Satellite Internet - Deadliest Catch

Sig Hansen, a star of the Discovery Channel's hit TV show Deadliest Catch, is using FleetBroadband to stay hooked up to shore as he navigates the treacherous Bering Sea.
Inmarsat partner Thrane & Thrane has installed a Sailor 500 terminal on Sig's king crab fishing vessel, Northwestern, to provide him with FleetBroadband telephone and internet connectivity.

The vessel can be at sea for months at a time, facing 20-metre (60ft) waves, winds of up to 150 knots and extreme ice nearly a metre thick, so hard-wearing and reliable communications equipment is vital to ensuring the safety and welfare of the crew.
"I really enjoy the fact that Sailor 500 FleetBroadband provides the capabilities to contact our loved ones," said skipper Sig.

"What could be more therapeutic than that? I have no problem with the guys using it. Our work is stressful and tiring, so it's like therapy for them - they can even use webcams when they talk to their family and loved ones.

"It will also play an important role in our day-to-day operations, especially when it comes to the weather. With instant, detailed weather reports we can stay out that little bit longer, haul more pots and make our time at sea more profitable."
The high bandwidth offered by Inmarsat's FleetBroadband service will also play an important role in any medical emergencies and equipment problems.

If a crew member is hurt in an accident, it will be possible to send pictures of the injury back to doctors on land to advise on a course of action.
Likewise, should there be an engine or equipment failure, pictures or video of the problem will help the supplier's technical support team to help the Northwestern crew address the problem.

Source: Inmarsat