Nova Cruising places order for Fleet Xpress comms service after successful Antarctica trial

The trial was successfully conducted on board the 1992 built ice class Ocean Nova, and as a result owner Nova Cruising has placed a commercial order for the rest of its fleet.

'Our customers rely on us to provide cutting-edge satellite services,' said Dr Luis Soltero, chief technology officer of Global Marine Networks which offers a range of internet based services, hardware and software to commercial clients.

'Fleet Xpress delivered on its promise of high-speed seamless mobile  broadband service in one of the world’s most difficult areas for most satellite systems. Antarctica requires low-horizon satellite views through heavy cloud cover and precipitation. Fleet Xpress successfully overcame these conditions,' he added.

In this trial, Network Innovations, one of Inmarsat’s first value-added resellers of Fleet Xpress, was able to provide its expertise and support to Global Marine Networks and the crew of the Ocean Nova which used a Cobham SAILOR 100GX antenna.

Eric Verheylewegen, vp and general manager of Network Innovations commented, 'Throughout this test, the Fleet Xpress service allowed passengers and crew to conduct daily communication activities beyond our expectations in this extreme location.'

'By testing Fleet Xpress in such harsh conditions we are pushing the boundaries of what we can offer,' said Ronald Spithout, president of Inmarsat Maritime. He believes Fleet Xpress is set 'to redefine maritime communications and will transform the way vessels are managed and optimised throughout the globe.'