Stratos Global Corporation, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it is upgrading Zakher Marine International Inc. (ZMI) vessels to Inmarsat’s FleetBroadband 150 (FB150) mobile broadband satellite service.

Working with its channel partner Monarch Telecom, Stratos has already activated FB150 service onboard six ZMI vessels: Zakher Duty; Zakher Pelican; Zakher Eagle; Zakher Supplier; Zakher Atlanta and Zakher Emperor. ZMI vessels provide anchor handling, supply and towage for the merchant marine and offshore oil & gas industries in the Middle East.

To support its growth, ZMI has aggressively implemented the latest technology solutions to help ensure peak vessel performance, crew satisfaction and client satisfaction. To help meet those performance goals, with each FB150 system ZMI is deploying the popular AmosConnect from Stratos messaging service, which integrates vessel and shore-based office applications.

AmosConnect from Stratos is an easy-to-use, yet highly sophisticated service incorporating email, fax, telex, GSM text, interoffice communication, and access for mobile personnel into a single messaging system. Nearly 20,000 AmosConnect from Stratos licenses have been issued and the service is used by more than 200,000 officers and crewmembers.

‘The data rates provided by FB150 are much faster than the Mini-M service we had been using. This will help us get more value from applications that help ensure superior crew communications, business productivity and cost efficiency,’ said Wadie Farah, ZMI Manager, Communications Dept. ‘The FB150 hardware footprint is also smaller than the Mini-M. These factors, combined with competitive pricing, make FB150 an attractive communications upgrade solution.’

While thousands of merchant and commercial fishing vessels have deployed the higher-bandwidth FleetBroadband 250 and FleetBroadband 500 systems, many smaller vessels are examining FB150 from Stratos as an entry-level service. FB150 from Stratos is ideally suited for small to medium-sized vessels requiring single-user Internet access and email. FB150 from Stratos combines a high-quality telephone connection with simultaneous IP data at up to 150kbps and SMS texting. The compact and easy-to-install FB150 offers affordable and reliable communications worldwide.

Stratos has activated more than 2,000 FleetBroadband systems across all major geographic regions and vessel types. ZMI selected Stratos as its FleetBroadband provider based primarily on the wide range of value-added services that Stratos offers. Those field-tested services, known as The Stratos Advantage, help ship managers attain the highest possible performance and support from FleetBroadband, at the lowest possible cost.

Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm said, ‘We are confident that ZMI’s upgrade to FB150 and AmosConnect will help the Company meet its productivity goals. In all global regions, we are seeing the strongest interest in FB150 from operators of small to medium-sized fishing vessels, supply ships, offshore utility vessels, barges, tug boats and pleasure yachts.’ Parm added, ‘Managers of large cargo vessels also are evaluating FB150 as a low-cost entry to the broadband environment – to replace their current Iridium, Inmarsat Mini-M or Inmarsat B terminals.’

About FleetBroadband from Stratos

FleetBroadband from Stratos provides cost-effective, high-speed data and voice communications – available simultaneously – at speeds up to 432kpbs. FleetBroadband from Stratos also provides on-demand guaranteed IP data rates, regardless of the vessel’s location. The above-deck, stabilized, compact directional antennas are smaller than most existing Inmarsat Fleet products used today.

FleetBroadband from Stratos also helps Stratos continue to provide ship managers with innovative crew-communications solutions, to support the recruitment and retention of well-trained seafarers. For example, FleetBroadband from Stratos is now available with a pre-paid web-browsing solution and other valuable services.

Communications managers will find that FleetBroadband from Stratos can be rapidly deployed across an entire fleet and, as a standard IP service, seamlessly integrated with head-office networks. Terminals operate globally and the user interface is standard across all products. FleetBroadband from Stratos supports any IP service, as well as traditional circuit-switched voice and ISDN data for legacy applications. Terminal costs are relatively low and the network supports all the latest security protocols.

Stratos offers a wide range of value-added services to provide ship managers with optimal communications performance, management control and cost efficiency. Stratos is the largest supplier of mobile satellite services to the maritime industry, with communications to more than 40,000 maritime terminals worldwide. In addition to FleetBroadband, Stratos’ industry-leading portfolio of maritime broadband satellite services includes Iridium OpenPort and the VSAT solutions OceanVSAT and StratosITek.

FleetBroadband from Stratos Features The Stratos Advantage

With the benefit of The Stratos Advantage, FleetBroadband from Stratos is elevated far above baseline FleetBroadband services. The value-added services comprising The Stratos Advantage provide users with cost and traffic control, high-usage metering, firewall management, data optimization, real-time traffic overviews, instant remote provisioning, high security options, easy VPN access, messaging services and a full IP range. More than 11,500 mobile users in 180 countries already utilize The Stratos Advantage for BGAN, the land-based version of FleetBroadband.

In addition to offering The Stratos Advantage, Stratos works with application partners to deliver broadband business solutions in key maritime business areas. These solutions include voyage management, remote management, IT management and cargo management, which help reduce fuel and operations costs and improve crew and customer satisfaction.

About Zakher Marine International

ZMI is based in Abu Dhabi and operates a branch office in Alexandria, Egypt. Founded in 1984, the Company has achieved steady growth, having built new vessels and expanded its fleet with younger vessels to meet the high standards and requirements of its regional and international clients.

About Stratos

Stratos is the world’s trusted leader for vital communications. Stratos offers the most powerful and extensive portfolio of remote communications solutions including mobile and fixed satellite and microwave services. More than 20,000 customers use Stratos products and industry-leading value-added services to optimize communications performance. Stratos serves U.S. and international government, military, first responder, NGO, oil and gas, industrial, maritime, aeronautical, enterprise, and media users on seven continents and across the world’s oceans.

Source:? PR Newswire

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