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SES introduces cruise industry’s first integrated MEO-LEO service with Starlink

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Products & services Products & services

Published: 16 September 2023 16 September 2023

For the first time ever, cruise operators can now depend on a single managed solution to reap the benefits of low-latency, high-throughput satellite connectivity services that are enabled by integrating Starlink’s low-earth orbit (LEO) and SES’s medium earth orbit (MEO) services, both companies announced this week. The joint offering – SES Cruise mPOWERED + Starlink – seamlessly integrated, sold and delivered by SES – will combine the best of both MEO and LEO orbits to provide high-speed and secure connectivity 24/7 to cruise ships and their guests, regardless of their route and location.

Cruise operators will be able to enjoy SES's new offering that combines the truly global, high- throughput service of Starlink’s LEO system with SES’s unmatched performance MEO constellation to deliver a unique guest and crew experience by expanding existing capacity and reach. The solutions are available in either Premium tier (3Gbps/ship) – for the leading ships who wish to deliver the highest throughput in the industry or Pro tier (1.5Gbps/ship) – for the operators who wish to manage user experience by matching the right application to the right orbit.

As a managed service provider that pioneered multi-orbit geostationary (GEO) and MEO-enabled networks and delivered connectivity services directly to cruise operators for the last 10 years, SES’s partnership with SpaceX’s Starlink to add LEO-based service into its cruise offering, demonstrates a joint commitment to delivering the best customer experience to cruise operators and guests.

Investment in the cruise experience has reached new heights since the COVID-19 pandemic. Cruise operators are pushing technological and innovative boundaries, many of which are reliant on always-on, high-performance connectivity. This need is compounded by the growing expectations of cruise passengers and stakeholders alike to address the sector’s carbon emissions and comply with new maritime regulations, including CII and EEXI.

“At SES, we strive to provide a world-class connectivity experience for our cruise customers and deliver the same level of service they would enjoy on land,” said John-Paul Hemingway, Chief Strategy Officer at SES. “By being the only one in the cruise industry to expand our unique multi- orbit GEO and MEO network to utilise LEO, we believe it opens new opportunities for us to meet the needs of cruise guests and crew members, and the operational requirements of cruise operators to accelerate their digital transformations – wherever they may be.”

“We are excited to collaborate with SES on a joint solution that combines the reach and capacity of both satellite constellations to offer a solution unlike any other in the market,” said Chad Gibbs, SpaceX’s Vice President of Starlink Business Operations.

Available Q4 2023, SES Cruise mPOWERED + Starlink will fulfill the growing demands of cruise lines to deliver a superior guest experience, optimise smart ship operations, and attract and retain the best crew. With its fully managed end-to-end, best-in-industry bandwidth and low-latency performance, the solution will set an entirely new standard for ship connectivity worldwide and minimise upfront capital costs and ongoing operational expenditure.

MJM Marine and De Wave Group partner with Aroya Cruises for outfitting project

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Products & services Products & services

Published: 14 September 2023 14 September 2023

A landmark deal has been secured with Aroya Cruises, which will bring together two of the world’s leading outfitting companies. Teams from MJM Marine and De Wave Group, will set about one of the largest cruise ship refurbishment projects to be undertaken within the marine industry in the coming weeks.

MJM Marine's scope of works includes upgrades to all existing cabins and suites and the creation of multiple culinary, retail and relaxation venues onboard the Manara.

"This milestone deal with Aroya Cruises is a testament to the exceptional capabilities of MJM Marine," said Gary Annett, MJM CEO "We are pioneering a fresh era in cruise ship outfitting in which our collaboration will redefine the boundaries of what is possible. Working alongside De Wave Group on this landmark project has allowed two leading industry outfitters to work together for the first time”.

De Wave Group will outfit Manara’s upper deck areas, including new super suites, public areas, and catering areas.

Riccardo Pompili, CEO of De Wave Group, said: “We are excited to face this challenge together with MJM Marine. After the expansion of De Wave Group in established markets such as USA, North Europe and Asia, the Gulf represents the first step in a new market with an enormous development potential for the whole cruise sector. Our groups have been chosen to ensure the attention for details, innovation and high-quality standards that this new market wants to achieve.

Together, both MJM Marine and De Wave Group will refurbish 98% of the guest-facing venues.

The Manara cruise ship, sailing under the Aroya brand, will serve as a melting pot of cultures, presenting an array of venues that reflect the diverse preferences of its guests through a uniquely Arabian experience. From stunning gastronomic adventures to captivating entertainment spaces, the ship will redefine the cruising experience, offering a premium atmosphere unlike any other. The incorporation of efficient technical upgrades will further enhance the ship's performance and sustainability, setting new standards within the industry.

