Digitalisation relies on connectivity

by Ben Palmer, President of Inmarsat’s Maritime Division

The shipping industry’s demand for communications bandwidth is growing exponentially. In a fastevolving maritime regulatory landscape, shipowners are increasingly implementing data-driven processes and adopting digital shipboard solutions to, among others, cut emissions and achieve environmental compliance. Pending revolutionary developments in propulsion and fuel technology, this approach is delivering immediate, measurable, and meaningful benefits: Ricardo Energy and Environment, a global environmental consultancy, predicts a 38% reduction in maritime greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 through digitalisation alone, a significant contribution towards the 50% reduction target set by the International Maritime Organization.

While digital transformation will be crucial to decarbonising the shipping industry, digitalisation itself relies on broadband data transfers. They are also ensuring that their crews remain connected with family and friends while at sea, the mandatory requirement now recogMaritime connectivity also enables an array of data-intensive processes, the benefits of which go beyond supporting environmental compliance. In addition to runconnectivity. With shipboard processes and technology becoming more sophisticated and prevalent, data usage is skyrocketing.

A study undertaken by Inmarsat reveals that data usage is on the rise among all commercial vessel types. In 2022, total network usage in the maritime sector will be 45% higher than last year. Year-on-year data usage was highest among container shipping companies, more than doubling (+108%) in June 2022 vs June 2021, while connectivity use increased by 70% among oil tanker operators and by 47% on bulk carriers over the same period.

Maritime data usage is a leading indicator of economic activity and of the international trade being carried by the shipping industry, which accounts for 90% of global volumes. More and more shipping companies are upgrading their satellite communication services to maximise fuel efficiency by adopting new technologies, including route planning and ship-to-shore nised by the Maritime Labour Convention.

Eco-performance & crew wellbeing

Shipowners are rightly looking to reduce their environmental footprint in line with the tightening regulations. To do so, they require insight into the efficiency of multiple shipboard systems and the ability to gauge the impact of external factors on machinery and overall vessel performance. This means collecting, storing and analysing significant volumes of information and then transferring these data sets to various stakeholders – a series of processes that relies on stable network connections and ample bandwidth. The advanced digital solutions that allow owners to act on insights from data analysis and minimise emissions also depend on connectivity. Like performance monitoring, the cloudbased tools that support greater ship sustainability demand high network stability and considerable bandwidth. ning applications to enhance performance in other areas of vessel operations, such as safety or onboard productivity, shipowners are increasingly implementing video conferencing as well as remote inspections and maintenance to reduce costs and downtime. As a result, the monthly average of the total maritime network usage for business operations has increased by over 30% in the past 12 months. However, the single greatest factor behind the exponential increase in data usage at sea is a growing appreciation for the importance of crew welfare. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, several high-profile incidents have drawn attention to the difficulties facing seafarers, with the infamous crew-change crisis depriving shipboard personnel of timely shore leave and repatriation. Many owners and managers have responded to this situation by investing in better connectivity for crew and offering access to digital services such

as 24-hour helplines. This trend has contributed to a 50% increase in total crew network use in the last year.

Backed by an orchestra

In a maritime industry where requirements are constantly evolving, and data usage is rising fast, existing connectivity services are being pushed to their limits. Inmarsat has invested considerable time and resources into developing a new generation of connectivity solutions and a step-change in the capacity available over its networks, with a further seven Global Xpress satellites entering service by 2025.

For example, Fleet Xpress Enhanced – the latest evolution of our transformational connectivity service – offers a versatile, integrated and modular solution powered by the world’s most advanced satellite network: the Inmarsat Global Xpress Ka-band network. The solution enables real improvements in operational efficiency, sustainability and crew welfare, allowing owners to upgrade their bandwidth allowance and adopt new applications as their needs change. The new-and-improved offering provides Inmarsat partners with a platform to deliver their value-added services and host applications, with shipping companies, in turn, gaining access to an array of functionality ranging from email and basic office tools to the latest solutions powered by the Internet of Things.

Fleet Xpress Enhanced enables a flexible, step-by-step approach to digital transformation. As such, it supports long-term efforts towards decarbonisation and crew welfare improvement. Crucially, the solution is future-proofed for seamless integration with other communications networks; specifically, Inmarsat’s planned multi-dimensional network ORCHESTRA. This approach promises to redefine connectivity at scale with the highest capacity for mobility worldwide and at hot spots around the globe.

ORCHESTRA – so named because it brings together multiple components in perfect harmony to produce something far greater than the sum of its parts – is designed to meet the accelerating bandwidth requirements of modern shipping. It combines our geosynchronous – or GEO – networks, ELERA and Global Xpress, with terrestrial 5G and targeted low-Earth orbit

Photo: Inmarsat

– or LEO – satellites. The result is a single, advanced solution for global mobility that will offer the fastest average speeds and the lowest average latency of any network – either planned or in existence – with seamless global connectivity.

Vessels driven by data

When shipowners’ requirements are evolving rapidly, and maritime data use is skyrocketing, we aim to give shipping companies a clear and flexible path to digital transformation – whatever stage of their journey they have reached.

Wherever the data-driven vessels sail – whether in an isolated stretch of water or a bustling shipping hub – they can rely on high-speed connectivity to facilitate safe, efficient, and sustainable operations. The only limit to their potential is the creativity of the technology solution and applications for which Inmarsat will offer continuous, global access. ‚

Powering connectivity at sea for more than 40 years, Inmarsat’s Fleet Xpress portfolio harnesses the full power of a connected maritime ecosystem and offers more flexibility to tailor data usage to individual customers’ needs. Fleet Xpress helps shipping companies increase transparency around the data consumed and gives greater control over data usage. As a result, the portfolio ensures future-proofing of business operations through high-quality connectivity, enabling digitalization, decarbonisation and crew welfare. Check Inmarsat Fleet Xpress to learn more.