C-Bird VSAT System Links Ship to Shore

摘要

Maritime Broadband's (Brooklyn, New York) C-Bird VSAT communications system offers a reliable and cost-effective solution that helps the maritime industry deal with two of the biggest challenges in bluewater shipping—crew retention and fuel costs. In the digital age, ships that do not offer personal communications options, such as the Internet and Facebook, are challenged to attract and keep crew on board. This is crucial, as the recruitment and training of new onboard personnel represents as much as 10 percent of all shipping firms' nonfuel operating costs. In addition, continuous online connectivity enables route optimization through live weather input and ocean chart updates. Route optimization represents on average a six percent reduction in fuel consumption for a transoceanic voyage, a substantial economic and environmental impact.