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Solstad backs LEO connectivity, data analytics to cut fuel
A Norwegian vessel owner is using real-time data analysis and low Earth orbit satellite communications to optimise power use on support ships
For Norway-headquartered Solstad, migrating its fleet to low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications through SpaceX’s Starlink, and deploying Dipai’s software on its OSVs, is opening new opportunities.
“Previously, the main challenge with digitalising the ships with loads of real-time datapoints was the costly and low bandwidth of communication,” says Solstad sustainability director, Tor Inge Dale.
“However, after we installed Starlink on all vessels last year this has changed completely,” he tells Riviera. “We now stream 100-200 datapoints with seconds resolution providing a new world of opportunities for us.”
Solstad renewed its contract with Marlink in June 2025 to use Sealink NextGen communications, which combines LEO with VSAT technology, across its fleet until the end of 2028.
It has installed Dipai on six vessels and is rolling out across the rest of the fleet over the next 12 months.
It has recorded and reported fuel consumption and emissions per operational mode from all its vessels since 2009, but this was based on manual input, impacting accuracy and workloads. This has been made much easier through automated data collection, LEO connectivity and analysis tools.
Benefits of this data analytics include understanding how to manage generators and engines on vessels, such as using just one genset instead of two in some operational modes.
“As a rule of thumb, if we can increase the load point on any running generator from typically less than 30% to more than 60%, we reduce consumption by 15-20% instantly,” says Mr Dale. “If we shut down one or more engine we save more than US$300-400 a day on maintenance costs.”
Solstad has already optimised propulsion during long transits “to find the sweet spots on speed, generator use/load combined with other operations and commercial considerations,” says Mr Dale.
“In some cases, we easily save 200-500 tonnes of fuel on each ocean transit using the knowledge of the experienced crew, combined with dashboards in the Dipai tool.”
Vessels with the highest potential for optimisation are those with diesel-electric powertrains with multiple generators and energy storage.
Solstad wants to do much more with data and artificial intelligence (AI) to unlock other operational benefits.
“Our long-term strategy is to connect these data streams to AI tools to optimise operation of engines,” says Mr Dale.
“We are now also connecting these data streams to others that are not directly linked to Solstad data to try to find dependencies and relations that AI tools cannot see today. The goal is to reduce fuel consumption, emissions and costs.”
Solstad worked with Dipai on developing these tools to tailor them to its own requirements. “Through our close collaboration with Solstad, we have developed analytics and insights that serve multiple purposes,” says Dipai chief executive, André Listou Ellefsen. “But the key driver for developing and implementing the platform has been to increase crew and management knowledge of how to carry out more fuel-efficient vessel operations and maintenance procedures,” he says.
“This, in turn, results in better collaboration and decision-making, reducing costs and vessel emissions.”
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