Polembros Shipping will enhance crew communications on some of its managed ships by installing Starlink as part of a hybrid digital network
This Athens-based shipmanager intends to trial connectivity over these low earth orbit (LEO) satellites on tankers, with support from Marlink, to improve onboard welfare services.
Polembros is already a user of Marlink’s hybrid network, including guaranteed throughput through very small aperture terminal (VSAT) services across its fleet.
Marlink said deployment of the SeaLink NextGen service will bring much faster throughput and lower latency to Polembros business and seafarer communications, and enable deployment of more digital solutions.
Sealink NextGen combines VSAT through geostationary orbiting satellites and L-band through either LEO or geosynchronous satellites as back-up, with shipowners’ required mix of LEO or medium earth orbit (MEO) connectivity, 5G and digital solutions.
These are all controlled and managed via Marlink’s smart platform, Xchange, and protected through cyber security.
Founded in 1974, Polembros Shipping manages a fleet of Aframax and Suezmax tankers. Its affiliate, Polembros Bulkers, manages dry cargo ships ranging in size from Handysize to Newcastlemax.
“Polembros Shipping and Polembros Bulkers are companies with a reputation built up over many years for dedication to safety and quality; we value innovations like Starlink as a contributor to our performance,” said Polembros Shipping IT manager Vasilis Kottas.
“Our partnership with Marlink is a factor in our success as a company which delivers the high standard of communications required by our fleet managers and our shipboard teams.”
Greek shipping companies are increasingly following a trend towards higher throughput communications and investing in new applications enabled by Starlink’s low-latency global service.
This includes video streaming services, instant data transfer tools and remote access technology for maintenance and compliance.
“Polembros Shipping takes this next step with digital services that enable a new generation of applications and tools to support fleet performance and safety,” said Marlink president for maritime Tore Morten Olsen.
“Adding the Starlink LEO service to the Marlink hybrid network is a further strengthening of our valued and longstanding relationship that positions Polembros as a future-focussed company.”
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