Arranged by the vessel's technical manager, Hellespont Ship Management GmBH & Co. KG, Nordic American Tankers Limited installed the Maritime Broadband C-Bird solution aboard the MT Nordic Aurora on 6 August. The installation also initiates a 36-month contract for C-Band global satellite services to be provided by Maritime Broadband to the vessel.

MT Nordic AuroraC-Bird was delivered as a kit to the vessel without use of a shore crane. The antenna was then assembled and installed on board while at anchorage in Fos-sur-Mer, France. The preparation and fabrication of the pedestal took 48 hours plus five hours by the crew of the Nordic Aurora and two Maritime Broadband techs to assemble the C-bird system.

Dalibor Jalsovec, electrical superintendent, Hellespont Ship Management, noted that C-Bird was selected because it is affordable and practical. "We were able to install this system ourselves without going to dry-dock or the use of floating cranes, as the equipment is not heavy and it is modular. For us as technical managers of a tanker fleet, the economics and logistics of C-Bird just make sense when doing the installation while the vessel is in service."

Mr Frithjof Bettum, Senior Vice-President Technical Operations at Nordic American Tankers Limited stated: "The choice to deploy C-Bird was natural for us. We have always-on Internet within our existing budget. Coverage is global, which we expect will provide operating benefits, support the crew and eliminate some surprises in our communication bills. The ease and low cost of installation is a great feature."

The MT Nordic Aurora is a 274-metre Suezmax crude carrier, built in 1999. The vessel trades worldwide.