[SatNews ] Hughes Network Systems, LLC (Hughes) and Environmental Safety Systems International Corporation (ESSI) are equipping the entire Hercules Offshore fleet of Class 120 to Class 230 liftboats in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, with Hughes satellite-based broadband maritime services.

These liftboats, commonly referred to as the “workhorse” of the offshore industry, are reliable, versatile, and self-contained. They provide a cost-effective and efficient alternative to traditional pipelay/derrick vessels. With their large, open deck areas, they are self-propelling and self-elevating. The fleet provides a work platform for a wide range of services from coiled tubing and wireline operations to well intervention. The Hughes Broadband Maritime solution supports simple voice, email, Wi-Fi, and web browsing, as well as VPN, video, network management, and custom-built applications at very competitive prices.

Hughes Broadband Maritime services also extends Hercules Offshore’s office wide area network (WAN) to all liftboats by a private backhaul that connects Hercules Offshore headquarters to the Hughes Network Operations Center (NOC) in Maryland. This allows all Hercules Offshore employees on liftboats to access corporate email and other applications as if they were in the onshore office. Hercules Offshore is also instituting “four digit dialing” to all liftboats from any office phone through the main phone switch. The broadband satellite services for Hercules Offshore are fully managed by Hughes in partnership with ESSI. In addition to supporting critical operational communications and data exchange, the solution is an important morale-boosting amenity for the crew, providing a vital ship-to-shore link for workers who often spend weeks offshore.