BOEING FLIES IN

Sea Tel antenna Ironically, while Inmarsat has been eyeing the aviation market, Boeing has not only put together its own aviation product, Connexion by Boeing, but is introducing it into the marine market.

Sean Schwinn, vice president of maritime service for Connexion by Boeing, says the service will make "truly office-like communications" available to shipowners on a global basis.

Boeing has initially announced its "on demand" pricing for the service ("always on" pricing will be announced later).

For a monthly fee of $2,800 per vessel, Connexion by Boeing will provide the terminal equipment to access communications capabilities that include high-speed data, voice and fax services and television programming.

High-Speed Data Services: All vessels in a customer's fleet may share up to 2,000 minutes of data connectivity per vessel per month. Vessels will receive data on Connexion by Boeing's 5+ Mbps forward link, and will send data at up to 256 kbps, enabling multiple simultaneous data and voice sessions. Additional minutes will cost $1.25 per minute.

Voice/Fax Services: All vessels in a customer's fleet may share up to 100 minutes of send or receive voice/fax calls per vessel per month using equipment provided by Connexion by Boeing. Additional voice/fax minutes will be charged at $1.25 per minute.

Connexion Television: Beginning in 2006, all vessels in a customer's fleet will be able to receive up to four channels of television content, which may be viewed 24 hours per day/7 days per week, at no extra charge.

Management Tools: The connectivity usage for all vessels in a customer's fleet will be tracked and reported daily on a secure, Web-based portal to enable fleet masters and owners to see and manage usage and expenses quickly and efficiently.

Fleet-Sharing Program: All vessels within a customer's fleet will be able to share the monthly data and voice/fax minutes.

Boeing has already signed up Teekay Shipping as its international launch customer for the service.

The agreement calls for the high-speed communications service to be fitted on 50 of Teekay's vessels, with an option to install on an additional 40.

"We were very impressed by the power and potential the technology provides," says Graham Westgarth, president of Teekay Marine Services.

He says a service trial last year "gave us a glimpse of the future where our vessels will become a virtual extension of our offices ashore. Our sea staff will benefit from the latest information and technology solutions available, contributing to their lifestyle on-board, while enhancing the efficiency of our operations. The service will also complement our existing communications infrastructure."