Imtech Awarded VSAT Connectivity Renewal Contract

Leading Canadian shipping company Algoma Central Corporation has renewed and upgraded its VSAT Connectivity contract with technology solutions provider Imtech Marine. The agreement now provides VSAT satellite coverage and airtime Connectivity to 34 vessels which are owned or managed by Algoma.

Algoma Central Corporation owns and operates the largest Canadian flag fleet of dry and liquid bulk carriers operating on the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Waterway, including 18 self-unloading dry-bulk carriers, seven gearless dry bulk carriers and seven product tankers. Algoma also has interests in ocean dry-bulk and product tanker vessels operating in international markets. Algoma provides ship management services for other ship owners and owns a diversified ship repair and steel fabricating facility active in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence regions of Canada. In addition, Algoma owns and manages commercial real estate properties in Sault Ste. Marie, St. Catharines and Waterloo, Ontario.

For the past six years the shipping company had a VSAT Connectivity package together with two other Great Lakes operators, American Steamship Company and CSL. But Algoma decided that it would like an independent VSAT Connectivity package.

Private network & increased bandwidth

Peter Winkley, Algoma Central Corporation Vice President, Finance and CFO, comments: “Algoma Central Corporation is pleased to partner with Imtech Marine to provide VSAT services to our Canadian fleet of vessels. The contract renewal created a private network with increased bandwidth for the Algoma fleet, allowing Algoma to deploy wireless Internet connectivity to our crew members on board all vessels.”

Crew welfare is clearly very important to Algoma, comments Kara Babb, Imtech Marine QHSE Manager. “The vital thing is the vessels maintain their business functionality, while at the same time, the crew can keep in touch with family and friends via the internet.”

Imtech Marine offers global 24/7 VSAT support. “Algoma knows it has consistency of service, dependable and reliable airtime. The airtime bandwidths are separated so the crew has full access to the Internet without them delaying any business operations,” she adds.

The three-year renewal includes the iDirect Ku Band Global VSAT Service (6 megabytes) and two Voice Over IP (VOIP) lines.

Imtech Marine’s broadband communication solution utilizes the iDirect Evolution platform and includes Service Level Agreements, 24/7 support and automatic beam switching.