• Combines a managed cloud solution with industry applications, service enablement, connectivity management, and consulting and systems integration services
• Connects vessels at sea with shore-based operations, maintenance service providers, customer support centers, fleet/transportation partners, port operations and authorities
• Enables services that facilitate voyage optimization, cargo monitoring and crew welfare
Despite the fact that ships carried an estimated total of 9.6 billion tons of cargo in 2013 - around 80 per cent of global trade by volume and over 70 percent of global trade by value - the maritime industry lags behind alternative transport industries in terms of its use of information and communications technology. Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) aims to change that with the introduction of Maritime ICT Cloud; an end-to-end offering that combines a managed cloud solution with industry applications, service enablement, connectivity management, and consulting and systems integration services.
At present ships rely on manually updated traffic, cargo, port, weather and safety information that is sent point-to-point rather than made available to all parties simultaneously via a network. This is a time-consuming process and the lack of access to real-time data significantly increases the margin for error.
Ericsson's Maritime ICT Cloud will connect vessels at sea with shore-based operations, maintenance service providers, customer support centers, fleet/transportation partners, port operations and authorities. At the same time, the offering enables services used to manage fleets, monitor engines and fuel consumption, oversee routes and navigation, and ensure the wellbeing of the crew. Ericsson will provide everything from satellite connections to application support in one complete package, and manage operation of the Maritime ICT Cloud on behalf of its customers.
Orvar Hurtig, Head of Industry & Society at Ericsson, says: "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. 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."
Maritime ICT Cloud delivers benefits in three main categories: voyage optimization, cargo monitoring and crew welfare. Fuel is the single biggest expense for any ship owner, and also a major source of emissions that are harmful to the environment. Using engine diagnostics and up-to-the minute information about weather and traffic conditions both at sea and in ports, Maritime ICT Cloud enables ship captains to optimize their voyages to save time, fuel and money while also limiting environmental damage.
By the end of 2014, the largest ships were able to carry 19,000 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs). Keeping track of so much cargo is incredibly challenging, and there is much to be gained from connecting containers wirelessly, monitoring them and making real-time information about their whereabouts and environmental conditions easily available via an integrated dashboard.
As a result of the latest amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention (2006), ship owners are expected to provide broadband connectivity for crew communication, entertainment, training and telemedicine. Maritime ICT Cloud includes a multi-service communication platform with optimized connectivity and bandwidth for different types of traffic. The end results include increased staff satisfaction and retention rates, efficient coaching and development, and increased ability to cope with health crises as they arise by remotely accessing medical information.
Ericsson will highlight Maritime ICT Cloud at CES, which takes place in Las Vegas from January 6 to 9.
Hydrographic Society UK Announces Fello
Bluefin Acquires SeeByte Adding New Soft
Speedcast Expands Its Global Maritime VS
Kongsberg Maritime Delivers First Set of
Digital Hydrography on Maritime Web Proc
Unique Maritime Group Locks In Key Appoi
