30 December 2016

Oil companies working in Tunisia have been turning to Globalstar’s satellite systems to monitor their fleets and safeguard their workers.

Virtual Mobile Data (VMD), Globalstar’s partner in Tunisia, worked with local technology partner Neuron Technology Systems to design the integrated Vehicle Monitoring System or iVMS.

It’s claimed this switches automatically and seamlessly between Globalstar’s simplex satellite network and land-based GSM/GPRS networks in the event of outages or transmission failures.

In VMD’s most recent deployment, a Ukrainian oil services company is using 30 iVMS devices which incorporate Globalstar’s SmartOne B simplex tracker to help its oil exploration and production customers monitor their vehicle fleets and safeguard staff across Tunisia.

Earlier in 2016, Tunisian civil works contractor Kilani Enterprise for Public Works deployed iVMS to track its fleet of 4x4 vehicles for better fleet security and to help monitor driver behaviour.

Kilani has also been using Globalstar’s SPOT handheld devices since 2013 as its only means of safeguarding staff carrying out operations in southern Tunisia’s vast desert.

In a third deployment, VMD integrated SmartOne B transmitters with GPRS devices from another local reseller for a Tunisian services company whose support for oil industry firms includes providing equipment, transportation, site maintenance and staff services.

The company is using 56 iVMS devices to track transporters and containers carrying mechanical and oil rig equipment used in petroleum production and refining.

VMD sales and marketing manager Jamel Hajji says: “As oil exploration and production once again starts growing in Africa, providers of logistics and other support services are being called upon to work in more and more remote regions. Knowing the location of assets 24/7, and safeguarding personnel as they transit to and from remote oil operations sites, is essential.”