Fort Lee, New Jersey, USA. June 20, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) — A multi-year framework contract with the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) has been awarded to LuxSpace Sarl, an affiliate of OHB System AG. LuxSpace and its partner ORBCOMM, Inc. will provide satellite Automatic Identification System (AIS) data used for ship tracking and other maritime navigational and safety efforts to EMSA for designated regions and specific maritime projects. The contract is funded for up to EUR500,000 (US$625,000) for the first year with options for an additional two years with funding levels yet to be determined.
The contract award was the result of a competitive bid among providers of space-based AIS data service. EMSA determined that the AIS service provided by ORBCOMM and LuxSpace was superior, citing the service offering as ‘the most advantageous in regards of quality price ratio’. Headquartered in Lisbon, Portugal, EMSA is one of the largest consolidators of AIS data and is responsible for maritime safety, pollution and security on board ships for the European Union (EU) and its member states.
“We are pleased to announce the new EMSA contract, which solidifies our market leadership in providing space-based AIS services,” said Marc Eisenberg, ORBCOMM’s chief executive officer. “This contract award affirms that ORBCOMM’s AIS offering provides the best combination of quality and price available in the market today.”
In addition to EMSA’s contract award, ORBCOMM and its AIS partners have signed several additional contracts for satellite AIS data services around the world, expanding its market share and adding key customers within the maritime industry. ORBCOMM is also actively participating in numerous AIS demonstrations and tests, including an extensive naval exercise conducted by 22 Pacific Rim nations in the Pacific Ocean starting at the end of June.
To further improve ORBCOMM’s global AIS service, 18 additional AIS-enabled satellites that make up ORBCOMM’s next generation constellation are scheduled to begin launching later this year. These additional satellites will enhance ORBCOMM’s coverage, refresh rates and overall performance.
ORBCOMM (Nasdaq: ORBC) is a leading global satellite data communications company, focused on machine-to-machine (M2M) communications. Its customers include Caterpillar Inc., Doosan Infracore America, Hitachi Construction Machinery, Hyundai Heavy Industries, Asset Intelligence (a division of I.D. Systems, Inc.), Komatsu Ltd., Manitowoc Crane Companies, Inc., and Volvo Construction Equipment among other industry leaders.
By means of a global network of low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites and accompanying ground infrastructure, ORBCOMM’s low-cost and reliable two-way data communication services track, monitor and control mobile and fixed assets in our core markets: commercial transportation; heavy equipment; industrial fixed assets; marine; and homeland security. ORBCOMM based products are installed on trucks, containers, marine vessels, locomotives, backhoes, pipelines, oil wells, utility meters, storage tanks and other assets.
Through its recently acquired StarTrak Information Technologies, LLC and StarTrak Logistics Management Solutions, LLC (formerly PAR Logistics Management Solutions) businesses, ORBCOMM is an innovator and leading provider of tracking, monitoring and control services for the refrigerated transport market. Under its ReeferTrak®, GenTrak(TM), and CargoWatch(TM) brands, the company provides customers with the ability to proactively monitor, manage and remotely control their refrigerated transport assets. Additionally, ORBCOMM provides AIS data services for vessel tracking and to improve maritime safety to government and commercial customers worldwide. ORBCOMM is headquartered in Fort Lee, New Jersey and has its network control centre in Dulles, Virginia.