To our valued customers,
We understand that various shipping companies have implemented different chart correction software on their vessels to receive chart corrections and Notices to Mariners. Recently, there have been reports of a sudden increase in the communication volume of these software programs in certain months. Please be aware that this may result in unexpectedly high communication charges.
As of September 2015, the average monthly email communication data volume for a typical vessel is around 80-100MB. The update data for chart correction software is sent as email attachments, averaging about 10MB per month. This accounts for approximately 10% of the total email data.
However, there are instances where updates are concentrated in specific months, leading to communication volumes nearly ten times the usual amount. The attached graph shows the monthly data volume trend for chart correction software on a particular vessel. While it generally remains within 10MB, in months with many updates, the communication volume can reach nearly 100MB.
In such cases, despite the regular email usage frequency, satellite communication charges can more than double. Since the data is essential for operations, it cannot be blocked.
Additionally, vessels receiving updates using the same address as their business email accounts may experience delays in regular operational communications due to the time taken to receive large amounts of update data.
We recommend the following measures for your vessels:
1.Selection of an appropriate satellite communication plan
Understand that while the average monthly data volume for chart correction software is around 10MB, there may be months with concentrated updates. Choose a suitable satellite communication plan accordingly. Using a minimum plan can lead to high per-MB charges for excess usage, significantly impacting the bill in months with concentrated updates.
2.Setting suitable limits for email and mailbox sizes
Since large update data often occurs in specific periods, configure email restrictions properly to ensure timely receipt of essential updates.
3.Separation of business email accounts and data email accounts
Creating a separate email account for chart correction software updates can improve operational efficiency and make it easier to monitor communication data volume.
For vessels using ORION routers, it is possible to receive these updates via local 4G instead of satellite. Please consider this option.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
Best regards,