18th May 2007 08:00
Blue Ocean Wireless, an Irish company focused on delivering GSMcommunication capability for the merchant maritime sector, todayannounced the appointment of Mr Robert Johnson as CEO. Robert joinsBlue Ocean Wireless from Inmarsat plc, the leading global satellitecommunications service provider, where he was Director of Maritime &Aeronautical Services. £ Robert Johnson led the Maritime and more recently the Aeronauticalteam at Inmarsat plc for nine years where he was responsible for thedevelopment of the company's maritime and aeronautical globalsatellite commercial communication business. Established in 1979,Inmarsat is the world leader in providing reliable voice andhigh-speed data communications to governments, enterprises and otherorganisations, with a range of services that can be used at sea, onland or in the air. The company's services are delivered through anetwork of 10 satellites and a global network of over 500 partners,including most of the world's leading telecoms groups, operating in180 countries. £ Prior to joining Inmarsat, Robert spent fourteen years in thecommercial maritime sector at Racal-Decca Marine, now part of SperryMarine, the leading international electronics and systems group, wherehe was responsible for product development of radar and otherelectronic navigational aids. He previously spent thirteen years atsea as a Deck Officer with Shell Tankers. Robert Johnson is aqualified Master Mariner and was recently honoured with The Livery ofThe Honourable Company of Master Mariners by HRH The Princess Anne. £ Blue Ocean Wireless £ Blue Ocean Wireless will, together with Inmarsat, a leadingInmarsat LESO partner and a leading GSM network operator, provide adedicated global GSM service for crew members of merchant ships. Forthe first time, Blue Ocean Wireless will enable seafarers to use theirexisting mobile phones on board vessels in deep ocean water. Users ofthe service will be able to make and receive voice calls and send andreceive SMS text messages using their existing handsets. Blue OceanWireless will also enable ship owners, insurers and Governmentauthorities, as well as suppliers and customers, to track and monitorindividual containers on board merchant vessels as they traverse theglobe using a combination of GPRS and RFID technology. £ Domhnal Slattery, Chairman of Blue Ocean Wireless commented "Weare delighted to announce the appointment of Robert Johnson as CEO ofBlue Ocean Wireless. Robert's knowledge of the global maritime andaeronautical communications business and his experience working withthe world's leading shipping and telecoms companies will be invaluableto Blue Ocean Wireless. Robert will now bring to market the Blue OceanWireless GSM crew calling and container monitoring proposition." £ Robert Johnson, incoming Blue Ocean Wireless CEO, added "I amdelighted to be joining Domhnal and the team at Blue Ocean Wireless.We have a very exciting proposition which will revolutionisecommunication for crews of merchant maritime ships." £ He added "Having spent 13 years as a Deck Officer, I can relate tothe need for accessible, reliable and affordable communication whileat sea. Blue Ocean Wireless will, for the first time, provideseafarers with voice and SMS text message capability which will have asignificant positive impact on their welfare. This will, in turn,benefit merchant maritime companies and the ability to manage andenhance the well-being of their employees." £ About Blue Ocean Wireless £ Blue Ocean Wireless is an Irish company focused on expandingcommunication capability in the merchant maritime sector. Blue OceanWireless provides, for the first time, GSM connectivity for seafarersin deep ocean water, where no other network exists. This allows usersto make and receive voice calls, send and receive SMS text messagesand, in time, browse the internet using their existing handsets. BlueOcean Wireless' offering is based on Altobridge's unique 'Aeronautical& Maritime Gateway Platform' technology. This technology can also beused, in conjunction with RFID technology, to track and monitorshipping containers while they are in transit at sea. £ About Claret Capital £ Claret Capital, founded by Domhnal Slattery in 2005, is a privateinvestment firm based in Dublin, Ireland. Claret Capital manages theassets of a small number of ultra high net worth individuals andfamilies and has a global investment mandate. The firm has completedinvestments in the Private Equity, Real Estate, Media and Technologysectors. Claret Capital has also founded a number of new venturesincluding JetBird, Europe's first low cost on demand private jetairline. JetBird has ordered 100 aircraft from Embraer and is thelaunch customer in Europe for the Phenom 100 very light jet. £ About Altobridge £ Altobridge is focused on delivering cost effective communicationsfor remote communities including rural villages, seafarers, airlinetravellers and the world's military, navy and coastguard. Altobridge'stechnology has also been licensed by AeroMobile, a joint venturebetween Telenor and ARINC to provide the world's first operationalon-board aircraft mobile phone system. £ About Inmarsat £ Inmarsat plc (LSE: ISAT) is the leading provider of global mobilesatellite communications. Since 1979, Inmarsat has been providingreliable voice and high-speed data communications to governments,enterprises and other organisations, with a range of services that canbe used on land, at sea or in the air. The company's services aredelivered through a global network of over 500 partners, including theworld's leading telecoms groups, operating in 180 countries. For theyear ended 31 December 2006, Inmarsat plc had total revenue ofUS$500.1 million. Copyright Business Wire 2007Related Shares:
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