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MTN launches high-definition, live event streaming from ships

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 11 March 2014 11 March 2014

In yet another industry first, MTN Communications (MTN) is launching “MTN OceanCast.” MTN OceanCast is the only high-definition (HD) system for live streaming of events from any maritime vessel offering simple, cost effective and potentially profitable end-to-end program management. MTN OceanCast enables concerts, sports tournaments, celebrity interviews, educational sessions, charter voyage events, or even unplanned emergencies to be broadcast live to any smartphone, tablet, TV or other device anywhere in the world from a maritime vessel.

Vessel operators can now deliver a high-definition broadcast from their fleet, creating new revenue-generating events or simply sharing content, such as educational explorations, with minimal impact to the overall bandwidth or leverage on their existing communications service.

“MTN OceanCast is the ultimate social media avenue and event broadcasting tool in maritime,” said Chris Leber, executive vice president, commercial business development, MTN. “It eliminates the complexity of live broadcasting from the middle of the ocean. This turnkey Web solution can be set up to stream in as little as 15 minutes with a simple touch-screen device on the ship connected through a modem to the MTN network. Our Production Services Team can customize the streaming to the customer’s specific needs. This is one more MTN value-add that, aligned with our service excellence and industry innovation, demonstrates our ability to anticipate and exceed our partners’ ever-expanding needs.”

“We conducted our first OceanCast for Lindblad Expeditions last week, when they produced their first TV broadcast from their ship National Geographic Explorer in South Georgia,” said Arthur Theodorou, network and fleet IT manager, Lindblad Expeditions. “James Balog, the founder of the Extreme Ice Survey, whose work was featured in the highly acclaimed documentary ‘Chasing Ice,’ did four live to tape interviews to North American network and affiliate news programs. The HD content from the remote locale provided a dramatic backdrop to Balog’s comments on his expansion of his Extreme Ice Survey to the southern hemisphere.”

With MTN OceanCast, the vessel operator can select who views the broadcast, who gets security access, and ways to generate new revenues through live event streaming. Live chat boxes can be available during a broadcast event, making it truly interactive with the viewing audience.

MTN OceanCast is a new service delivered through the company’s TV and Broadcast Group. MTN introduced MTN Worldwide TV (MTN TV) as the only live, worldwide maritime television service for the enjoyment of passengers and crew on vessels around the world. MTN TV is a turnkey solution, including equipment installation and service provisioning, for MTN partners as well as for vessel operators just using this particular MTN service.

Geodis Wilson to exhibit at Cruise Shipping Miami

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 05 March 2014 05 March 2014

Geodis Wilson, the global freight management division of SNCF Geodis Group, has over 30 years of experience in the Marine and Cruise Logistics industry, and for an 8^th consecutive time, it will be represented at Cruise Shipping Miami from 11 – 14 March 2014 at Miami, Florida. Located at exhibition stand No. 1739, Geodis Wilson, will emphasize its presence as a leading provider of cruise line logistics solutions, running a global network of teams dedicated to the cruise industry along the entire breadth of international routes.

With more than 1,800 cruise line owners and operators from around the world attending, Cruise Shipping Miami is the ideal event for Geodis Wilson to discuss and share information on innovative technology and smart solutions for the maritime industry.

“Our expertise of over 20 years in this industry results in continuous product development and globally recognized operational performance,” mentions Mark Hedin, Marine Logistics Account Manager for the U.S., “all supported by our breakthrough eSolution, ‘Marine Order Management’ (MOM) tool, we are able to provide the marine industry with a convenient, tailored in-house order and warehouse management system.”

DNV GL opens new Asia Pacific headquarters in Singapore

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 27 February 2014 27 February 2014

DNV GL, the world’s leading ship classification society and one of the world’s leading risk and sustainability service providers with more than 500 employees in Singapore, consolidates its operations in its new headquarters to meet the growing demand for its services in the region.

The new headquarters was officially opened today by Mr S Iswaran, Minister for the Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Home Affairs and Second Minister for Trade & Industry Singapore, and DNV GL President and CEO Dr Henrik O. Madsen.

The new, state-of-the-art office will house DNV GL operations for Singapore and the surrounding Asia Pacific region. This means that DNV GL’s expertise and regional management team will be under one roof. The relocation to a new technologically advanced building will create greater synergies across its four key business areas – Maritime, Oil & Gas, Energy and Business Assurance.

