Smart grid company Marlink has extended its service delivery to French oil tanker Socatra, providing high-speed connectivity as well as secure IT management.

Socatra offers solutions for oil transport in deep waters and on land.

“[Socatra] recognized the need to improve the performance and quality of IT systems, which posed a risk to compliance and operational performance and required a holistic approach to upgrading hardware and software on board the vessel,” said said Marlink.

According to Marlink, the company has, for more than ten years, provided Socatra’s fleet of 12 vessels with high bandwidth via VSAT connectivity, as well as CyberGuard threat detection solutions.

Now, to support Socatra’s digitalization strategy, Marlink will provide its enhanced ITLink Advanced solution, allowing Socotra to transfer the management of its IT processes to Marlink, which will manage a full range of highly secure digitalization services. These include Socatra’s Enterprise Resource Management (ERP) system, applicable quality systems compliance tools, and dedicated networks for corporate and crew communications.

“ITLink Advanced is technology and communications independent and will help Socatra increase the efficiency and competitiveness of its fleet systems by standardizing and simplifying the IT environment. Fleet IT can be managed remotely, which reduces reliance on crew, improves reliability and saves time and money,” Marlink said.

The CyberGuard solution provided by Marlink includes automated security monitoring through a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system as well as expert Security Operations Center (SOC) support and advanced threat hunting .

“Security is the foundation of Socatra’s business; the maintenance of our ships, the continuous training of employees and our concern for communication bear witness to this”, declares Hector Firino Martell, fleet manager, Socatra. “With the addition of ITLink Advanced, Socatra can improve our vessel operations data and benefit from smoother and faster compliance with charterer and regulatory requirements with improved access for training and collaboration of crews.”

“Going digital means putting safety at the top of the agenda so it can deliver the results the business needs, empowering staff members whether they are working ashore or aboard a ship”, declares Nicolas Furgé, President, Digital, Marlink. “Our long and successful relationship with Socatra means that Marlink is able to support its plans with the integrated tools and solutions needed to enable safe, efficient and compliant operations.”