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Columbia Shipmanagement (CSM), a ship management and maritime services company, said it is testing SpaceX’s new Starlink satellite internet service on a number of its vessels. The service can help improve crew welfare, reduce costs, and improve safety, which will be an industry game changer.
The Starlink service, operated by SpaceX’s Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation, is designed to provide high-speed internet connectivity to ships and vessels in all sectors of the maritime industry. CSM announced on Tuesday it will test the service on its ships (via Offshore Energy).
“We are delighted to be trialing this technology to keep our ships better connected. Starlink has the potential to revolutionize the maritime industry by providing reliable and affordable internet connectivity to ships, even in the most remote parts of the world. This can help improve crew welfare, reduce costs, and enhance safety and security, making it a game-changer for the industry,” Columbia Group CEO, Mark O’Neil said.
The company expects Starlink to help cut costs associated with traditional satellite internet services. Meanwhile, it will provide better communication services for all crew members. In addition, a good Starlink internet connection can also enhance safety and security by offering reliable communications in remote areas, improving communications with stakeholders, emergency services and authorities, and enabling real-time data sharing and communications.
CSM is extensively exploring Starlink in combination with SD WAN (software defined wide area network) to combine proven satellite internet technology as well as 5G cellular near shore into a single communications package. Real-time data exchange is essential for a ship to become a connected EDGE endpoint integrated into the operations of ship owners or managers.
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