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PressReleases 
Articles MARLINK RENEWS CONTRACT WITH MSC CRUISES FOR A FURTHER THREE YEARS
Tuesday, March 16th, 2010
Marlink secures multi-year contract renewal, reinforcing its position as the leading satellite communications provider for the European Cruise Market
Marlink, the global provider of maritime satellite communications, has recently renewed its contract with Italian Cruise Company MSC Cruises for a further three years. As part of the contract, Marlink will install its Sealink(TM) VSAT services onboard more vessels, as well as expand its services to include several Value Added Services to benefit crew and passengers.
"It has become critical for us to have high-quality, reliable satellite communications onboard our ships. The high-bandwidth connectivity provided by Marlink's Sealink(TM) solution enables us to connect vessels with our offices on land to improve operational efficiency. The solution also enables us to provide passengers and crew onboard with cost-effective voice, Internet and email services so that they can stay in touch with friends and family ashore," comments Emilio La Scala, General Manager of MSC Cruises Technical Department.
Marlink's contract renewal with MSC Cruises will include the delivery, installation and operation of Marlink's global Sealink(TM) C-band VSAT solution onboard the new build 'MSC Magnifica'. Marlink will also continue to provide Sealink(TM) VSAT on ten of MSC's ships and will expand services on each ship, providing more than twenty simultaneous telephone channels, third-party GSM access and Internet access with link optimizing and content filtering services for administration, crew and passenger use. Additionally, the Sealink(TM) system provides direct administration MPLS access in the terrestrial network to MSC's head office LAN and telephone system in Sorrento, Italy.
Commenting on the contract renewal, Tore Morten Olsen, CEO Marlink, said: "I am delighted that we are renewing our long-standing relationship with MSC Cruises. Our strong position within the European cruise and ferry market is testament to our ability to provide exceptional value through high quality, reliable satellite communications solutions which can be customized to meet individual ship operator requirements."
Marlink's portfolio incorporates an extensive range of satellite communications services ranging from its own multi-regional Ku-band and global C-band Maritime VSAT systems WaveCall(TM) and Sealink(TM) to on-demand services Inmarsat FleetBroadband, Iridium and Thuraya. The company has established customer service centres operating in major regions throughout the world. This level of regional presence means that Marlink is able to offer faster, more effective and locally focused service intervention and customer support when required.
MSC Crociere currently has the most modern fleet in the world (fleets of four ships or more), comprising eleven ships: MSC Splendida and MSC Fantasia (the largest ships ever built for a European ship owner), MSC Poesia, MSC Orchestra, MSC Musica, MSC Sinfonia, MSC Armonia, MSC Opera, MSC Lirica and MSC Melody. MSC Magnifica, the newest ship in the fleet, was launched in March 2010. The fleet cruises year round in the Mediterranean and seasonally in Northern Europe, the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean, North America and Canada, South America, the Indian Ocean and South and West Africa. MSC Crociere is the only company in the world to receive the "6 Golden Pearls" award from the Bureau Veritas in recognition of its high level of quality management and environmental protection.
MSC has also achieved ISO 9001 and ISO 22000 certification for the quality and food safety of all aspects of its catering, both onshore and onboard. MSC Crociere cares about the welfare of children, and as a responsible market leader believes in making a positive impact in the regions where it operates. To this end, the company recently forged a partnership with UNICEF to fund a community project aimed at providing disadvantaged children in Brazil with a quality education.
About Marlink
Marlink is a global satellite communications leader, providing maritime customers with one source for an entire range of voice and data solutions backed by the industry's most trusted service and support network. As the developers of Sealink(TM) -- one of the most established VSAT solutions in commercial maritime market - Marlink's offering for bulk cargo vessels, yachts and leisure vessels is WaveCall(TM), a fast, cost-efficient Maritime VSAT Solution providing professional-class communications at sea. Across its wide range of satellite communications products and solutions, Marlink routes communication through its own teleports to ensure superior quality, reliability and flexibility for Marlink customers. With offices worldwide, including Athens, Brussels, Dubai, Hamburg, Houston, London, Oslo, Rockville, Singapore and Tokyo, Marlink delivers the widest choice in satellite communication solutions matched with expert personal support available day or night, from anywhere.
