CSM tries the new Starlink Maritime services

Columbia Shipmanagement (CSM) shows commitment to innovation and cutting-edge technology with the trial of the new internet service Starlink Maritime, created by technology disruptor Elon Musk.

Concept

Leaders in innovation, the ship management arm of the Columbia Group, Columbia Shipmanagement (CSM), is conducting a trial of the new Starlink satellite internet service on a number of vessels.

The Starlink service, provided by a constellation of low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites operated by SpaceX, is designed to deliver reliable and high-speed internet connectivity to ships and vessels across all sectors of the maritime industry.

“We are delighted to be trialing this technology to keep our ships better connected. Starlink has the potential to revolutionize the maritime industry by providing reliable and affordable internet connectivity to ships, even in the most remote parts of the world. This can help improve crew welfare, reduce costs, and enhance safety and security, making it a game-changer for the industry.”

“Columbia is committed to our excellent crew and as part of our ICARE philosophy, we focus on different aspects of crew welfare, connectivity being one of them, so we are very pleased to be adopting this new technology among our fleet.”

Mark O’Neil, CEO, Columbia Group

Further Advantages

Starlink is expected to also help cruise companies reduce costs associated with traditional satellite internet services, and provide better connection services for crew members, as well as add a new level of the guest experience, enabling them to enjoy high-speed connectivity while at sea.

It can also enhance safety and security by offering reliable connectivity in remote areas, enabling better communication with stakeholders, emergency services, and authorities, as well as enabling real-time data exchange and communication.

Real-time data exchange is important so that a vessel can become a connected EDGE endpoint integrated into the owners’ or ship managers’ operations. Ships are not anymore, the remote, disconnected endpoint that may or may not be able to send and receive data.

Starlink Maritime can facilitate remote monitoring of vessel performance and maintenance needs, allowing for proactive maintenance scheduling and reducing the risk of unplanned downtime. This can help improve vessel availability and reliability, as well as reduce costs associated with maintenance and repairs.

CSM is widely exploring Starlink in conjunction with an SD-WAN (Software defined wide area network) in order to combine proven satellite internet technology as well as cellular 5G near shore connectivity into a unified communication package that will enhance every aspect of maritime operations.

CSM is part of Columbia Group, a fully integrated maritime and logistics services platform including technical ship management, crew management and training, procurement, performance optimization tools, and crew care solutions, among others.

What is Starlink?

Starlink Maritime is the world’s first and largest satellite constellation using a low Earth orbit (LOE) to deliver broadband internet capable of supporting streaming, online gaming, video calls, and more. Starlink delivers high-speed, low-latency internet to users all over the world.

Most satellite internet services come from single geostationary satellites that orbit the planet at 35,786 km. As a result, the round trip data time between the user and satellite—also known as latency—is high, making it nearly impossible to support streaming, online gaming, video calls, or other high data rate activities.

Because Starlink Maritime satellites are in a low orbit, latency is significantly lower—around 20 ms vs 600+ ms.

Source: CSM

See Also

Anglo-Eastern has completed the first installation of the Starlink maritime broadband service in its fleet, as part of a preliminary order for the system. The company plans to roll out the system to a dozen vessels of various ship types and trading patterns in the coming months, with a goal of completing at least 200 installations across its fleet by the end of 2023.

The project has been facilitated by support from ship-owning clients and interaction with Starlink’s representatives. The implementation is expected to change life on board in a way that has never been experienced in the history of shipping.

Starlink Maritime on more than 200 Anglo-Eastern Ships

Anglo-Eastern completes its first installation of Starlink maritime broadband service within its fleet, will install on at least 200 vessels in 2023.

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