Marlink Expands Contract with DOF ASA (Norway)

Marlink, the global provider of maritime satellite communications, has secured a new three year contract with DOF ASA, a Norwegian based operator of offshore and subsea vessels. As part of the new contract Marlink will supply its cutting-edge Sealink™ VSAT services to an additional 20 vessels, increasing the total number of DOF ASA vessels sailing with Marlink VSAT services to 52.

“Operating within the offshore and subsea sectors, DOF heavily relies upon high-speed connectivity for an extensive range of applications including efficient transfer of data ashore, increased communication between crew, vessels and shore-based employees and crew welfare. Marlink’s VSAT systems have proven to provide high quality bandwidth and reliable connectivity as well as flexible services, which can be customised to meet specific requirements. I am confident that our renewed relationship with Marlink’s very experienced engineering team will enable us to significantly expand our satellite communications capabilities moving forward,” comments Tor Skeie, General Manager, Marin IT in DOF ASA.

Marlink’s new contract with DOF ASA will include the delivery and installation of the innovative Sealink™ C-band and Ku-band VSAT system to provide dedicated bandwidth onboard 29 of its vessels. Marlink’s shared bandwidth Ku-band VSAT system will be installed onboard 23 of its vessels. The satellite communications package which has been developed by Marlink for DOF ASA, includes both dedicated and shared bandwidth services to meet specific requirements of individual vessels. In addition to the initial installations, Marlink anticipates that the scope of its supply will expand further to include several new builds planned for 2011.

Tore Morten Olsen, CEO, Marlink, adds: “Owning teleports globally, we consistently demonstrate unmatched flexibility and control of our satellite communications services. This offers significant benefits to companies operating within the offshore and subsea sectors such as DOF ASA, as we are able to provide high quality bandwidth and services that can be tailored to meet exact customer specifications. The new agreement with DOF ASA is testament to our strong understanding of the company’s requirements for connectivity, as well as our position at the forefront of the maritime satellite communications industry.”

About Marlink

Marlink’s comprehensive portfolio ranges from its own VSAT solutions Sealink™, WaveCall™ and @SEAdirect™, to MSS on-demand services including Inmarsat FleetBroadband and Iridium OpenPort. The company has established regional customer service facilities in major regions of the world, supporting its global customer base.

About DOF ASA

Founded in 1981, DOF ASA is an International group of companies which owns and operates a modern fleet of offshore and subsea vessels as well as engineering capacity to service the global subsea market. The DOF group operates within three different segments in relation to strategic types of activities and vessel types. The company’s fleet consists of innovative vessels specialized for their operational purpose including platform supply vessels (PSV), anchor handling tug supply vessels (AHTS) and construction support vessel/subsea ROV vessels (CSV).

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Source: marlink ,February 11, 2011;