Absolute selects Vizada to provide LRIT Data for Panama Flag

Absolute Maritime Tracking Systems (AMTS) has selected Vizada to provide long range identification and tracking (LRIT) data to the Panama Maritime Authority. AMTS is the sole LRIT ASP and NDC for the entire fleet of Panama flagged vessels. LRIT is a mandatory requirement for vessels on international voyages for security and search and rescue purposes.

LRIT regulation was introduced by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and obliges vessels to transmit an automatic position report (APR) with the ship’s identity and position a minimum of four times a day. The APR is transmitted via a mobile satellite terminal such as Inmarsat-C to the Flag Authority with which the vessel is registered. Vessels must demonstrate LRIT compliance from 1 January 2009.

The Panama Maritime Authority, Panama’s official Flag Authority, selected Absolute Maritime Tracking Systems to manage all LRIT communications for the country’s 8,000 eligible vessels (passenger ships, cargo ships including high-speed craft of 300 gross tons and above, and mobile offshore drilling units). Vizada is among the few mobile satellite providers capable of delivering APRs from the vessel to the LRIT control centers via the Inmarsat satellite, through its network of wholly-owned and operated mobile satellite teleports.

Vizada service provider Absolute Maritime Tracking Systems, specialized in maritime security communications, coordinates directly with Vizada to retrieve the APR data, in turn reformatting and delivering it to the Panama Maritime Authority data center. “Vizada has provided reliable mobile satcoms solutions to maritime customers for more than three decades, and we are one of the most experienced Inmarsat-C players on the market”, said Eric Verheylewegen, VP Commercial Sales, Vizada Americas. “As a maritime security specialist, we rely on Absolute Maritime Tracking Systems to ensure the crucial link between our Inmarsat-C systems and the Flag Authority.”

AMTS, Inc. is a joint venture company between PSC HOLDINGS, S.A. and ABSOLUTE SOFTWARE, Inc. Absolute Software, Inc. is a privately held company with offices in the United States, South East Asia and New Zealand. Absolute has developed many of the world's largest wide area satellite surveillance projects. Absolute Software is a manufacturer of high end spatial analysis tools for use with a variety of satellite communication and imagery networks. Absolute processes today more long range maritime tracking data today than any other supplier – and their products are considered the benchmark for sophisticated automatic track analysis in the maritime domain. For further information please refer to www.absolutesw.com

PSC Holdings, S.A. is a privately held company based in Panama and widely acknowledged as the leading Inmarsat PSA for Panama flag vessels with close to 3,000 vessels under management. In addition, PSC Holdings provides vessel registration services for ship owners wishing to register their vessels under the Panama flag. For further information please refer to www.panama-psa.com.

Vizada is the worldwide leading provider of global satellite communications, with more than $640 million in 2007 revenue, and more market share on more satellite networks than any other satellite communications provider in the world. Vizada customers include commercial, military and business aircraft, merchant shipping vessels, emergency response teams, government and military units, news gathering organizations, and Fortune 500 companies. Vizada offers fixed and mobile communications services using multiple satellite network operators, including, Eutelsat, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Iridium, Loral, New Skies, SES Americom and Thuraya. Gateway access to these networks is made possible through the Vizada Global Teleport Network – five state-of-the-art facilities strategically positioned around the world. Vizada also provides Vizada Solutions™, leading edge technologies for IP & networking, messaging, business tools, prepaid solutions, fixed2mobile services and secure communications. Vizada has regional centers of operation located in Washington D.C., United States for the Americas and Paris, France for Europe, Middle East, Africa & Asia. vizada.com