Plastiki Relies on FleetBroadband Satellite Communications to Deliver Environmental Message
Portable Satellite internet and satellite voice communications enabled by a solar-powered Thrane & Thrane Sailor 500 FleetBroadband terminal were key components of a unique ocean voyage intended to draw world attention to the crisis of waste dumped in our oceans.
The Inmarsat-sponsored Plastiki is a unique catamaran made from 12,500 recycled plastic bottles and self-reinforcing PET (recyclable plastic). During a 128-day voyage of over 8,000 nautical miles from San Francisco to Sydney, the crew conducted over 90 media interviews via FleetBroadband – resulting in more than 300 print articles, 200 radio and TV broadcasts, and more than 1,000 mentions on websites.
With video production equipment from Livewire Digital and airtime sponsored by Inmarsat distribution partner Stratos, the expedition was able to send store-and-forward video to its own website and the world’s media.
Internet and Voice Satellite Communications Enable Global Conversation
The Plastiki set out from San Francisco on March 20, 2010 with the aim of alerting the world to the impact of single-use plastics on the health of our oceans. Every day the crew reported seeing evidence of man’s waste – from plastic bags, bottles, and styrene foam containers to abandoned buoys and large plastic trays.
Expedition leader David de Rothschild said “One of the founding principles of the Plastiki expedition was to create a global conversation around the issues and the solutions needed in order to beat waste, especially the plastic pollution that plagues our oceans. Without FleetBroadband and Inmarsat’s unwavering commitment and vision to support our call to action, the Plastiki wouldn’t have been able to reach the global audience it has – and in turn create such an immense voice for change.”
The crew also used FleetBroadband satellite communications capabilities to keep in touch with colleagues and family onshore. Skipper Jo Royle said: “I have never experienced such clarity in ship-to-shore communications. Inmarsat technology has totally revolutionised my job. We can now enjoy life at sea and remain connected with developments on shore.”
Fleetbroadband is a maritime communications service providing broadband data and voice simultaneously. The Sailor 500 FleetBroadband offers data speeds of up to 432kbps.