After a 3 year development and testing period, Dutch maritime IT and electronics supplier NetWave Systems have started the first deliveries of their MarLiant systems. This fully redundant IT system specifically designed for the maritime environment is a ‘deployment ready’ thin-client/server solution, which incorporates dedicated service-processors to cover the ‘high availability’ and security issues encountered on ships and offshore installations.
MarLiant serves as a ‘non-stop computing platform’ featuring a multi-user Windows environment using client-server technology. A typical system consists of a single, fully redundant application server using Windows Server 2008, in conjunction with a number of solid state Thin Client workstations (measuring 75 x75 mm.) mounted throughout the vessel. The system replaces a network of shipboard PC’s and laptops being far more susceptible to viruses, abuse, as well as repair and update complexities and associated costs.
NetWave opened the order book for this innovative IT solution during the final quarter of last year, and have already received orders for well over 100 shipboard systems to be delivered during the first half of 2011. According to Rob Post, managing director of NetWave, MarLiant’s success is largely due to the need for ship-owners to stabilize (and lower the cost of ownership of) their shipboard IT environment by providing a fully secured system protected against viruses, and which is easily remotely controlled, maintained and updated. A substantial cost saving is achieved by making use of standardized exchangeable parts and expertise available through more than 200 NetWave’s trained service agents in practically all major ports around the globe.
With over 2,000 vessels already sailing with NetWave’s Voyage Data Recorder solutions, which were introduced in 2007, the company is one of the most qualified computer designers and manufacturers in the maritime industry. Driven by its customers’ demand for an alternative to client-server systems originally designed to be used on shore only, the company envisages to become the preferred solution provider for offshore IT systems.