"Singapore is one of the main Asia Pacific locations for the head offices of large international companies and many of our customers are also located here. Besides, Singapore’s vision is very much aligned with DNV GL’s, especially when it comes to research and development work to address the challenges faced in both the offshore oil & gas exploration and clean energy industries,” said Dr Madsen

“Designed to accommodate our growth over the next 20 years, the relocation of the Singapore office also comes at the perfect time. The merger of DNV and GL last September has created a need to integrate the operations of both companies and the new office enables us to do that seamlessly in Singapore,” he added.

Collaborative agreements

Recognising the importance of collaboration, DNV GL will also be signing memoranda of understanding (MOU) with the National University of Singapore and the Nanyang Technological University for joint R&D activities. “We are delighted to work with such well-established research institutions. We firmly believe that our collaborative innovation model will contribute to Singapore’s fast moving industries,” said Dr Madsen. “Also, as an independent foundation with a strong technology base and risk management as our core area of expertise, we will continue to fill a unique role in creating trust and confidence among industry stakeholders.”

Located at 16 Science Park Drive, DNV GL's new office brings together 500 employees from the company’s previous four offices around the island.

The new office in Singapore combines intelligent building structures and efficient energy consumption.

Deltamarin designs world's largest civilian hospital ship

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 27 February 2014 27 February 2014

Deltamarin has been awarded design contract by China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC) for the new 37,000 GRT (Gross Register Tonnage) hospital ship to be built for Mercy Ships at Tianjin Xingang Shipyard.

Deltamarin’s contract includes approval, procurement and detail design for the vessel, which will be the world’s largest civilian hospital ship, and the first of its kind in Deltamarin’s history. Deltamarin has earlier developed, for yard tendering purposes, the concept design of the vessel together with Stena RoRo, who will manage the actual construction of the hospital ship. The shipbuilding contract was successfully negotiated by shipbrokers Barry Rogliano Salles (BRS). The delivery of the ship is planned for July 2017.

Excited about this unique project, Director of Deltamarin’s Marine business, Mr Jarmo Valtonen, comments: “When developing the new vessel concept together with Stena and Mercy Ships, we have learnt a lot about the goals and visions of Mercy Ships, and it gives us great pleasure to be part of this very special project to help the underprivileged in the developing nations”.

The vessel will be certified as a passenger ship for long international voyages and will be registered under the flag of Malta with Lloyd’s Register classification. The main dimensions are 174 metres in overall length and 28.6 metres in breadth. The design service speed will be 12.0 knots. The vessel will have two hospital decks and can carry 500 persons on board when sailing; when in port, the capacity will be 950 persons. There will be a total of 641 beds in the 277 cabins. The vessel will even house a school for children of the staff.

The total value of this contract awarded to Deltamarin by CSIC is around 4.2 M€, and the work is to be carried out over an estimated period of 15 months.

McCue Crafted Fit to expand into marine outfitting

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 25 February 2014 25 February 2014

McCue Crafted Fit, an interior fit-out, refurbishment and bespoke joinery company established in 1954, with headquarters close to Belfast in Northern Ireland and a London office, has taken the strategic decision to enter into the cruise ship and ferry fit out market.

The company, which is celebrating its 60th Anniversary in 2014, has a strong reputation as a leading commercial fit-out and specialist joinery company, boasting its own fully equipped 60,000ft2 production facility in Carrickfergus, Co Antrim, operating in the UK, Ireland and many countries throughout Europe. It has built a wealth of experience in the hospitality, leisure and retail sectors working for globally recognised brands including The Savoy Hotel, Hamleys Toy Stores, Virgin Active, Starbucks, Urban Outfitters, Hugo Boss and Gant to name but a few.

Les McCracken, Managing Director of McCue stated “this is an area which has been on our radar for a number of years now and we are delighted to officially announce our entry to the maritime sector.”

Stephen Mills, Business Development / Manager Marine will oversee McCue’s entry into this specialist market. Having worked in the industry for over 25 years, he has built a comprehensive knowledge base and acquired a high skill level specific to this market, which will be invaluable to McCue.

McCue Crafted Fit will offer a turnkey fit out service to cruise lines, ferry operators and shipyards on a global basis complying with IMO regulations and classification bodies. Company representatives this March will be visiting the Seatrade Cruise Shipping Event in Miami, USA to network with cruise line representatives, shipyards, interior designers, subcontractors and suppliers.

Stephen affirmed, “McCue is a fantastic company, which over the years has produced an outstanding level of craftsmanship for high profile clients in very fast timescales. I am confident that they can adapt and meet the demands of the marine sector.”

McCue has been graced with numerous industry accolades over the years, most recently Urban Outfitters ‘Global Contractor of the Year’ and Deloitte’s ‘Best Managed Company’ Award.