Meet ‘Super GPS’: XONA Ups the Space Race Ante
With a mission to power the current and next-generation of GPS-enabled products and systems, XONA Space Systems keeps the mantra ‘precision, power and protection’ in all that it does as this 2020-start-up designs, builds and launches its fleet of low earth orbit satellites. We spoke with XONA CEO Brian Manning for his insights on how this could impact the maritime, offshore energy and subsea sectors.The following was excerpted from Maritime Reporter TV’s interview with XONA CEO Brian Manning.
Caribbean Officials Search for Missing Couple After Yacht Hijacking
Police from two countries in the eastern Caribbean are investigating the possible murder of two people believed to be U.S. citizens who owned a catamaran that was hijacked by three fugitives in the waters off the island of Grenada.The yacht's alleged owners, Kathy Brandel and Ralph Hendry, were last seen Sunday night, when three men escaped from the custody of Grenadian authorities. Police in St. Vincent and the Grenadines captured the men on Wednesday.The Royal Grenada Police…
iKommunicate Brings the 'Internet of Things' to Boats
iKommunicate from Digital Yacht is a radical new gateway designed to get traditional marine electronics connected to the next generation of interfacing and the internet of things. It was developed via a successful Kickstarter crowd funded project back in early 2016 and is now available as a consumer product. NMEA 0183 and NMEA 2000 interfacing have been utilised for many years and are now the defacto interconnect standard for all major brands of electronics. They are super reliable but relatively old fashioned in that they are slow and also complex for application developers to work with - like a dial up modem in a broadband age.
ARC Fleet Improves Communication Facilities
Press release - The ARC and ARC+ fleets, totalling almost 300 yachts, are preparing to set sail this month with the compact, innovative YB3 boat tracking and satellite communication system on board. Having provided YB3 to the ARC for boat tracking duties since 2009, YB Tracking is extending its support for the 2015 edition by enabling low-cost email and SMS messaging functionality on YB3 for the entire fleet. In addition it is providing free Facebook posts and sending of Tweets.
Inmarsat Chosen for Chicago Yacht Race
Inmarsat, a provider of global mobile satellite communications services, will serve as the official broadband provider for the 107th running of the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac. Fans of the race will be able to follow the teams in real-time as a small group of on-board commentators will upload high-resolution pictures and video to Facebook and Twitter via Inmarsat’s mobile satellite communications network throughout the race. Building on the success of the Volvo Ocean Race, made possible by Inmarsat’s reliable satellite connectivity…
Online at Sea: Cruise Company Debuts Social Media Flat Fee
The advent of broadband at sea continues to expand, as German cruis brand AIDA introduces a flat-fee for social media networks onboard its ships. AIDA Cruises is introducing an Internet flat fee for social media networks on board its ships. For 4 euros per day, or 19 euros per week, passengers will be able to share their experiences on board with friends in popular social networks, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or WhatsApp. “The use of mobile devices is continuously growing.
Newport International Boat Show Highlights
Newport Exhibition Group, owners and producers of the Newport International Boat Show, announced today activities and amenities for those planning to attend its 44th boat show season, the Newport International Boat Show provides visitors from around the world a venue to see the latest boats and product offerings from hundreds of manufacturers and dealers, including dozens debuting for the first time in the United States. Set along historic Newport Harbor in the heart of downtown Newport, the show also offers a wealth of education and fun activities for boating enthusiasts of all ages and experience.
Ready for Launch: MTN Nexus Targets high-volume Cruise Market
MTN Satellite Communications launched MTN Nexus, a next-generation comms network billed as a hybrid that integrates it with new terrestrial wireless technologies as well as sophisticated computing, powerful processing and specialized optimization. Targeting the high volume cruise sector, MR thought an apt time to sit down with CEO Errol Olivier to discuss Nexus and its relevance to communications at sea. We understand you are a maritime satcom industry veteran. Can you give our readers a briefing on your background serving this market?
MTN Launches NEXUS
The advent of maritime communications is at a crossroads of sorts, with increased demand for connectivity that mirrors land-based performance, but still stuck at a price point which makes this reality too costly. The situation is particularly poignant onboard modern cruise ships, packed with thousands of passengers and crew that want and need to stay connected. Enter MTN Satellite Communications which today announced the launch of its MTN Nexus, the company’s next-generation communications network.
Northport Systems' Fugawi Marine 5 Navigation Software Shipping
Newly Designed Navigation Software Offers Streamlined Way to Manage Boat Navigation Systems. Software manufacturer Northport Systems Inc. has announced the availability of its next-generation, streamlined marine navigation software, Fugawi Marine 5. Completely redesigned from the ground up to make it easier for sailors, power boaters and anglers to manage their boat’s navigation systems to better suit their needs and have more fun on the water, Fugawi Marine 5 revolutionizes navigation, waypoint management and chart downloading.
Wavey Line Charts for Bahamas, Turks & Caicos, DR
Leading Online Map Service Now Offers the Most Detailed Cartography of Bahamian and Northern Caribbean Waters. Software manufacturer Northport Systems Inc. announced today that its popular Fugawi X-Traverse online map collection now supports Wavey Line high definition raster charts of the Bahamas, Turks & Caicos, and the north coast of the Dominican Republic. Providing mariners with access to the most accurate and up-to-date charts available for the northern Caribbean waters,…
Walmart to Stock Super Rope Clinch
Just Right Products' Super Rope Cinch knot-tying device to be distributed by Walmart: owners attribute product success to social media, press releases. The device can be used to secure a boat to the dock, fenders to a boat, towing arrangements for water-skiers and wake-boarders, and almost anywhere else a knot needs to be tied. Using social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, along with a website, blog and several online press releases, the Super Rope Cinch gained traction and popularity, which eventually led to major hardware and boating distribution channels, and now, Walmart.
