MTN VSAT Supports Ships’ Unique Satellite Communication Requirements for
Onboard Training
MIRAMAR, Fla. – October 14, 2010 – Cyprus-based Intership Navigation Co. Ltd has signed
a service agreement with MTN Satellite Communications (MTN), the global provider of
communications, connectivity and content services to remote locations around the world, to
provide broadband satellite connections for its two new giant bulk carriers.
The 177,000 deadweight ton ships are being built at the New Century Shipyard in Jing
Jiang, China. The first, DHL Pacific, was delivered in August, and the second, Percival, is
scheduled for delivery by the end of the year.
Both ships were designed as designated training vessels, which can accommodate up to 12
nautical students and a training officer in addition to their standard crew complement. DHL
Pacific has been equipped with a secondary training bridge, separate from the ship’s
navigation bridge, with a state-of-the-art simulator for watch-keeping instruction. The
practical hands-on training is supplemented by an online education program from Magellan
Academy of Shipping & Transport (MAST), a web-based academy that offers e-learning
courses for nautical and technical seagoing staff.
“MTN’s VSAT services are critical to the e-learning program, giving our instructors and
students unlimited access to this unique online training platform while at sea,” said Pawel
Bury, IT manager, Intership Navigation. “Using the MTN satellite connection, the students
can participate in chat rooms and online forums to seek advice from career coaches at the
company’s shore training center in Manila. It also permits the shipboard training officers to
access and check e-learning results of students via the shore-based MAST administration
software and provide assistance as needed.”
The installations were overseen by Satlink (Maritime Services) Ltd, MTN’s sales and service
channel partner in Cyprus.
“MTN was the only VSAT provider that could offer the extensive satellite coverage and
guaranteed uncontended bandwidth necessary for Intership Navigation’s demanding
requirements for onboard e-learning,” said Socrates Theodossiou, managing director,
Satlink. “MTN offers the most extensive Ku-Band satellite coverage with automatic beam
switching across major shipping routes worldwide, backed by a robust global network and
world-class technical support.”
“Intership Navigation’s commitment to crew training is truly impressive,” said Bradford C.
Briggs, senior vice president and general manager, MTN commercial shipping and energy
services. “We hope other major shipping companies will follow their lead in leveraging the
availability of VSAT-enabled onboard e-learning to help the next generation of seafarers
become fully trained on the new generation of advanced shipboard navigation and
engineering systems.”
About MTN Satellite Communications
MTN Satellite Communications (MTN) is the global provider of communications, connectivity
and content services to remote locations around the world. MTN’s maritime VSAT solutions
and global satellite communications network offer the reliability that only “Always On –
Always Available” systems can provide. More than 600 vessels and land-based terminals
worldwide, including commercial ships, offshore drilling and production sites, cruise ships,
government and military vessels, private yachts, and ferries depend on MTN’s voice and
data networks to allow them to “be in the middle of nowhere and at the center of
everything.” Premium services include remote access for Internet, fixed and mobile phones,
fax, television, onboard newspapers, banking services, direct payroll deposit for crew, and
other enterprise solutions. MTN is based in Miramar, Fla. and has offices worldwide. For
more information, visit www.mtnsat.com.
About Intership Navigation
Intership Navigation Co. Ltd (ISN) was founded in 1988 and is a member of the Hartmann
Group. Principally a shipowning company, ISN has also expanded into third-party
management for a small number of European and Asian owners. The company technically
manages a fleet of more than 70 owned vessels, which consist mainly of dry bulk and
breakbulk vessels, and has 15 new vessels on order for delivery through 2012. Based in
Limassol, ISN has satellite offices in New Orleans, Montreal, Manila, Gdynia and Brisbane.
The company employs more than 3,300 seafarers on its ships with another 1,500 on leave.
For more information, visit www.intership-cyprus.com.
About Satlink
Satlink (Maritime Services) Ltd is part of the Tototheo Group of companies and registered in
Cyprus. The company provides accounting authority services and is a certified gold partner
of Inmarsat and Iridium. The Group is actively involved in the communication and
navigation sectors of the marine industry, and also caters for aero and land-mobile markets
with high-end, top-of-the-range equipment. Satlink is based in Limassol and has offices in
Greece, Singapore and South Africa. For more information, visit www.satlink.com.cy.
