Tech File: Inland Comms Real-time Vessel Surveillance on the Paraná

Tech file

Tech ‘Breakthrough’ Enables Real-time

Vessel Surveillance on the Paraná

Four push boats operated by available from Fleet Xpress has proved fi shing, Chuck Moseley, said, “The Impala Paraguay on the Paraná necessary to support internet protocol choice of Fleet Xpress represented an River have been equipped with (IP) camera surveillance to ensure the inland breakthrough for the hybrid Inmarsat’s Fleet Xpress connec- safety of crew and the cargo trans- combination of high-speed Ka-band tivity. According to the mobile satel- ported by Impala. As part of a three- plus continuous back-up over Fleetlite communications provider, this year Fleet Xpress contract, each push Broadband’s L-band. marks a breakthrough for maritime boat is installed with 20 IP cameras “Fleet Xpress is already powering the broadband inland along one of South connected via onboard antennas, en- maritime data revolution, but recent America’s longest waterways. abling continuous monitoring from months have also seen ship owners ac-

The prime mover vessels are used Impala Paraguay offi ces. celerate uptake of video-based applicaby Impala Paraguay to steer its fl eet of “We are invested in providing the tions to enhance collaborative work30 double-hulled barges along the wa- best service possible to our clients and ing, security, telemedicine and crew terway system to move gasoil, jet fuel, ensuring that we have state-of-the-art connectivity,” Moseley continued. gasoline and naphtha products from technology supporting every aspect of “The Paraná River is an artery for Argentina onward to Paraguay and our operations,” an Impala Paraguay economic development, carrying Bolivia. The same network enables soy spokesperson said. “We believe using around 80% of Paraguay’s trade. This bean oil in the other direction from IP surveillance in our pushers sends a order demonstrates that guaranteed Paraguay to Argentina. Long sections clear message to our clients that we will global bandwidth via Fleet Xpress of the transit take place outside the take all measures necessary to ensure brings comparable gains inland to reach of 4G or GSM cellular networks. that our operations are done in an effi - those already being achieved at sea.

Impala Paraguay’s pushers are fi t- cient, reliable and responsible manner.” Committed data rates backed-up by ted with modern navigation and night Following installation works un- service level agreements also guaranoperation equipment, and its barges dertaken in Asunción, Paraguay, In- tee that Fleet Xpress customers always are equipped with alarm systems to marsat’s sales director for offshore and gets what they pay for.” alert crew members when the barge is 95% and 98% full in order to prevent overfl ow and subsequent spillage. GPS monitoring systems report the exact position of each barge and the quantity Real time video surveillance via Fleet Xpress is keeping cargoes and crews secure along the Paraná River, the artery for economic development that carries around 80% of Paraguay’s trade. Inmarsat of product in its hull at any time of day.

To date, continuous push boat connectivity has been sustained using Inmarsat’s FleetBroadband service, which the company said guarantees connectivity for the modern navigation systems and night operation 3030 E. Pershing St. equipment, as well as the load sensors Appleton, WI 54911 USA and GPS position monitoring installed sales@appletonmarine.com on barges. On average, each push boat consumes around 500 gigabytes (GB) www.appletonmarine.com of data per month for vessel manage- Phone: (920) 738-5432 ment and crew connectivity. Fax: (920) 738-5435

However, the unlimited bandwidth