A.P. Moller – Maersk has signed a deal to install Starlink, a “high-speed internet” service developed by SpaceX, to its entire fleet of over 330 Maersk-owned container vessels.
This follows a “successful” pilot of the use of Starlink technology on more than 30 Maersk vessels, which the logistics company said returned “very positive feedback” from crew members.
Starlink is a satellite internet system which uses satellites launched into orbit from SpaceX rockets to facilitate the delivery of “reliable and high-speed internet across the globe”.
It is hoped that by improving connectivity on its ocean vessels, Maersk can not only improve its business operations through greater visibility and communication between onboard crew and remote teams, but also offer crew members greater opportunities to connect with their loved ones on land. This could have a significant impact on staff morale.
Leonardo Sonzio, Head of Fleet Management and Technology at A.P. Moller – Maersk, commented: “We are excited to announce our journey with Starlink to provide state-of-the-art connectivity to our seagoing colleagues.
“The high-speed connectivity will enable our seagoing colleagues to stay connected with their loved ones while at sea. It will also propel the expansion of seamless cloud solutions, enabling our vision to digitalise our vessel operations.”
As mentioned in a recent Logistics Manager article on investment in greater connectivity at UK ports, access to the internet has become increasingly important in the logistics industry. Over the last few decades, strong internet connection has gone from a luxury to – in many cases – a necessity, both personally and professionally.
This is a particular issue at sea, where there has historically not been the infrastructure to deliver the same internet connectivity speeds as one might expect on land.
SpaceX’s Vice President of Starlink Commercial Sales, Jonathan Hofeller, describes Maersk’s ocean vessels as “key to global trade” and says that accessing Starlink’s broadband on board “will help boost efficiency through seamless connectivity no matter where in the world they are”.
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