The Arctic Shipping Company has chosen Maritime Connect from Orange Business Services to keep its cargo ships connected to the network while at sea.
The new contract follows the successful completion of a pilot with the shipping firm, and the service is now deployed on six of its vessels.
The Arctic Shipping Company specializes in cargo transportation, including along the Northern Sea Route, which runs from the Barents Sea, near Russia's border with Norway, to the Bering Strait between Siberia and Alaska.
Maritime Connect combines multiple networks, including satellite, to ensure connectivity for the cargo ships wherever they are – even on the high seas. It gives the crew the ability to work in a single virtual corporate network, essentially turning vessels into full-fledged “offices at sea”. Network connectivity is especially important for safety on the difficult Northern Sea Route. For example, the ship is able to easily access updated ice conditions and keep its electronic mapping system up-to-date while underway. Despite the harsh environmental conditions, this route helps shorten shipping time.
The network also greatly simplifies communication with contractors and port authorities. In addition, a local phone number is allocated to each ship, and crew are able to use unlimited Internet and make home video calls from personal smartphones via the deployed Wi-Fi network.
Orange provides Maritime Connect using an operational expenditure model with fixed monthly payments. This helps the Arctic Shipping Company control costs and facilitates the installation of modern communication equipment on ships.
Mikhail Artyukhov, CEO, Artic Shipping Company
For commercial shipping, speed of deployment is very important, in addition to the reliability of the partner and the quality of services provided. The seasonal window where we are able to use the Northern Sea Route is very limited, so the installation should be carried out quickly and without hitches.
Richard van Wageningen, SVP IMEAR, Orange Business Services
The Northern Sea Route allows companies to save time and money by providing a shorter connection between Asia and Europe. However, the route is also known as risky and not an easy one. Seamless network connectivity is critical to safety and saves not only time and financial resources, but also the crew’s welfare.
