Inmarsat Maritime, a part of Viasat (NASDAQ: VSAT) Communication Services, has secured a deal with long-term customer Vega Reederei to equip 10 of its new diesel-electric coaster vessels with the cutting-edge NexusWave connectivity service. The agreement also includes advanced cyber-security solutions Fleet Secure Unified Threat Management (UTM) and Fleet Secure Endpoint.

Scheduled for delivery by July 2026, the series of 89-metre, 3,800-deadweight-tonne short-sea general cargo ships boast an innovative hull and propeller design for optimum fuel efficiency and minimised emissions. With potential future upgrades to all-electric operations and integration of Conoship’s wind-assisted propulsion system, eConowind, the vessels promise further environmental benefits.

Inmarsat Maritime’s NexusWave is a fully managed bonded network solution, comprising GX Ka-band, LEO, LTE and L-band networks. It is designed to enable ‘office-like’ and ‘home-like’ connectivity experience and offers unlimited data, always-on connectivity with unlimited back-up, and secure-by-design network infrastructure.

NexusWave will also help maximize performance of Vega’s newbuild vessels, which also feature Operating Technology (OT) and a highly sophisticated electrical set-up that goes beyond standard for vessels of this size.

Leon Constantin von Plato, Head of the technical department, Vega Reederei, said: “Our innovative new fleet of diesel-electric coasters reflects our commitment to modernising operations for optimum efficiency and environmental performance. Having a connectivity solution that keeps pace with our innovative approach, offering robust cyber-security, unlimited data, and resilience, will support us in achieving these goals.”

Christian Fölster, Sales Manager, Inmarsat Maritime, commented: “Vega’s forward-thinking approach positions them perfectly as early adopters of NexusWave, a solution designed to address today’s needs while anticipating evolving requirements of our customers. We’ve seen strong early interest in the solution, and we’re excited to showcase what it can deliver.”

Inmarsat’s deal with Vega follows recent agreements with Auerbach Marine and Krey Schiffahrt GmbH for NexusWave roll-out. Inmarsat has also laid out a programme of continuous service improvement, with the next phase leveraging the next-generation ViaSat-3 Ka-band network. Building on Inmarsat’s existing capabilities, the Viasat service will bring additional ultra-high capacity and high speeds to NexusWave customers.