Blue Ocean Wireless, an Irish company focused on expanding
communication capability in the merchant maritime sector, today
announced the launch of the world's first GSM network for merchant
maritime vessels.
Blue Ocean Wireless is a joint venture between private investment
firm, Claret Capital, and Irish technology communications company,
Altobridge. Blue Ocean Wireless' service will, for the first time,
enable seafarers to use their existing mobile phones on board vessels
in deep ocean water in exactly same way that they would do in port or
on land. Users of the service will be able to make and receive voice
calls, send and receive SMS text and email messages and browse the
internet using their existing handset. The service will be directed at
more than one million seafarers serving as crew on more than 40,000
merchant ships in service world-wide.
Blue Ocean Wireless Service Offering
Blue Ocean Wireless will, together with Inmarsat, the leading
global satellite communications service provider, and a leading mobile
network operator, provide a global GSM mobile service specifically
focused on crew members of merchant ships. This technology can also be
applied to Superyachts and other merchant vessels.
Blue Ocean Wireless will also make it possible for ship owners,
insurers and Government authorities, as well as shipping suppliers and
customers, to track individual shipping containers on board merchant
vessels as they traverse the globe using RFID technology. Global
logistics managers will be able to independently and reliably monitor,
from home base, the status of their shipment containers at all times.
This will include the location of the container and other aspects of
its condition such as temperature, humidity and, particularly
important for security, whether it had been opened or otherwise
interfered with.
Domhnal Slattery, Chairman of Blue Ocean Wireless commented "We
are delighted to announce the launch of this service today. We have
conducted extensive full scale ocean trials of the system which have
confirmed not only the robustness of the product but also the level of
potential demand. The ability to communicate with friends and families
is immensely important to seafarers given the length of time they are
obliged to spend away from home. The reaction from the crews of the
ships on which we conducted the trials was tremendously positive and
we are confident that there will be a strong market for the product."
He concluded "We are extremely pleased to have Inmarsat as a key
partner in this process because of its remarkable track record in
delivering communications and safety solutions to the marine sector
along with Altobridge whose unique technology is a key enabler for
this product. No other technology can currently provide cost effective
communication for small users groups such as the crew complements on
merchant ships. We believe the roll-out of Blue Ocean Wireless' system
will be transformational for the lives of over one million seafarers
around the globe."
Technology
The Altobridge patent pending unique technology, the Aeronautical
& Maritime Gateway Platform, enables cellular coverage on ships at
sea, at affordable rates. The onboard cellular network connects back
to the land based cellular network via the ships existing Inmarsat
satellite system. The Altobridge ground breaking AM Gateway Platform
architecture is unique in that it does not necessitate permanent
satellite connections. The satellite connection is on demand, subject
to end user interaction. The equipment footprint is small and compact;
in fact the radio base station itself is the smallest commercial radio
base station in the world, based on "nano" technology. Installation
can be carried out by traditional maritime installation and
commissioning engineers.
Press Conference
Blue Ocean Wireless and Inmarsat are hosting a press conference to
launch Blue Ocean Wireless and announce their sponsorship of British
yachtsman, Tony Bullimore's attempt to break the solo round the world
sailing record in the Blue Ocean Wireless Round the World Challenge.
The press conference, and a live interview with Tony Bullimore, will
take place today, March 28, at 10.30am at the offices of Inmarsat plc,
99 City Road, London EC1Y 1AX. A live dial in facility for those
unable to attend is also available on +44 20 7138 0813.
About Blue Ocean Wireless
Blue Ocean Wireless is an Irish company focused on expanding
communication capability in the merchant maritime sector. Blue Ocean
Wireless will provide, for the first time, GSM connectivity for
seafarers in deep ocean water, where no other network exists, which
allows users to make and receive voice calls, send and receive SMS
text and email messages and browse the internet using their existing
handset. Blue Ocean Wireless' offering is based on Altobridge's unique
patent pending Aeronautical & Maritime Gateway Platform technology.
This technology can also be applied to Superyachts, other merchant
vessels and used, in conjunction with RFID technology, to track and
monitor shipping containers while they are in transit.
About Claret Capital
Claret Capital is a private investment firm based in Dublin,
Ireland and was founded by Domhnal Slattery in 2005. Claret Capital
manages the assets of a small number of ultra high net worth
individuals and families and has a global investment mandate. The firm
has completed investments in the Private Equity, Real Estate, Media
and Technology sectors. Claret Capital has also founded a number of
new ventures including JetBird, Europe's first low cost on demand
private jet airline. JetBird has ordered 100 aircraft from Embraer and
is the launch customer in Europe for the Phenom 100 very light jet.
About Altobridge
Altobridge is focused on delivering cost effective communications
for remote communities including rural villages, seafarers, airline
travellers and the world's military, navy and coastguard. Altobridge's
technology has also been licensed by AeroMobile, a joint venture
between Telenor and ARINC to provide the world's first operational
on-board aircraft mobile phone system.
