Maltese Falcon Completes Sea Trials with e3 Systems & Kymeta KyWay™ Terminals

Washington-based Kymeta, Intelsat S.A. - operator of the world’s first globalized network - and exclusive superyacht distribution partner e3 Systems have announced that the iconic 89m Maltese Falcon has completed the first ever sailing yacht sea trials with Kymeta communications solutions with successful results. 

Kymeta and e3 worked with the executive management, the Captain, and the IT manager of the Maltese Falcon to perform months-long sea trials, which commenced in the Caribbean and are ongoing. The yacht was equipped with both single and multiple-terminal configurations.

Upon commercial release of yacht solutions, the terminals will be bundled with Kymeta’s KĀLO™ internet access services, powered by the IntelsatOne® Flex for Maritime service. The trial utilized capacity on three Intelsat assets, IS-29e (Caribbean), IS-32e Wide Beam (Bermuda/Atlantic), and IS-905 (Europe).

The experience on Maltese Falcon has proved valuable for the captain and crew. Captain Nikolaos Leontitsis said,

“We were thrilled to partner with Kymeta on this sea trial because connectivity is critical on the water. Kymeta's consistent connection allows us to maximize the use of the Falcon's sophisticated onboard network, and to offer our guests and crew cutting edge communications and internet service together with the latest in on-demand entertainment options.”

S/Y Maltese Falcon

Throughout the trial period, the crew worked with Kymeta and e3 to adapt the installed KyWay panel. Commenting, Roger Horner, Managing Director at e3  said, 

“We recently installed additional Kymeta KyWay terminals on the Maltese Falcon to enable truly global connectivity. The yacht adapted very successfully from using a single KyWay terminal during the initial sea trials by moving it to avoid mast shadow. It now has four terminals for the full-scale temporary installation which addresses the mast shadow challenges while awaiting embedded installation.”

The experience, and the weather conditions, provided the engineering teams at Kymeta and e3 with valuable insights for maritime installations before the product becomes commercially available. “We observed that the panel remained connected regardless of sea motion, pitch and roll, and exceeded our initial expectations of the performance of the electronically-steered beam,” said Håkan Olsson, VP of Maritime at Kymeta.

“The yacht industry can now look forward to not only the possibility, but the reality, of domeless vessels and communication capabilities we never would have thought possible even a decade ago.”

As a result of the installation of Kymeta's panels, Captain Leontitsis sees additional benefits and further technology solutions for the future. “The sea trials with Kymeta aboard the Maltese Falcon offered an altogether different communications experience. It is very exciting to work with our innovative executive management team which selects and is able to apply the most appropriate and advanced technology on the Maltese Falcon.” 

The Maltese Falcon, with its trial installation of Kymeta KyWay terminals, will be at the Monaco Yacht Show.

Please come to our stand at the Monaco Yacht Show QS87 Darse Sud to experience the future!

About SY Maltese Falcon

The Maltese Falcon is a new class of yacht. Her revolutionary sailing system - the Falcon Rig - sets a new milestone in yachting history: 3 self-standing and rotating masts hosting 15 sails for a total sail area of 2,400 square meters, handled by the ultimate in Perini Navi Sail Control for unrivaled performance and unmatched safety and maneuverability. The iconic Maltese Falcon was built for the late Tom Perkins and subsequently purchased by Pleon Ltd to create a unique chartering experience. 

About e3 Systems

e3 Systems® is a leading communications integrator and solutions provider for the marine industry. The company connects yachts globally through a diverse portfolio of communication systems including its HYBRID solution which synchronises VSAT, Inmarsat, Iridium, 3G, 4G and Wi-Fi. In addition, e3 provides an extensive suite of services covering cyber security and training, IT support, data management and content provision. e3 operates from the Mediterranean and the USA with partners worldwide. It is part of the marine electronics group grupoarbulu.

About Kymeta

What’s the missing link to connecting billions of people to high-speed mobile access? Antennas. Kymeta offers the world’s only commercially-viable electronically-scanning satellite antennas and terminals delivering high-throughput communications for land, sea, and air. Plus the world’s largest satellite operator, Intelsat, has partnered with Kymeta to deliver KĀLO global access services that combine with Kymeta antennas and terminals to provide revolutionary mobile connectivity. Without Kymeta mTenna™ technology, connecting and staying connected to all those new satellites while on the move will be difficult, if not impossible. If it moves, Kymeta will keep it connected. Anywhere.

About Intelsat

Intelsat S.A. (NYSE: I) operates the world’s first Globalized Network, delivering high-quality, cost-effective video and broadband services anywhere in the world. Intelsat combined the world's largest satellite backbone with terrestrial infrastructure, managed services and an open, interoperable architecture to enable customers to drive revenue and reach through a new generation of network services. Organizations serving billions of people worldwide rely on Intelsat to provide ubiquitous broadband connectivity, multi-format video broadcasting, secure satellite communications and seamless mobility services. The end result is an entirely new world, one that allows us to envision the impossible, connect without boundaries and transform the ways in which we live. 

 

 

*Image credits: Maltese Falcon  By Gaetan Lee (flickr) CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons; Chris Comparini (flikr) via Wikimedia Commons.