Maritime Vessels Using More and More Data

10801080089?profile=RESIZE_400xData usage on commercial maritime vessels has jumped more than threefold since 2019, according to a new communications analysis by Inmarsat.  The study found that the shipping industry’s reliance on digital connectivity to enhance operating efficiency and safeguard crew welfare has resulted in data usage among Inmarsat maritime customers rising almost 70 per cent in the 12 months to mid-2022.  Analysis of data usage by vessel operators shows year-on-year demand for data was highest among container shipping companies, more than doubling (108 per cent) in June 2022 compared to June 2021, while use of connectivity increased by 70 percent among oil tanker operators and by 47 per cent on bulk carriers over the same period.[1]

The current president of Inmarsat Maritime said, “Maritime data usage is a leading indicator of economic activity and international trade in the shipping industry, which carries 90 per cent of all global trade.  More and more shipping companies are upgrading their satellite communications services and adopting new technologies for applications including route-planning, ship-to-shore broadband data transfers and to maximize fuel efficiency.  They are also ensuring that their crews remain connected with family and friends while at sea, the mandatory requirement now recognized by the Maritime Labour Convention.  Our study shows data usage is on the rise among all commercial vessel types.  The success we’re seeing in our order book is due to our understanding of the commercial maritime industry and the needs of ship owners and operators.  This appreciation led directly to the development of our unique service proposition for shipping companies, which combines two wholly-owned and operated global networks in our market leading Fleet Xpress service.  Our strategy is to continue to innovate at pace, supporting the rapid digitalization the industry is experiencing, which in turn is being driven by industry-wide targets for decarbonization and the imperative of ensuring crew welfare.”

Inmarsat’s maritime data usage study comes amid a record order book for the company’s Fleet Xpress satellite communications systems. The Fleet Xpress installed base rose by 17 percent in the second quarter of 2022 compared to Q2 2021, to almost 13,000 ships, with an order book of over 1,000 vessels.

Earlier this year, Inmarsat completed technical proof of concept tests for the terrestrial 5G mesh component of its new ORCHESTRA network.  The tests took place in Singapore, one of the world’s busiest container ports.  ORCHESTRA provides innovative spectrum-management and connectivity technology to deliver additional data capacity at key shipping hot spots via a unique, shore-based terrestrial networks.  The 5G mesh network has the potential to integrate seamlessly with Inmarsat’s geostationary satellite constellations and a highly targeted low earth orbit (LEO) fleet to deliver the lowest average latency and fastest average speeds with unique resilience of any planned global service.   “As data demand continues to grow in the shipping industry, our ORCHESTRA testing in Singapore has shown in real-world cases how to enhance ship-to-shore and ship-to-ship connectivity, including distances, range, throughput and link availability,” continued Inmarsat.  “We are innovating with this technology because connectivity demand in key ports and shipping lanes is only going to increase further and lead to growing congestion.”

The figures on data usage and maritime orders coincide with continued planning by Inmarsat for its combination with Viasat of the US, which also serves a range of customers in the maritime sector.  On completion of the transaction, the enlarged company will drive greater customer choice in B2B satellite communications serving maritime customers, as well as aviation, government and enterprise users, by providing a strong multi-layered, global architecture, and uniquely in the space sector, the ability to bring together multi-orbital satellite and terrestrial 4G and 5G assets.

Red Sky Alliance is a Cyber Threat Analysis and Intelligence Service organization and have been following the Maritime Transportation sector for many years.  For questions, comments or assistance, please contact the office directly at 1-844-492-7225, or feedback@wapacklabs. com    

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[1] https://www.thedigitalship.com/news/maritime-satellite-communications/item/8022-inmarsat-study-reveals-surge-in-maritime-data-usage

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  • One of the key components of global trade is also one of the most vulnerable to cybersecurity threats – and if such an attack was successful, it would cause huge disruption with knock-on effects for people around the world. According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), over 80% of the volume of international trade in goods is carried by sea and that percentage is even higher for developing countries. The whole industry is reliant on a series of complex, 'just in time' supply chains. if just one element is disrupted, it can have massive repercussions.
    Ports and shipping are becoming increasingly connected to the internet and that's making them a tempting target for hackers, especially when much of the sector is simultaneously reliant on legacy technology that can be decades old. And the prospect of disruptive cyber-attacks against shipping and ports isn't just theoretical – they're already happening.
    In 2017, shipping giant Maersk had to deal with a backlog at ports when it was hit as part of the global NotPetya cyber-attack. The company had to reinstall thousands of servers and tens of thousands of PCs to get back up and running again. Source: https://www.zdnet.com/article/this-overlooked-cybersecurity-risk-co...
    This overlooked cybersecurity risk could create an ocean of trouble for us all
    Global supply chains rely on the smooth running of shipping and ports, but maritime cybersecurity is too often a low priority.
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