Offshore platform Petrodec Erda: satellite TV for 85 crew members

The challenge

• Extreme location: 180 km offshore, no terrestrial infrastructure — cable or aerial reception is impossible.
• The platform moves with waves and tides, in storms, salt water and winds above 100 km/h.
• An international crew of 15+ nationalities with different language preferences, operating 24/7 without maintenance windows.
• The legacy system offered only 12 channels and regularly failed in bad weather.

Our approach

1. 01

   Dual TVRO tracking

   Two stabilised Q7 Dacom/Travelvision dome antennas automatically track Astra (19.2°E) and Hotbird (13°E), compensate for platform movement and are storm-proof up to force 12 (IP67).

2. 02

   Lemco professional headend

   The Lemco PLC-300 headend handles reception and distribution in DVB-S2/HD quality, with Canal+ professional cards for premium sport, film and news.

3. 03

   Distribution to 85 cabins

   The signal is distributed over the internal platform network to 85 cabins and common areas, with 120+ channels in more than 15 languages.

4. 04

   Remote monitoring from shore

   Over the satellite link we monitor the system 24/7 from shore; an on-board technician is almost never needed.

The result

• 120+ international channels in HD for all 85 crew members.
• Stable picture in storms and platform movement thanks to stabilised tracking and redundant antennas.
• Maintenance and support at a distance — no more technician visits during storms.
• Measurably better crew wellbeing: news, sport and entertainment from home, far away from it.

“Crew wellbeing is essential for safety and productivity. People work offshore here for three to four weeks, far from family. Access to news, sport and entertainment from their home country makes an enormous difference.”

In pictures