Following a successful pilot phase, German ocean carrier Hapag-Lloyd has decided to proceed with the rollout of Starlink satellite internet technology across its vessel fleet.
Since May, crew members aboard four pilot Hapag-Lloyd ships have had the opportunity to test the Starlink technology and the feedback from these trials has been very positive, according to Hapag-Lloyd.
“The high-speed satellite Internet has revolutionised communication for seafarers, enabling seamless video calls and streaming services,” said the company in a statement.
The Starlink satellite network offers an impressive bandwidth of up to 250 megabits per second, facilitating private use and enabling Hapag-Lloyd to conduct remote maintenance and vessel inspections.
Hapag-Lloyd believes this innovation will result in cost savings and an increase in service quality.
The Hamburg-based shipping company noted that the next steps for the rollout of the free and fast Internet offer on board include completing the ordering of the technology and antenna installation by the end of the current year and the stepwise activation of the service on the company’s ships, that is set to commence in early 2024.
Dr. Maximilian Rothkopf, COO at Hapag-Lloyd, commented, “We are very happy to provide our seafarers with Starlink’s high-speed satellite internet and thus to enhance their well-being on board. But also for Fleet Management the change in communication and connectivity will be huge.”
