Hong Kong-based Anglo-Eastern Shipmanagement has begun its first formal installation of Starlink’s maritime broadband service within its managed fleet. The installation is part of a preliminary order covering a dozen vessels of various ship types and trading patterns, so that the service can be fully trialled across a number of scenarios before broader roll-out in the coming months.
 

The global ship manager expects at least 200 installations across its fleet by year-end, with more to follow.
 

“We quietly started our journey a year ago, when Starlink first announced its ‘RV’ service. Once installed on several vessels, we knew immediately it was a game-changer,” said Torbjorn Dimblad, Chief Information Officer of Anglo-Eastern. “Overnight, these ships became as connected as any office or home, affording the crew unprecedented access to friends and family while enabling an entirely new level of collaboration between ship and shore.”
 

Mr Dimblad sees the introduction of Starlink Maritime as arriving at a perfect time. “Part of our digitalisation journey was to standardise our hardware on board. Since 2020, we have commissioned over 600 data centres and replaced 5,000 workstations across the fleet. The underlying infrastructure is now in place to leverage the accelerated connectivity”.
 

At the same time, satellite service providers have reported significant increases in the demand for bandwidth, fuelled by the pandemic as well as new technology solutions on board. Starlink adds terabytes of network capacity, with low latency at a competitive price.
 

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

“The addition of Starlink’s LEO network – and OneWeb and Project Kuiper thereafter – will change life on board in a way that we have never experienced in the history of shipping. Soon seafarers will be ‘always-on’, enjoying the same connectivity that we ashore have been used to. The ship will become a seamless extension of the office, where members of the team just happen to be closer to the machinery.
 

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

Source: Hong Kong Maritime Hub

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