MJM Marine secures $150 million order book

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Products & services Products & services

Published: 13 September 2023 13 September 2023

Northern Ireland outfitting firm MJM Marine is at the heart of the global cruise ship industry with $150 million of new work secured for 2023/24.

The increase in business across a range of global clients, including the world’s largest cruise companies, will see the Newry headquartered business create more than 100 new jobs.

The announcement was made on September 8 on board theCelebrity Apex which was docked in Belfast. Celebrity Cruises is a brand in the Royal Caribbean Group, and one of MJM Marine’s trade partners.

The strong order book reaches across seven of the world’s leading brands, with delivery taking place in locations across the world including Singapore, stretching across Europe, and into The Bahamas.

Gary Annett, CEO MJM Marine said, “We are delighted to be here this morning on Celebrity Apex with a number of our team to make this announcement. We have a really exciting growth trajectory and new opportunities right across the business. The new roles are predominantly based at our headquarters in Newry and range from operations and project management to commercial and other business support roles. This represents a multi-million-pound GVA (Gross Value Add) to the local economy in salary contribution and significantly more in value to the local and national supply chain.

“There are more than 500 cruise ships active at the moment with regular refit and upgrade schedules. We have visibility of the future requirements, so we are confident of a buoyant long term project pipeline.”

Naoimh McConville, Group Managing Director, Rathbane Group (MJM Marine parent company) added, “We are thrilled to announce the next phase of growth for MJM Marine. We are committed to strengthening our operations by investing for the future to make a positive impact for our people and planet.

“To achieve this, we are launching an extensive recruitment drive aimed at attracting top talent, to complement our dynamic team. Our people are the force behind driving innovation and delivering industry firsts, which is the platform for our strong culture and performance. We take pride in our record for securing repeat business and the development of collaborative client relationships, with brands who entrust us time and again with their refit work.”

When the new positions are filled MJM Marine will employ in the region of 300 people.

Aura Flow, a new subsidiary of Aura Rakennus to focus on the refurbishments of cruise ships

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Products & services Products & services

Published: 09 September 2023 09 September 2023

The rapidly growing construction company Aura Rakennus Oy has established a subsidiary, Aura Flow Oy, specializing in the rrefurbihments of passenger and cruise ships. The operation of the new company is based on an exceptional way of utilizing the group's resources beyond traditional industry boundaries. It is the first time that a major Finnish construction company expands its operations into the marine industry.

Ship renovation is a global business, where specialized know-how can be found where the ships are also built. Aura Flow's Finnish management and key personnel have considerable experience in the construction of cruise ships and a wide contact network for the factors needed in the renovation, such as design, logistics, plumbing and installation experts.

The restructuring market is in a situation where market shares are being redistributed after the stoppage of the cruise industry caused by the travel restrictions following the pandemic declaration. Aura Flow is a new project house that offers shipping companies renovation services on a turnkey basis. At the core of the new company is an exceptional operating model, where project management and work management resources are utilized across industry boundaries as needed.

"We naturally start with entry level projects, but thanks to Aura Group's resources, we are able to scale our services efficiently according to the needs of our customers, says the company's new CEO Mikko Varjanne.

The demand for refurbishments of passenger ships is expected to grow strongly from 2025. The engine of demand is the active newbuilding of cruise ships that is currently underway. Older ships must be able to respond to the pressures caused by the supply of new ships.

Aura Flow's vision is to achieve the position of a credit supplier for passenger and cruise ship shipping companies operating around the world, near and far. The aim is to achieve the goal by specializing 100% in renovation construction and by providing high-quality service in project operations. Scaling is made possible by combining experienced experts and project management processes.

"Expanding into traditional renovation construction has been in our plans since the founding of the Aura Group. However, the business plan presented by Mikko Varjante convinced Aura's owners in an exceptional way to expand into the maritime industry and, in general, the possibilities of renovating passenger ships. In accordance with our expectations, we have already found that the financial and production management systems we use are directly suitable for Aura Flow's operations. Maritime industry and construction have a lot to learn from each other, which supports our company's idea of a path of continuous development," says the group's CEO Mikko Kilpi.

"Already during the first weeks, the entire group and the work community have transmitted an extremely good working mood. I am excited about the new and convinced that with this combination of a network and a competent team, the start of the new company will be the strongest possible," Varjanne smiles.