Cobham, Inmarsat and MCN Sign Largest Fleet Xpress Contract Yet

Contract signing ceremony with Zhang Chuan Qin, EVP of NTC, and Song Zhen, VP of sales and marketing for MCN. Photo: Cobham Satcom

[Via Satellite 04-15-2016] Beijing Marine Communication & Navigation Company (MCN), partner of Inmarsat and Cobham Satcom has won the largest Inmarsat Fleet Xpress installation project to date, with Nanjing Tanker Corporation (NTC) of China. The contract came just two weeks after the launch of Fleet Xpress, bringing always-on, high-speed broadband capability worldwide to 70 ships. The agreement enables smart shipping connectivity to drive performance optimization and improvements to crew communications and welfare for NTC vessels.

Cobham and MCN will manage the roll-out of Cobham’s Sailor 100 Global Xpress (GX) and Sailor 60 GX antenna systems to NTC. The 1-meter Sailor 100 GX is based on Cobham Satcom’s Sailor VSAT technology platform, designed to simplify installation and operation while delivering radio performance with strong link stability and service reliability. The 60cm Sailor 60 GX leverages a new compact, lightweight carbon fiber composite/aluminum design. The terminal introduces smart shipping applications to smaller platforms, including workboats, fishing vessels and yachts by enabling a high-throughput link to Fleet Xpress in a smaller antenna package.

“Fleet Xpress with Sailor antennas will open the way for Nanjing Tanker Corporation to exploit greater use of data and collaboration focused on ‘smart shipping’ applications, including video conferencing, remote vessel assistance/diagnostics, telemedicine, video surveillance and information management systems for maritime ‘big data’ applications,” said Song Zhen, VP of sales and marketing for MCN.