SHI, Inmarsat Team Up on Smart Ship Connectivity

Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) has joined forces with Inmarsat under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), establishing a relationship to leverage the ‘smart ship’ connectivity offered by Fleet Xpress at the vessel construction stage.

Under the deal, the South Korean yard would install Inmarsat-approved terminal hardware and applications to cover remote machinery diagnostics and CCTV services, to leverage the satellite communications platform’s capabilities from the moment the ship is delivered.

The new service, which has been christened ‘Smart Ship’, will allow owners to enhance efficiency by harvesting data from hull-monitors and equipment sensors onboard in real-time.

“This agreement with SHI represents a new chapter in the story of smart shipping and the connected vessel,” Ronald Spithout, Inmarsat Maritime President, said.

Subject to a definitive agreement, SHI will retain remote connections to vessels, while Inmarsat will support SHI’s services through a dedicated Certified Application Provider subscription.

“As a global shipbuilder, SHI is partnering with Inmarsat in a mutual growth opportunity to deliver more competitive, next generation satellite-based vessel operations,” Booki Kim, Director of Central Research Institute, Samsung Heavy Industries & Construction Co., said.

The CAP programme is part of Inmarsat’s strategy to support the global adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT) in the maritime market, using the Fleet Xpress service.

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