Hapag-lloyd trial’s Inmarsat’s NexusWave to take the office offshore

The trials align with the Hamburg-headquartered shipping group’s requirement for a robust connectivity solution that is capable of meeting increasing communications and security demands, and rising expectations for business and crew communications.

A series of owner-operator trials aim to verify the way reliable high-speed internet connections allow critical enterprise/IT functions to move to the cloud instead of maintaining them on vessels, so that shipboard personnel can align with office-based colleagues. Crew will be able to access IT services previously only available onshore.

Patrick Briest, senior director IT – network & operations, Hapag-Lloyd, said: “With NexusWave, our vessels can transform into floating offices, seamlessly integrated with onshore and cloud-based IT systems. This advancement in connectivity will allow us to further streamline operations through cloud-based solutions, achieving significant cost savings and enhancing crew IT services to match onshore experiences.”

The NexusWave service leverages SD-WAN technology to provide intelligent traffic bonding and prioritisation to ensure that mission-critical operations are continuously connected, while also supporting services based on video streaming such as remote inspections. With business and crew welfare channels maintained separately, the service also enhances crew connectivity.

As ships’ cargo can sometimes be confidential, NexusWave incorporates security measures used by multinationals and governments to encrypt their communications, taking this technology to sea.

Gert-Jan Panken, VP sales, Inmarsat Maritime, highlighted the security credentials of the system: “With NexusWave enhanced connectivity, we can provide our customers with a seamless, secure, and robust communication environment that transforms maritime operations.”