results NYK has decided to proceed to install the system on all its containerships, in furtherance of the goals of the IBIS project.

The company says it will also introduce the system to car carriers, bulkers, tankers, and LNG carriers.

The IBIS initiative is aimed at putting into practice methods for safe operation and fuel reduction that were initiated under NYK’s medium-term management plan ‘More Than Shipping 2013’, announced in March 2011, which includes plans to share real-time information between ships and shore and pursue optimal ship operation to reduce fuel consumption.

The company says that the introduction of an onboard broadband communication system will not only contribute to a reduction in CO2 emissions during ship operation but will also bring fringe benefits, such as allowing crew members to communicate with their families via the internet.