Maersk goes big on Starlink

The SpaceX Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite communications service offers of over 200Mbps and low latency, at a significantly lower price than traditional GEO satellite-based systems.

Maersk has been piloting Starlink on more 30 vessels and said that feedback from crew members had been “very positive”.

It now plans to install Starlink onboard over 330 owned and operated vessels completing the rollout by first quarter next year.

“The highspeed connectivity will enable our seagoing colleagues to stay connected with their loved ones while at sea. It will also propel the expansion of seamless cloud solutions, enabling our vision to digitalise our vessel operations,” said Leonardo Sonzio, Head of Fleet Management and Technology at AP Moller - Maersk.

Benefits Maersk sees from deploying Starlink include seamless streaming, video calls with crew, allowing for cost savings by moving applications to the cloud, and increasing remote monitoring and inspections.

“AP Moller - Maersk’s vessels are key to global trade, and Starlink’s high-speed broadband through the world’s most advance satellite internet constellation will help boost efficiency through seamless connectivity no matter where in the world they are,” says Jonathan Hofeller, SpaceX’s Vice President of Starlink Commercial Sales.

Related:Users give rave reviews of Starlink’s maritime service

The launch of Starlink early this year has up ended the world of satellite communications for maritime and the service has been lauded by crew, managers and shipowners.

Maersk joins a growing number of major shipping companies with fleet wide deployments of Starlink. Last month rival container line Hapag-Lloyd announced it would be rolling out Starlink across its fleet of containerships.

Early adopter ship manager Anglo-Eastern reached 100^th installation on its fleet last month and said response to the service had been overwhelmingly positive both for operations and crew wellbeing.