"Collaboration Challenges in Maritime and Shipping".Maritime Satellite Communications Optimization.
Training
There is a crisis in the commercial maritime market with more jobs available than qualified and/or competent staff. Many industry commentators agree that the traditional reserves of cheap "third world" labour have been exhausted as people from traditional seafaring nations such as China, India and the Philippines can earn the same if not more ashore.
Therefore, seafarers have a choice to be at sea rather than being there out of necessity.
In addition to the crew welfare and onboard benefit expectations, (see Crew Welfare section), ship operators have an increasing need to train their onboard staff for:
• Compliance and Regulatory reasons;
• To mitigate a lower than average onboard skill set and;
• Reduce the risk of accidents through poor training.
Geo-Replicator’s unique replication technology allows onboard deployment of web based training tools (flash video, for instance) giving the trainee the same look, feel, benefit and user experience as if they were ashore.
The ship operator gets the benefit of well trained and informed staff without the cost or risk of providing a real time internet / HTTP link to the vessel.
If a broadband satellite link is available via VSAT, FBB or other IP satellite system, then using Geo-Replicator will significantly reduce the amount of data transmitted, freeing bandwidth for operational use.
Training information need not be in a Flash Video or online form, but could equally be in the form of supplier manuals. As Geo-Replicator is file and format independent, this data can be kept in its original form and kept up-to-date onboard without any manipulation ashore and without any effort on the part of shoreside or vessel staff.
Customer success story
The US Navy has created the "Distance Support" web portal, to give personnel on ships instant access to full and up-to-date maintenance documentation.
The "Sailor to Engineer" page of the portal enables sailors to get expert answers to questions regarding the maintenance of weapons, hull, mechanical, and electrical systems.
The effectiveness of the portal was, however, limited by bandwidth availability over the Navy’s satellite network.
Infonic’s Geo-Replicator technology provides the bandwidth optimization that makes the updating of the Distance Support portal possible across the entire fleet via satellite.
For more infomation please contact: maritime@infonic.com or Enquire Online.
