Installations
ATLANTIS - Beta system has been installed since early September. Production system installation projected for March 1999 in port in Manzanillo. This installation will include new hardware mounting (but the same hardware) and a software update.
EWING - Site survey was completed in early December. Installation has just taken place. Andy Maffei (WHOI/SeaNet) went on a short cruise on this ship in late January/early February to complete installation and test the system.
SEWARD-JOHNSON - NERA Inmarsat B unit ordered and delivered by HBOI. NERA installation proceeding (to be done by HBOI). Antenna installation was completed in January. Site survey pending for installation of the SCN.
MELVILLE - Site survey complete, Saturm Bm antenna installed. NERA commissioning scheduled for mid-April in conjunction with SCN installation.
PELICAN - Site survey complete. NERA unit ordered. Installation planned for late March 1999.
Billing/Equipment
SeaNet has completed development of their billing system. The new accounting software will compare COMSAT or Station 12 billing data and data that will be stored in the shipboard SCN, and generate invoices.
SeaNet continues to have discussions with the AMSC engineers. We are hoping that cheaper rates for coastal vessels will ultimately be available through AMSC.
JOI is finalizing equipment "loan" agreements between JOI and the institutions who are getting SeaNet units. The agreement lays out the conditions of the "loan," which includes a specification that the SeaNet SCNs may be used for SeaNet purposes only and no tampering with the hardware or software is allowed. Currently it is SeaNet’s intention to provide the SeaNet institutions with title to the SeaNet SCN in about three years.
Future
SeaNet anticipates putting in a three-year proposal to NSF to allow for additional installation of SeaNet units on UNOLS ships beginning in fall 1999 (the exact number to be determined). Should SeaNet be successful in obtaining continued funding, there would be another round of proposal to determine which ships get the next generation of SeaNet units.