News

Hellespont installs C-Bird VSAT
(Jan  29  2010)

Hellespont Hammonia of Hamburg, Germany, has completed the installation of a new VSAT system featuring the Maritime Broadband C-Bird antenna system, aboard the MT Hellespont Progress.

The installation represents a 90-day trial of the antenna, which is integrated with the iDirect 5100 modem and utilises global satellite services provided by Maritime Telecommunications Network (MTN).

Hellespont says that it intends to evaluate the results of the trial of the system before committing to a 3 year agreement.

“It was seen in the company that we must improve on our offer of modern communication tools to the vessel and particularly to the crew,” explained Matthias Edler, manager, information systems.

“From the technical point of view we have to follow the path to purely IP protocol based connections which are the next generation communication infrastructure in the shipping industry.”

“As a quality ship manager and operator we must also look at the well being of our crews. The importance of them being able to communicate with their families on a regular and cost efficient basis must not be underestimated.”

The MT Hellespont Progress, a 1996-built 228.6 metre product carrier, trades worldwide, and first began using the system during a voyage from Flushing, Netherlands to El Segundo, California, USA.

Captain of the vessel, Larry Deluna, commented that: “The C-Bird antenna is amazing. Cheaper telephone calls for the crew at any time, internet, updated news, chats and even typhoon tracking through the internet.”

“The crew loves the antenna. They call their family or chat with them everyday. We have a happy crew.”

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