Marlink, the global provider of maritime satellite communications, has teamed up with Red Sea Marine Services (RSMS), the Jeddah based ship management company working closely with the Al-Bakri Group of companies. RSMS provides a wide range of services to the shipping and oil industries, which include port operations, port services, stevedoring, crew manning, marine services and full agency. The company currently manages the largest family owned fleet of its kind in the region. Awarded a full service, 60-month contract across eight vessels in total, Marlink's SEAdirect VSAT service is already in operation aboard three RSMS vessels in the region. Launched last April, Marlink's entry-level-band VSAT service provides multiple data rates of up to 1024/256 kbps, offering Internet, e-mail and voice capability for increased operational efficiency and crew communication at sea. With renewed growth across the maritime and related sectors, including investment in workboat fleets as oil prices remain high, the Middle East region is seeing an increase in demand for more sophisticated vessels with more advanced communications capability. "As a ship management company which believes firmly in both its technical excellence and its people, we are pleased to be working with Marlink and are already benefiting from using their SEAdirect VSAT service. This now provides us with unlimited 24/7 Internet access to operate our vessels with best possible efficiency, not to mention the unparalleled customer service experience which is undoubtedly the best in its class," said Muhammad G. Al-Bakri, executive, Red Sea Marine Services. Mireille Abdo Nakad, Marlink's Regional Sales Manager for Middle East, India and Africa explained, "This is an important contract for Marlink in the MENA region as the maritime and related sectors such as workboats begin to recognise the increasing requirement for more sophisticated telecommunications at sea. Looking ahead at potential areas of growth within the satellite communications sector, Marlink has introduced an extensive range of new 'VSAT/Fleet Broadband Bundles' which can be purchased with its multi
