Marlink VSAT Services Chosen For Complete Van Oord Fleet

• Experiences with improved operational efficiency and more bandwidth available led to follow-up contract

Marlink has been selected to provide high-end VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) services for the fleet of the international dredging and offshore contractor Van Oord. The contract is expected to include 30 vessels being supported by Marlink's customized VSAT services by the end of 2015.

Marlink's VSAT services have provided voice and data connectivity services for 3 Van Oord vessels as from June 2013. The company is headquartered in Rotterdam and is a leading contractor for dredging, marine engineering and offshore energy projects. Their positive experience of Marlink's service provision and support was a key factor in selecting Marlink's VSAT services for its fleet. The flexibility of the VSAT service is unique, as it provides real Committed Information Rates (CIR) and short notice temporary bandwidth increases on request.

The Marlink VSAT services will provide operational benefits for Van Oord clients requiring high-end connectivity services. This is especially important for the clients in the offshore/oil & gas segments, many of which rely on advanced software and processes for safe, efficient and environmentally friendly operation. VSAT services will also benefit Van Oord, turning all of its vessels into remote offices with high communication QoS (Quality of Service) to ensure voice and internet adapts to how much bandwidth is available at any given time.

In its role as a Van Oord's communication partner, Marlink is providing a number of Value Added Services as part of the new contract, such as support for Van Oord to run its own VOIP services, making it possible for Van Oord to integrate the voice services onboard their vessels with their onshore voice service.

"Marlink VSAT services meet Van Oord's very specific connectivity requirements for all their specialised vessels. The difference now is that we work together as partners where any Van Oord's challenge is considered as our mutual challenge. We are proud to work strategically with Van Oord on any needs or development related to communication on board", said Ab Argam, Sales Manager Benelux, Marlink.

Marlink is a world leading provider of satellite services. Providing access to the broadest range of product and service choices, Marlink can support virtually any requirement for maritime connectivity worldwide. The company's unrivalled portfolio includes on-demand services such as Inmarsat, Iridium and Thuraya, as well as its own range of C-band and Ku-band VSAT solutions. Marlink routes communication through its own teleports to ensure high quality, reliability and flexibility for its customers. With offices worldwide, including Athens, Brussels, Dubai, Hamburg, Houston, London, Mumbai, Oslo, Washington DC, Singapore, Stavanger and Tokyo, Marlink is able to support its wide-ranging portfolio with installation and customer support that is offered on a global basis. Marlink is a fully owned subsidiary and direct sales channel of Airbus Defence and Space for maritime satellite communications. www.marlink.com