An Irish company called Blue Ocean Wireless has today announced the launch of a GSM network for merchant maritime vessels.
The network will allow the one million seafarers serving as crew on more than 40,000 merchant ships throughout the world to use their normal phones in the same way they would do on the shore.
The technology can be installed on any large vessel and also offers shipping companies to track containers and ships using RFID technology.
Domhnal Slattery, Chairman of Blue Ocean Wireless commented:
We are delighted to announce the launch of this service today. We have conducted extensive full scale ocean trials of the system which have confirmed not only the robustness of the product but also the level of potential demand. The ability to communicate with friends and families is immensely important to seafarers given the length of time they are obliged to spend away from home. The reaction from the crews of the ships on which we conducted the trials was tremendously positive and we are confident that there will be a strong market for the product.
We are extremely pleased to have Inmarsat as a key partner in this process because of its remarkable track record in delivering communications and safety solutions to the marine sector along with Altobridge whose unique technology is a key enabler for this product. No other technology can currently provide cost effective communication for small users groups such as the crew complements on merchant ships. We believe the roll-out of Blue Ocean Wireless system will be transformational for the lives of over one million seafarers around the globe.