Two Global Leaders Join Forces in Brazil
MacArtney and Teledyne ODI Join Forces f
Ultra Electronics USSI And Liquid Roboti
Kongsberg Ships Seagliders to National O
NOAA Ships Set Sail for 2014 Hydrographi
WOC FOSTERS INDUSTRY-GOVERNMENT COOPERAT
MacArtney and Meyah Ich Ha Join Forces i
Ocean Industries Engage In EU Maritime P
Navies Now Looking to Address Skills Dec
Kongsberg Maritime Upgrades Market Leadi
Kongsberg Maritime Provides Major Simula
Trenam Kemker Launches New Maritime Law
Kongsberg Mesotech Launches the M3 MARSE
Wave industry leaders and Bosch Rexroth
Request for Information on Networked Mar
Kongsberg Maritime Launches New Compact,
Kongsberg Maritime to Provide Turnkey Of
Emerging Markets Communications to Exhib
Kongsberg Maritime to Deliver Integrated
Kongsberg Maritime Integrated Vessel Con
United Arab Shipping Company Selects Wav
Henk van den Ijssel and Peter van der Ha
NOAA team reveals forgotten ghost ships
GVF Announces Launch of 'Glossary' of Ma
Boeing and Liquid Robotics Sign Multi-Ye
Kongsberg Maritime Launches Innovative N
September - Cloud Computing Goes To Sea
MTN Terrestrial Broadband Network Covera
Xodus Group, Saipem and Chiyoda Join For
Unique Maritime Group Board Introduces N
Students Utilize WAM-V® Platform to Face
BMT and MSubs Collaborate to Deliver a M
Marlink Extends Maritime IT Service Offe
NW Marine Technology Summit Bolsters Mar
New Compact High Resolution Monochrome C
VELODYNE 3D LiDAR SENSOR ENABLES M.I.T./
Australian Army purchases VSTEP maritime
Kongsberg Maritime Launches K-SIM Naviga
Leidos Completes At-Sea Testing of Proto
ARRIS SecureMedia® Protects the Maritime
Kongsberg Maritime Launches New Bathymet
Inmarsat Maritime Strengthens Distributi
Global Cloud Xchange Moves into Final St
Aalesund University College Upgrades to
Motive’s Content Express™ Enables Viewer
Unique Maritime Group sets new standards
Inmarsat Announces Enhanced Maritime Pro
MainOne Boss Urges Stakeholders to Adopt
The 2015 Marine Technology Society (MTS)
Unique Maritime Group Announces Rodney M
Kongsberg Maritime Launches New Improved
VSTEP Class A Simulator for Ho Chi Minh
ASV Wins Maritime Autonomy R&D Funding
SSE Enterprise Telecoms, brightsolid and
KVH Expands mini-VSAT Broadband Network
Kongsberg Maritime Acquires Contros Syst
MCP and TMR Integrate to Seize Maritime
KVH Launches Global Conference Series to
Join a Plastic Pollution Research Voyage
James Fisher Completes Acquisition of Mo
NMRA Offers Maritime Student Scholarship
McMurdo and International Maritime Rescu
FloWave and Rockland Scientific Join For
Emerging Markets Communications Showcase
Sonardyne Partners with NDI for Maritime
FloWave and Rockland Scientific Join For
DNV GL Appoints Tor Svensen as Group EVP
Researchers Turn to the Ocean to Help Un
Impartial Maritime VSAT Knowledge Resour
New Dynamic Positioning Course at Kongsb
Harris Corporation and exactEarth Team t
CMRE Successfully Demonstrates Systems f
Public Invited to Join NOAA on Deep Sea
CONTROP Makes Waves with the iSea Family
International Maritime Security Associat
Saab Signs Maritime Mine Countermeasures
Seamlessly Integrate Ships into the Corp
Willard Marine Awarded Contract by NOAA
OceanWise Develops Maritime Toolbar (MTB
Study of Cloud Cover in Tropical Pacific
MSI to Deliver 3 AXYS Technologies Buoys
German Hydrographic Society to Stage Hyd
ESA Funded A-SeNS Enables Port-Log Data
Panasonic Avionics and Kymeta Bring Revo
TSG Delivers Unique, Real-Time Maritime
CMRE and NOAA Join Forces to Monitor Atl
Oceaneering® Launches PortVision 360™ at
Maritime Mine Threat Experts Visit Saab
Australia: Plans for a State-of-the-Art
ORBIT Receives a Follow on Order for Its
GAC Ships World's Largest Underwater Res
Industry Code of Conduct for Maritime Au
Kongsberg Maritime Ltd to Grow Rental Se
Turner Designs new C6P enables up to 6 I
Ocean News & Technology is a publication of TSC
7897 SW Jack James Drive
Suite A, Stuart, FL 34997
(772)-221-7720