Shipping companies should collaborate to improve broadband communications across their fleets without paying high connectivity prices
Vessel operators and owners need faster communications and access to online applications as they implement digitalisation across their ships to optimise operations.
These applications are competing with crew communications on the available bandwidth, which is increasingly through VSAT, whether that is Ku-band or Ka-band.
As more of these applications are developed by technology entrepreneurs and start-up companies, the more will be implemented within shipping companies, putting greater pressure on limited bandwidth on vessels.
Ship operators and owners are then compelled to upgrade VSAT connectivity or seek alternatives, such as 4G when ships are close to coastlines or in ports.
OSM Maritime Group IT manager in Singapore, Juan Gil, thinks development of more digitalisation applications will lead to connectivity issues and further competition for constrained bandwidth on vessels.
“One of the biggest challenges of today’s modern technology for maritime is the fact it is designed with the functionalities and capabilities available ashore, which has nothing to do with the reality on board,” said Mr Gil.
He highlights high bandwidth required for widely used onshore videoconference applications, such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom, to illustrate this point. “These applications are too heavy for the majority of a ship’s data plans,” said Mr Gil.
“One can make a videoconference work onboard, but it means the rest of the users of the network cannot function or run any other application at the same time.”
These applications are developed by major corporations, but several of the potential new online apps are by small companies with little understanding of the bandwidth limitations on ships.
“Usually, I ask start-ups about their bandwidth, throughput, and speed requirements,” said Mr Gul. “Many are clueless, and others do not even understand the concept of throughput and the real need of giving priority to business-critical applications,” he said.
“Others, even propose to have over-the-air updates, which sound fantastic, but are a pain in the neck for the crew and those handling the network of the fleet ashore.”
If shipping deploys these applications on their ships, they will be competing with crew internet access and other operational requirements. More bandwidth will be required across shipping fleets to accommodate these advanced applications.
This could be delivered through mobile phone networks when close to shore, but not during ocean crossings.
“I am also an enthusiast of 5G connectivity since I have already deployed 4G on board and the speed is superior compared to VSAT, although it only works near the coast,” said Mr Gil.
“5G depends on the infrastructure of each country and port. When we are in Singapore, or other developed nation ports, we can be very comfortable, but that is not the case with the rest of the ports.”
Therefore, shipping will remain dependent on VSAT for future improvements in bandwidth from commissioning of new satellite constellations, such as Inmarsat’s second generation of Global Xpress, Intelsat’s Epic high throughput satellites, SES’ O3b Power and ViaSat’s third satellites, to name just some of the upcoming launches.
These are coming over the next few years, but in the meantime, Mr Gil thinks owners need to work together and with VSAT suppliers to increase communications and bandwidth across various shipping fleets.
“Shipowners should combine their fleets to negotiate large-volume VSAT data contracts with a service provider,” he said, “we will all benefit from it.”
He highlights how improving connectivity on ships should be a united effort of the industry, with the benefits being “lower prices for owners, better connectivity for crew, more throughput and speed to connect vessels to shore, and more stable contracts for the service providers.”
He thinks shipmanagement companies can assist in these collaborations to improve communications for owners, operators and crew. “Shipowners have the main role to play here, but shipmanagers may help,” said Mr Gil.
Ship connectivity and digitalisation technologies will be discussed during Riviera Maritime Media’s next Vessel Optimisation Webinar Week, 24-27 May 2021 - use this link for more details and to register on the events page
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