A generous offer regarding the Global VSAT Forum (GVF) Broadband Maritime: New Communications Networking Offshore & the High-Seas 2009 (BM 2009) conference will take place at the Marina Mandarin Hotel, Singapore over 18th & 19th February, with complimentary registration for maritime sector executives.

“The importance of this conference arises from the imperatives of communicating effectively whilst on the ocean surface” said Martin Jarrold, Chief of International program Development with GVF and Chairman of BM 2009. Mr. Jarrold continued “Such communication has become just as essential as when we undertake our economic activities and social pursuits on dry land, activities that are more and more dependent on information and communications technology-related efficiencies aboard vessels on the high-seas.”

Recognizing that the high seas are at once a prime means of transporting our trade goods, are an important source of vital energy resources and food supplies, and are an important environment for human leisure pursuits, and are central to the ever-greater integration of the globalized world economy, this event will feature the participation of a wide range of organizations from both the satellite services and technology provider community and from the broadband communications solution end-user community across the maritime industry.

A first day feature presentation will be delivered by Peter Faurhoej, Head of the Navigation & Communication Systems Division of Maersk Suply Service A/S, part of A.P. Moller-Maersk, who will address the topic of challenges in ‘Implementing Broadband Internet on 100 vessels in 150 days’.

Others representatives include executives from several Asia-Pacific-based shipping and shipping management companies, including Wallem (Hong Kong) and NYK (Singapore).

Paul Stahl, Managing Partner of UK-EMP, with whom GVF is partnered for the BM 2009 conference commented today that “Maritime sector representatives, specifically ship owners, operators and managers, together with representatives of port authorities and cruise lines are welcome to attend the conference on a complimentary, free-of-charge, basis.” Marine BizTV, the world's first global, free to air maritime channel, has added its support to the conference as Official Broadcast Partner, in which capacity it will broadcast the conference proceedings through its SatTV and WebTV offerings.

The following industry leaders are supporting sponsors. As well as being held in association with Inmarsat and Intelsat, as previously announced, the conference also now features the sponsorship support of:

• Comtech EF Data, a subsidiary of Comtech Telecommunications Corp.,
• SeaMobile/MTN Satellite Services

Jay Yass, Intelsat’s Vice President, Network Services said, “at this conference, Intelsat will facilitate the general provider/end-user dialogue, which will highlight the solutions service operators, ship owners and managers are seeking today when implementing bandwidth-rich maritime broadband applications. Since launching Intelsat’s Network Broadband Global Maritime Service, we have witnessed an increased demand by the market for a solution such as ours that offers an always-on broadband connection, powered by automatic beam switching technology and one that is adaptable to accommodate future applications that will be critical for crew welfare and retention.”

Among many other speakers from the satellite services and technology provider community, and representing SeaMobile/MTN/Satellite Services on the conference Regulatory Open Forum panel discussion on the second day of the event, will be the company’s Vice President for Regulatory Affairs, Robert Hanson. Organizations in the program, in addition to Inmarsat, Intelsat, Comtech EF Data, SeaMobile/MTN Satellite Services, and A.P. Moller-Maersk include Parallel Limited, SpeedCast, Gilat Satellite Networks, CapRock Communications, CGP Solutions, Thuraya and many others. There will also be presentations and panel discussions involving Northern Sky Research (NSR); global law firm Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP, and PTS Thailand.

The conference agenda takes as its starting point the fact that there has already been much recent improvement in the availability of advanced communications at sea, it is only now that the maritime communications environment is progressing fully, from a mainly narrowband communications arena, and into the broadband age, exploiting the increased synergies of advances in satellite equipment technologies and the availability and accessibility of new bandwidth across, and linking, all the world’s oceans. Much more information is available at.