Page 28: of Marine News Magazine (July 2012)

detailed information in M2M applications. The Fuel Monitoring System continually collects data and sends the information back to the Kemilinks hub at predetermined intervals. Using IsatData Pro, the Fuel Monitoring System automatically sends reports without any human intervention. The onshore ofÞ ce can also perform on- demand polls to extract Òat the momentÓ data. A principal competitive advantage of IsatData Pro is that it offers a ß exible airtime usage plan. A company can subscribe to the low data rate service to manage and communicate with more than one remote asset around the world. And, since hardware and airtime plans for IsatData Pro are signiÞ cantly lower than those for satellite broadband terminals, smaller vessels that typically would not have onboard internet or voice capability can now have access to KemilinksÕ fuel monitoring service. Lastly, satellite airtime can even be pooled between vessels to reduce overall airtime costs. BLUE SKY NETWORK BRINGS FLEET MANAGEMENT TO THE CLOUD WITH SKYROUTER Blue Sky Network recently announced the launch of New SkyRouter, a ß eet management portal for marine applications. New SkyRouter is a feature rich, cloud-based solution designed to support connectivity with remotely dispersed mobile assets including Blue Sky NetworkÕs advanced Dual Mode GSM and Iridium tracking and communication hardware. This solution enables seamless connectivity with assets in problematic cellular reception areas and in remote locations. SkyRouter requires no installation or purchase of specialized hardware or software. TodayÕs ß eet managers require around-the-clock communication and overall safety and ß eet efÞ ciency can be achieved through alerts, monitoring of position data, and unique event reporting. New SkyRouter leverages the integration of Blue Sky NetworkÕs industry leading HawkEye 5300 which exploits the beneÞ ts of Iridium Satellite and GSM cellular tracking capabilities to deliver dual-mode tracking and event reporting of assets located anywhere in the world. Fleet managers can receive real- time updates which include GPS location information, messages, and on board diagnostic (OBDII) alerts, among others. Working in combination with Blue Sky NetworkÕs robust certiÞ ed hardware, SkyRouter can be easily installed on marine assets. Features include over-the-air parameter settings, automated event reporting, and local sensor data capture, and two-way messaging capability. Jon Gilbert, CEO and Founder of Blue Sky Network told MarineNews in June, ÒThis new platform in concert with our superb products means more mobile asset sectors can beneÞ t from smooth integration of tracking hardware with a cloud based portal for seamless command and control across multiple asset types and deployments.Ó BROADBAND FLEET MANAGEMENT : THE BOATRACS AND KVH SOLUTION Fleet management software can be a game-changing tool for maritime companies to compete more effectively and run their operations more efÞ ciently. According to Boatracs, the critical driver of any software solution is capturing and accessing good data. In the marine world, this involves vessels and shore operations communicating Ð both the software that is used as well as the network that is used to transmit the information. Customer requirements can vary dramatically. The Boatracs approach Þ ts the solution to the customerÕs needs as opposed to asking a company to change the way they do business. Since 1990, Boatracs has provided narrowband satellite solutions with shore side ß eet management software to enable vessels to communicate consistently with operations. This system, Boatracs OmniTRACS, meets the needs of those companies who have minimum data sharing needs and require simplicity and ease of use in an extremely affordable satellite solution. The ß eet management software can be accessed from any PC or mobile device with internet connectivity. For those customers who operate within cellular coverage but require greater coverage and reliability, the recently developed and economical OmniTRACS solution makes transmitting the data as cost effective as possible. OmniTRACS already serves thousands of vessels, but the number of customers with requirements for uninterrupted internet connectivity and high-speed data transmission is growing. More vessels have PCs on board utilizing a variety of software applications, and satellite broadband has become a viable Boatracs & KVH have teamed to offer a Broadband Fleet Management Solution.28 MNJuly 2012