Highlights:
- General Electric Wind Energy will
equip its employees in Pakistan and Morocco with Globalstar's
SPOT Gen3 safety devices, followed by deployments in further new
markets across Europe, Middle East and Africa
- Following a rigorous selection
process, SPOT Gen3 was chosen for satellite tracking, one-touch SOS
capability, superior reach and reliability
- SPOT system, including GEOS
International Emergency Response Coordination Centre 24/7,
performed flawlessly in drills with emergency services in Spain, UK
and Pakistan
DUBLIN, Ireland, Nov. 30, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE)
-- Globalstar Europe Satellite Services Ltd., a wholly owned
subsidiary of Globalstar Inc. (NYSE MKT:GSAT) and a leader in
satellite messaging and emergency notification technologies, today
announced that its SPOT Gen3 safety device is being
deployed by major international wind technology provider, General
Electric, to track and protect GE Wind Energy (GEWE) workers as
they install, operate and maintain onshore wind power installations
in emerging markets across EMEA and Asia.
Globalstar's value added reseller, Crambo Wireless S.A.,
initially provided GEWE with over 70 SPOT Gen3 devices to safeguard
crews working at wind power installations in Pakistan, Morocco,
Saudi Arabia and Egypt, among other locations.
As GEWE expands into new territories it will deploy SPOT Gen3
devices to protect its workers in Ghana, Kenya, and elsewhere in
Africa, as well as Central Europe and the Balkans. By mid-2017,
GEWE personnel working at approximately 70 wind farms in EMEA and
Asia are expected to have enhanced safety thanks to
SPOT.
Any major construction project comes with operational
hazards. Additionally, when crews are deployed to areas of
political instability or conflict, the need to provide them with a
reliable communications and safety lifeline becomes even more
critical. This is especially the case when operating in remote
regions which are hard to access and/or with minimal communications
infrastructure.
GEWE selected SPOT Gen3 because it needed a communications solution
with the best possible coverage and reliability, and with the
greatest ease of use for staff, particularly when faced with a
crisis situation.
In the event of an emergency, SPOT instantly sends the user's GPS
co-ordinates to alert first responders through the GEOS
International Emergency Response Coordination Centre
(IERCC). Following a period of extensive testing, GEWE
determined that SPOT, the Globalstar network and the IERCC
performed flawlessly.
GEWE considered a number of alternative technologies, including
GSM, parabolic antennas and radio repeaters, before it opted for
SPOT Gen3 for its reliability and ubiquitous reach. The S.O.S.
button was also of particular importance for the GEWE
crews.
GEWE has worked with SPOT for over five years using SPOT Trace
devices in Spain, Sweden, Ireland and the UK to track and protect
personnel and contractors as they transit between wind power sites,
accommodation and airports.
Carlos Chivite Trincado, Onshore Wind Energy
Environment Health and Safety (EHS) Leader at General Electric Wind
Energy, a role in which he has specific responsibility for
developing new markets, said: "Our wind installations can be in the
middle of the desert, such as in Pakistan and Morocco, or they can
be positioned high in the mountains or on the coast, all areas
where GSM might not reach."
"Our staff sometimes works in very challenging circumstances;
wherever they are, we need to know they are safe and are connected.
We must be confident in our workers' security before we undertake
any new wind energy development. SPOT is an important part of GE's
abiding commitment to providing the best possible safety and
working conditions for our valuable crews," he added.
As GE Wind Energy develops new sites in EMEA and Asia, SPOT will
provide operations and security teams with a complete picture of
each crew's location in almost real-time as they traverse remote
terrain - sometimes with the assistance of security teams and
escorts - to and from wind installations.
"General Electric is internationally recognised as having among the
highest standards for health and safety in the alternative energy
sector," commented Gary King, SPOT Regional Sales Manager, EMEA at
Globalstar. "It is a testament to SPOT's reliability to have been
chosen by an industry leader which has set the gold standard for
supporting its personnel with the very best possible communications
and safety systems."
About Globalstar
Globalstar is a leading
provider of mobile satellite voice and data services, leveraging
the world's most modern mobile satellite communications network.
Customers around the world in industries like government, emergency
management, marine, logging, oil & gas and outdoor recreation
rely on Globalstar to conduct business smarter and faster, maintain
peace of mind and access emergency personnel. Globalstar data
solutions are ideal for various asset and personal tracking, data
monitoring and SCADA applications. The Company's products include
mobile and fixed satellite telephones, the innovative Sat-Fi
satellite hotspot, Simplex and Duplex satellite data modems,
tracking devices and flexible service
packages. www.globalstar.com
About GE Renewable Energy
GE Renewable Energy is a 9 billion dollar start-up that brings
together one of the broadest product and service portfolios of the
renewable energy industry. Combining onshore and offshore wind,
hydro and innovative technologies such as concentrated solar power,
GE Renewable Energy has installed more than 370 gigawatts
capacity globally to make the world work better and
cleaner. With 13,000 employees present in more than 55
countries, GE Renewable Energy is backed-up by the
resources of the world's first digital industrial company,
GE. www.gerenewableenergy.com
About GE Onshore
Wind
GE Onshore Wind provides technology and services for the onshore
wind power industry by providing wind turbine platforms, hardware
and software to optimize wind resources. Wind services help
customers improve availability and value of their assets over the
lifetime of the fleet. Digital Wind Farm is a site level solution,
creating a dynamic, connected and adaptable ecosystem that improves
our customers' fleet operations.
About Crambo Wireless
S.A.
Crambo Wireless was founded in 2004 and is part of Crambo Group
(www.crambo.com) which began operating in 1988. Crambo Wireless
specializes in offering tracking and tracing services, GSM and
satellite to almost anything, anytime, wherever you
are. www.crambo.es
Note that all SPOT products described in this
press release are the products of SPOT LLC, which is not affiliated
in any manner with Spot Image of Toulouse, France or Spot Image
Corporation of Chantilly, Virginia. SPOT Connect is a trademark of
SPOT LLC. All other trademarks are the property of their respective
owners.