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Inmarsat Maritime unveils NexusWave trials with Hapag-Lloyd

Hapag-Lloyd is trialing the NexusWave service to showcase how this bonded network solution can transform vessels into ‘floating offices’.

Inmarsat Maritime, now part of Viasat, has announced that global shipping leader Hapag-Lloyd is among the first to trial its NexusWave service. NexusWave is a fully managed, multi-orbit, multi-band connectivity solution that unifies various networks into a single, seamless service, designed to meet the growing communication and security demands of the maritime industry.

The Hamburg-based shipping group is testing NexusWave to ensure it meets their need for reliable, high-speed connectivity that can support both business operations and crew welfare. This cutting-edge solution offers an “office-like” and “home-like” experience on board, allowing shipboard personnel to stay connected without concerns over usage limits or speed restrictions. NexusWave also includes an upgrade path to the ViaSat-3 network.

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. The crew will be able to access IT services previously only available onshore.

Patrick Briest, Senior Director IT – Network & Operations, Hapag-Lloyd, commented: “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.”

Specifically designed to meet customer objectives, the NexusWave service leverages SD-WAN technology to provide intelligent traffic bonding and prioritization 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.

NexusWave is designed with security at its core, encrypting traffic at the vessel level and protecting it with advanced enterprise-grade infrastructure, trusted by leading enterprises and governments worldwide.

Gert-Jan Panken, VP of Sales, Inmarsat Maritime, highlighted the strategic value of the NexusWave solution for Hapag-Lloyd, and stated: “With NexusWave enhanced connectivity, we can provide our customers with a seamless, secure, and robust communication environment that transforms maritime operations. We are committed to continuing to provide solutions that not only meet but exceed the expectations and needs of our valued customers like Hapag-Lloyd: ensuring their operations are efficient and future-ready.”