Page 58: of Maritime Logistics Professional Magazine (Jan/Feb 2018)

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SHIPBOARD CONNECTIVITY “In 2016, the cruise ship industry employed over one million sta? , many

Credit: AdobeStock_Patrick of whom will be away from home for weeks at a time. In the past, without internet ac- cess ship crew were cut o? from their life on land, and forced to endure long periods of time without any contact from their loved ones. Satellite-enabled connectivity is changing all of that.” ket. The bene? ts of this are self-evident. With so many brand- well as crew retention and job satisfaction. Being the only one new cruise ships launching this year, blazing-fast connectivity in the industry to offer a multi-orbit (GEO and MEO) in mul- will allow them to stand out from the rest of the competition, tiple bands (Ka-, Ku-, and C-band), SES can offer the ? exibility providing cruise ship owners with the means to modernize the the cruise ship owners need to maximize their crews’ potential. customer experience with new satellite-enabled technologies.

But the bene? ts don’t just stop there. SES Networks’ ? eet of The ‘new normal’ satellites also has the ability to provide industry-leading facili- 2018 promises to be a year of innovation in the cruise ship ties for captains and crew. As the industry continues to rapidly industry, with technology set to augment the cruise experi- expand, more captains and crew will be needed to man the grow- ence in an entirely new way. At the very forefront of this will ing number of cruise ships. In 2016, the cruise ship industry em- be ultra-speed, highly reliable satellite-enabled connectivity. ployed over one million staff, many of whom will be away from Investing in cutting-edge broadband services will enable the home for weeks at a time. In the past, without internet access cruise ship industry to free itself from its old shackles, and ship crew were cut off from their life on land, and forced to en- propel itself into a world of digitalization where land-based dure long periods of time without any contact from their loved speed connectivity is the norm, not the exception.

ones. Satellite-enabled connectivity is changing all of that. SES

Networks understands that cruise customers and crew want to keep in touch with their family, friends and social networks –

The Author

Gregory Martin even while island hopping in the Caribbean, for example – and

Martin is Vice President, Maritime Segment for SES delivers the smart ship necessary to make that a reality.

Networks. Gregory has over 20 years of experience

Furthermore, as the cruise industry becomes more digitized, in Information Technology, with a focus on the unique ship crews are becoming increasingly reliant on digital tech- connectivity needs for the maritime and aero industries. nology to ful? ll their roles. Connectivity that delivers access to

Before joining SES Networks, Gregory was Director of

IT Operations for Royal Caribbean International where he was instru- cloud-based platforms makes training via e-learning, computer- mental in revolutionizing the cruise industry, leveraging satellite con- based training, videos and even virtual reality a realistic possi- nectivity for guest experience maximization.

bility for the crew, supporting increased safety and ef? ciency as 58 Maritime Logistics Professional January/February 2018 | |