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Comsat Invests $ 147 Million In Global Handheld Communications Service Comsat Corp. announced it will invest $ 147 million in the Inmarsat- P company that will provide global handheld communications services by the year 2000. Inmarsat-P users will be able to communicate any- time, anywhere using a handheld unit similar to a cellular phone, a unit that will cost less than $1,000 and operates through both satellite and cellular links. Users will pay about $2 per minute. "Satellite-based handheld com- munications will be a $10-billion business in 10 years," said Ron Mario, president of Comsat Mobile Communications. "With our in- vestment in Inmarsat-P, Comsat will be a major player in this mar- ket." Comsat's investment includes a direct commitment of $94 million to the new company, $20 million through Comsat Argentina, and ap- proximately $33 million through Comsat's ownership share of Inmarsat's $150 million investment in Inmarsat-P. The Inmarsat-P system will be comprised of 10 sat- ellites in intermediate circular or- bit (ICO) and will cost $2.6 billion. The Inmarsat-P company will own and direct the operation of the sat- ellite system and 12 interconnected satellite access nodes (SANS). These nodes will handle signal process- ing, call routing and switching, and will be geographically located for efficient global coverage. For more information on Comsat Circle 142 on Reader Service Card Thrustmaster Wins Contract Thrustmaster International's model A35J azimuthing bow- thruster was chosen for a new se- ries ofOffshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) to be built for the government of Mauritius by ASMAR Shipbuilding & Docking Co. Thrustmaster Intl. manufactures a range of azimuthing bowjets ranging from 100 to 6,000 hp. For more information on Thrustmaster Circle 146 on Reader Service Card SCA Moves To Alexandria The office of the Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA) has been moved from Arlington, Va. to Old Town Alexandria. The new ad- dress is Suite 204,901 North Wash- 'ngton Street, Alexandria, Va. 2314; tel: (703) 548-SHIP, fax: (703) 18-0276. idler Named IMS Chairman James Fidler was elected chair- an of the board for the American nstitute of Merchant Shipping AIMS) for 1995. AIMS, the na- ional maritime trade association, s entering its 27th year of service o the U.S. merchant marine. AIMS is a national trade associa- tion representing 23 U.S.-flag carri- ers which own or operate approxi- mately 11 million dwt of tankers, dry bulk carriers, containerships, and other oceangoing vessels. MIT To Join FastShip Atlantic Research FastShip Atlantic, Inc. and the Massachusetts Institute of Technol- ogy (MIT) announced a long-term program to collaborate in research and development of a new high- speed freighter that its organizers say can revolutionize ocean trans- portation of high-value cargo. MIT has agreed to assist with marketing research and long-term technical research for the new high- speed ship technology on which FastShip Atlantic's proposed 1998 service is based. The MIT/FastShip agreement Circle 206 on Reader Service Card calls for close R&D collaboration; MIT to participate in the ongoing research, application and refine- ment process to continually improve the basic FastShip technology; MIT to assist in the transfer of its new innovations (predominantly through license agreements) so the public can benefit from this technol- ogy; and for MIT to assist in the estimation of the market for manu- factured goods and parts that can be carried by FastShip technology. ABS CAN IMPROVE YOUR BULK CARRIER DESIGN. In September 1993, ABS launched the SafeHull™ System for tanker newbuildings* This computer-based tool simulates the real-life experience of ships at sea. Then we introduced our ABS SafeHullv Condition Assessment Services for existing tankers in January 1994. Now we offer the SafeHull™ System for new and existing bulk carriers. The system is based on the same fundamental design prin- ciples as for tankers. It's adjust- ed for determination of the spe- cific dynamic loads which act upon a bulk carrier at sea. The system identifies critical structur- al areas that require enhance- ment, by more effective distribu- tion of steel, to lower the ship's operating stresses. ABS SafeHull™ for bulk carri- ers benefits designers, owners and operators. It helps reduce the risk of structural failures, thereby lowering your life-cycle maintenance and repair costs. SafeHull fulfills the ABS mission of promoting the safety of life and property at sea. For more information about SafeHull, contact your nearest ABS office. 'Since then, it's won Seatrade's Safety at Sea Award. New York 212 839-0300 Houston 713 873-0700 Singapore 65 276-8700 London 44-71 247-3255 _|THE X Z ABS Seatrade f SAFEHULL AWARDS ™1 SYSTEM |994 February, 1995 7
