August 12 - Beluga Shipping has selected MTN Satellite Communications (MTN), to install a broadband VSAT system on the new MV Beluga Shanghai.

Beluga Shanghai is one of Beluga's new P-class series of super heavy-lift vessels, which offers crane capacities between 800 and 1,400 tonnes and loading capacities of up to 20,000 deadweight tonnes.

"We selected MTN to be our VSAT provider for the new multipurpose, heavy-lift project carrier of the P-series after a careful analysis of alternative solutions," said Niels Stolberg, president and CEO of Beluga Shipping. "MTN offered excellent Ku-band coverage with a guarantee of uncontended bandwidth and built-in ability to upgrade to additional bandwidth as needed. MTN has excellent references in integrating high-bandwidth satellite connectivity with shipboard and shore-side IT systems."

The shipboard VSAT's will use MTN's Ku-band network, which provides coverage over most of the major sea lanes around the world. The ship will also be equipped with Inmarsat Fleet Broadband 500 satellite terminals, which will be used as a secondary satellite connection with automatic switchover when out of Ku-band coverage area. The MTN software will include least-cost routing analysis to select the optimum communication pathway. Additionally, Beluga is installing a fixed MTN VSAT solution in Bremen, Germany. The land-based unit will be used for system integration and vessel simulation.