EASTMED Selects Marlink High Speed VSAT and Xchange

Marlink today announced that Greece-based Eastern Mediterranean Maritime Limited (EASTMED), a shipping operator servicing the energy, industrial and agricultural sectors, has chosen to install Marlink’s global VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) communication solution with L-band back-up on 20 tankers and bulkers. EASTMED aims to achieve greater operational efficiency to support its clients with cost efficient transportation in a safe environment. The VSAT solution will be completed with the full SkyFile suite to provide EASTMED crew with high-level Internet access and cost-effective communication.

Marlink’s innovative VSAT solution will provide significant levels of bandwidth for vessel and business communication, helping EASTMED to improve e.g. fuel and voyaging efficiency through the use of IP applications for critical data monitoring and weather updates. The SkyFile suite of IT solutions will support the company’s business operations further. It includes email and anti-virus applications designed specifically for maritime users, with focus on keeping crew communications secure, monitored and safe.

“Our crews are critical to EASTMED’s ability to provide clients with a reliable and efficient service, so it’s important for us to be able to recruit and retain the very best maritime professionals,” said Mr. George Proviadakis, Purchasing Operator, EASTMED. “Marlink VSAT will help us to maintain our reputation as a responsible employer with modern facilities on board, where crew members can contact family and friends easily, without worrying about the costs or availability of service. The extra bandwidth will also be put to good use for vessel operations, supporting efficient delivery of our clients’ cargoes, on time and with the highest standards of safety.”

Marlink parent company Airbus Defense and Space’s XChange communication management platform will form the on board hub for EASTMED’s new VSAT services. Already a highly efficient tool for network and service management, EASTMED will benefit from the new XChange Universal Remote Access (URA) solution. URA is a single tool to control any device on board and was chosen to meet EASTMED’s desire to easily access its ships’ IT networks from shore for maintenance and troubleshooting. URA also provides third party vendors a controlled and secure way to access the vessel remotely for efficient support.

“Through the use of URA, EASTMED’s office based experts can address any on board IT issues quickly and secure, which supports their ability to provide a reliable, efficient transport service to clients whilst making sure that crew have high availability of communication facilities,” said Tore Morten Olsen, CEO in Marlink. “We’re confident that our intelligent VSAT solution will provide the level of communication the company requires to support its people, and deliver reliable, global bandwidth to support vessel operations.”

Eastern Mediterranean Maritime Limited (EASTMED) is a ship management company with head offices in Glyfada (Athens), Greece. Presently the company has 53 vessels under management, employs 150 shore based personnel and a further 1500 seagoing staff. Its fleet comprises 24 tankers, 20 dry bulk carriers and 9 container ships, adding up to a total DWT capacity of four and a half million tons.