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IT
&
Communications
Satcom Technology for Offshore Oil and Gas Applications
a report by
Casper Jensen
Director, Maritime Global Marketing, Thrane & Thrane
When considering the application of satcoms technology – and more attractive prospect to offshore vessel owners looking to join the
specifically broadband – within the offshore oil and gas industry, there is broadband revolution. Compared with a very-small-aperture terminal
no neatly packaged ‘theory of everything’. The integration of different (VSAT), airtime costs may seem slightly higher; however, the high
satcoms solutions within disparate applications has improved working bandwidth, lower hardware costs, extremely simple installation and the
processes and conditions across the board, but to describe the use of user-friendly nature of both the voice and data functionality make it a
broadband in the offshore oil and gas sector we will have to focus on a good solution for vessels with less space for a large antenna and a low
number of unrelated niches, as the availability of high bandwidth is to medium requirement for IP data connectivity: essentially offshore
simply the enabler for a plethora of new technologies. By looking at support vessels such as those in the MSS fleet.
various different uses for broadband satcoms, we can help to build a
picture of how it can enhance all aspects of exploration and production Maersk was from the outset well aware that a complete retrofit
(E&P), from ensuring crew welfare and safety right through to remote across all of its vessels was a massive undertaking, so simple
assistance and creating the building blocks of the digital oilfield. installation was a key factor in the solution it would choose.
FleetBroadband promised this, and since June 2008 it has lived up to
Crew Welfare that promise: the company had installed 42 SAILOR 500
The current focus on crew welfare stems from the issue of a dwindling FleetBroadband systems by the end of 2008, with the fastest
stock of experienced professionals that is not being replaced at a fast installation occurring on Maersk Battler, in around 2.5 hours.
enough rate by a younger generation. This, some say, is because
working conditions on ships, supply vessels or platforms are perceived Compared with a VSAT installation, this is about as ‘plug and play’ as
as less than desirable, although in the modern industry this is not it is possible to get, but the efficiency of the installations can in part
necessarily the case. Add the extended periods at sea, away from at least be attributed to the enthusiasm of the crews onboard Maersk
friends and family, and it is easy to see why teenagers and young adults vessels. With the promise of a new broadband communications
may choose an onshore occupation rather than an offshore one. This solution allowing them to make much better use of email and web
is exacerbated even further because of the relentless drive to be browsing, Maersk was confident that it could ask crew members to
connected to friends and family wherever you are. Mobile phones, handle the installation, and the crew were of course very keen to get
email, Facebook, Twitter and so-called Web 2.0 are all ingrained in broadband Internet onboard.
the daily life of young people today, so it is an even harder job than
before to persuade them to leave their netbooks, laptops and Had the chosen solution been based on VSAT, it would be highly
iPhones on land for a life on the waves. This is where affordable unlikely that such a straightforward installation could have taken
broadband comes into play. If operators can display to potential place. All of the vessels in the first phase of the installation
recruits that being on a ship does not mean being unconnected, we programme received an installation pack with computer, lan switch,
may stand more of a chance at bringing new blood into the industry. radome, mast, cables and fittings, and so far very little external
assistance has been required.
Maersk Supply Services (MSS) and sister company Maersk Tankers have
acted on this and shown clear intent to provide crews with a cost- However, perhaps the most important aspect of the DIY installation
effective and workable broadband connection for keeping in touch with is that the FleetBroadband antenna is much smaller and lighter than
shore. The company started looking for an alternative satcoms solution other satcoms antennas. With a standard VSAT application, it is
in 2005 and by September 2008 had committed to installing the new likely that a new plinth or mast will need to be added and a crane
Inmarsat FleetBroadband system on approximately 150 of its vessels. required to lift the antenna into place. With FleetBroadband, no new
infrastructure is needed.
As part of this extensive project, which is thought to be the largest
communications retrofit ever, FleetBroadband is being fitted across the
Casper Jensen is Director of Maritime Global Marketing at Thrane & Thrane, a Danish
entire MSS fleet, which consists of three types of vessel: field and
satellite communications specialist based in Copenhagen that acts in the maritime, land-
subsea support, anchor-handling tug supply (AHTS) and platform
mobile and aerospace industries. He has been with the company for 10 years, and during
supply. All vessel types have or will have Thrane & Thrane’s SAILOR 500
his time with Thrane & Thran, he has specialised in the development and sales of
radiocommunication equipment and Inmarsat solutions, including mini-C, Fleet and, more
FleetBroadband installed in an upgrade programme that is due to last recently, FleetBroadband. He has also been a key part of the company’s forthcoming
two years (see Figure 1).
entry to the maritime very-small-aperture terminal (VSAT) arena. Mr Jensen has a BSc in
engineering from Copenhagen University.
Inmarsat FleetBroadband is the newcomer to the maritime satcoms
E:
info@thrane.com
field, but although only launched in 2007, it is fast becoming an
© TOUCH BRIEFINGS 2009
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