Solvang ASA, a leading gas shipping company headquartered in Norway, has announced a significant fleet-wide deployment of Inmarsat’s NexusWave bonded connectivity service. The company aims to address the escalating demands of modern maritime operations, ensuring seamless, high-speed internet access for both business applications and crew welfare across Solvang's advanced gas carrier fleet.

Recognizing the critical role of reliable satellite connectivity in today’s digital maritime landscape, Solvang has opted for Inmarsat’s fully managed NexusWave service. Their fleet, comprising six semi-refrigerated ethylene carriers, eight large gas carriers, and 13 very large gas carriers, including seven newbuilds, will benefit from the service's robust and consistent performance.

The decision underscores Solvang’s commitment to facilitating the seamless operation of cloud-based business applications and enabling high-quality video conferencing, both essential for efficient fleet management. Furthermore, the company acknowledges the importance of providing its crew members with reliable internet access, allowing them to stay connected with loved ones while at sea.

Inmarsat's NexusWave stands out for its innovative approach to connectivity, leveraging a combination of LEO, GEO, LTE, and L-band network underlays. This unique bonding technology creates a unified, high-performance connection, delivering maximum download speeds of up to 340 megabits per second and upload speeds of up to 80 Mbps. Crucially, the service guarantees network availability exceeding 99.9%, ensuring uninterrupted operations regardless of the vessel’s location.

Real-world testing on Solvang’s very large gas carrier, Clipper Explorer, has yielded overwhelmingly positive results. The vessel’s Master reported seamless performance of online applications, significantly higher connection speeds, and zero downtime, with crew members experiencing no connectivity issues. This feedback validates NexusWave’s ability to dynamically adjust traffic routing, maintaining a consistent and uninterrupted experience even when individual network underlays fluctuate.

Terje Skaar, Superintendent - Electro at Solvang ASA, emphasized the critical need for robust connectivity in the rapidly evolving maritime industry. "Our operations are increasingly reliant on cloud-based solutions and video conferencing, while our seafarers expect a home-like Internet experience on board the ship," Skaar stated. "With NexusWave, our vessels will be seamlessly connected to high-speed Internet at all times – with no unexpected costs and a single point of contact for support and service."

Christopher Hansen, Sales Manager at Inmarsat Maritime, highlighted the positive reception from early adopters. "Initial feedback from vessels equipped with NexusWave vessels has been very positive," Hansen said. "We have verified the service’s exceptional speed and reliability through rigorous real-world testing. Now, shipping operators are experiencing the benefits of seamless business communications and home-like connectivity for crew. We also see that ship owners appreciate the convenience and simplicity of partnering with a single, trusted provider at a time when shipping operations increasingly depend on the power of multiple networks.”