Anglo Eastern deploys Starlink for fleet connectivity

Starlink adds terabytes of network capacity with low latency, at a time when there has been a significant increase in the demand for bandwidth in the maritime sector for crew communications, where demand accelerated during the Covid-19 pandemic, and as more ships are connected to become like offices at sea.

“Initially, all of that additional bandwidth will go to doing what we do today, only more of it and faster” said Anglo-Eastern chief executive Bjorn Hojgaard.

“The addition of Starlink’s LEO network – and OneWeb now and Project Kuiper thereafter – will change life on board in a way we have never experienced in the history of shipping.”

Mr Hojgaard expects ships will have similar connectivity to homes onshore for digital, media and communications applications.

“Soon seafarers will be ‘always-on’, enjoying the same connectivity that we ashore have been used to,” he said. “The ship will become a seamless extension of the office, where members of the team just happen to be closer to the machinery.”

Mr Hojgaard said this level of connectivity supports vessel operations and enables video calls and conferencing.

“If an issue arises on board that requires support, the vessel team can launch a Teams video call to ask for a hand,” he said. “During off-hours, the latest movies or television shows can be streamed live from home, while one crew member posts to their YouTube video-log and another two attend an online seminar together,” Mr Hojgaard said. “The possibilities are endless, and I believe this will help make our industry safer and more attractive for current and future generations.”

Mr Dimblad and his team are working to follow up on the installations to discover how they affect life on board.

“At Anglo Eastern, we are fortunate to have many forward-thinking clients who are willing to make investments for their crews,” he said. “We are also fortunate to be working directly with the Starlink team. There is a lot to learn as we scale up the deployment, not just in terms of the technology and service, but more importantly, what opportunities it will bring for the broader, safe operation of our vessels.”

The elusive promise of the connected vessel has finally arrived and Anglo-Eastern is in pole position to leverage the many possibilities it presents.

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