Cruise Ship Installs Iridium E-Mail Service to Provide
Ship-to-Internet and Intra-Ship Communications in Polar
Regions
Iridium is providing satellite data links for a cost-effective
e-mail solution for passengers and crew of M/V Polar
Star, an expedition cruise ship that specializes in
excursions from Antarctica to the Arctic.
The satellite e-mail service was developed and installed
on M/V Polar Star by Global Marine Networks, an Iridium
value-added developer.
“Iridium’s constellation of 66 low-earth
orbiting satellites makes it possible for M/V Polar
Star’s passengers and crew to communicate in Polar
Regions where, previously, they haven’t had access,”
said Don Thoma, executive vice president of Iridium
Satellite.
Global Marine Networks’ XGate wireless e-mail
gateway makes it easy and inexpensive for passengers
to send and receive e-mail during the voyage. Prior
to the Iridium solution, M/V Polar Star passengers had
to handwrite or save to floppy disks messages slated
for e-mail and deliver them to the purser, who then
re-typed and transmitted the notes. For passengers to
receive e-mail, the crew had to print and hand-deliver
the messages.
Now, the M/V Polar Star purser creates accounts and
assigns e-mail addresses for passengers who want to
have e-mail access during the voyage. They can use a
computer, running Web mail, located in one of several
locations on the ship to receive and read their messages
in privacy.
The M/V Polar Star crew also benefits from the new
Iridium satellite-based e-mail system. Crewmembers can
use the service to send invoices and notices directly
to their passengers. The e-mail gets delivered locally
without consuming satellite airtime.
“The XGate software uses selective compression
techniques to optimize e-mail transfers,” said
Dr. Luis Soltero, president of Global Marine Networks.
“On average, Xgate is about 10 to 15 times faster
than other satellite e-mail systems when it comes to
delivering e-mail.”
“Global Marine Networks’ Iridium e-mail
solution is much more convenient for everyone involved.
It is easy to use, cost effective and innovative, while
ensuring privacy for those who use it,” said Thoma.
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19
December 2005 
