New Starlink Satellite Deal with MOL for More Than 200 Vessels

MOL Aims for Full-scale Introduction of Starlink Satellite Communication, Targeting More Than 200 Ocean-going Vessels. Addressing Global Seafarer Shortage by Improving Work Environment

Concept

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. announced the decision to install Starlink satellite communication service on 233 of its ocean-going vessels managed by MOL Group ship management companies. The group plans to have about 140 vessels equipped with the system by the end of fiscal year 2023.

Starlink Satellite

Starlink is a satellite internet constellation owned and operated by SpaceX. It provides high-speed, low-latency connectivity through thousands of small satellites deployed in low Earth orbit. MOL has conducted trials of Starlink on several of its operated vessels, confirming up to a 50-fold improvement in communication speeds. This advancement has enabled seafarers to make video calls and stream content, capabilities that were previously limited. Based on these results and the significant boost to crew well-being, MOL is now moving forward with full-scale deployment of the system across its managed ocean-going vessels.

The shortage of seafarers in the shipping industry is becoming more serious, and as of January 2023, there will be a 10% shortage of seafarers compared to the number needed around the world. Against this backdrop, MOL sees an urgent need to improve the well-being of seafarers onboard its vessels. Because the general onboard communication environment causes time lag and capacity limitations for private communication with family and friends, improvement of the onboard communication environment is a critical issue that must be addressed not only by MOL but also by the industry as a whole.

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Ship Nerd

In light of this situation, MOL, along with Marlink AS (President Maritime: Tore Morten Olsen, Headquarters: Norway), have prepared a white paper (English version only; LinkedIn account required) outlining the challenges of the current onboard communication environment, an overview of low-orbit communications including Starlink satellite, and expected applications in the future, and will widely share the knowledge gained from the trials and proactively encourage measures to address this industry-wide issue. MOL has received many favorable comments and reactions from those who viewed the report on LinkedIn.

The MOL Group is committed to improving the quality of seafarers’ onboard life by utilizing satellite communication services that offer high-speed, low-latency connections at sea, where the communication environment is significantly inferior to that on land. In the future it will further promote the digital transformation (DX) of maritime operations by improving operational efficiency through real-time information sharing between vessels and land, and by providing full support from shore in the event of trouble onboard a vessel.

MOL plans to install Starlink on all its group’s managed vessels, except for those for which it is difficult to install Starlink at present due to ship registry and other reasons.

Source: MOL

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