LAS VEGAS – Looking to bring the shipping industry into the 21st century, Ericsson launched its Maritime ICT Cloud platform designed to provide an end-to-end solution targeting connectivity and tracking needs for the maritime industry.
The telecom infrastructure giant claims the platform’s managed cloud solution with industry applications, service enablement, connectivity management, and consulting and systems integration services will allow shipping companies to update legacy manual services that typically send traffic, cargo, port, weather and safety information point-to-point rather than being made available to all ships at once.
“This is a time-consuming process and the lack of access to real-time data significantly increases the margin for error,” Ericsson noted.
Ericsson said the Maritime ICT Cloud service connects ships at sea with “shore-based operations, maintenance service providers, customer support centers, fleet/transportation partners, port operations and authorities.” This allows for the monitoring of engines and fuel consumption, navigation and the health of the ship’s crew. Ericsson explained that through the platform it will provide all necessary components, including satellite connections to application support and will manage the offering for clients.
“Vessels at sea do have systems in place that allow them to monitor critical functions and fuel usage, set and maintain an optimal course and ensure the welfare of their crew, but they are not particularly well integrated with fleet management systems onshore and they do not maximize the potential of real-time data,” explained Orvar Hurtig, head of Ericsson’s industry and society division. “As the driving force behind the Networked Society and the world leader in telecommunications, Ericsson is the right partner to help connect these disparate systems and enable them to share information with low latency.”
Ericsson added that the platform will also help ship owners comply with the 2006 Maritime Labor Convention that requires broadband connectivity for crew communication, entertainment, training and telemedicine.
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