Seaspan upgrades satcoms on container ship fleet
by Martyn Wingrove
The major container ship operator is investing in OneWeb low Earth orbit hardware as part of its digital transformation strategy
Seaspan Corp will retrofit several ships in the fleet with new terminals to communicate with low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites to deliver shore-like internet to crew, installing hardware to connect with Eutelsat’s OneWeb constellation to support its digital transformation strategy and augment its fleet’s existing communications services.
Seaspan selected KVH Industries to equip its container ships with OneWeb terminals as part of the KVH One multi-orbit, multi-channel network solution.
“Our partnership with KVH for OneWeb services aligns with our strategy of providing a best-in-class communication experience across our fleet,” said Seaspan vice president of information technology, Garret Wong.
"This initiative brings us closer to realising shore-like connectivity at sea while enhancing efficiency, safety and seafarer welfare.”Seaspan is the first major container ship owner to partner with KVH for its OneWeb solution. The rollout will further strengthen the fleet’s data connectivity infrastructure, enabling Seaspan to implement advanced technologies and high bandwidth-demanding applications, including cloud-based software and technology, which were previously unsuitable for maritime use. "LEO satellite technologies have set a new benchmark for vessel communications, offering high-bandwidth, low latency and reliability far beyond traditional marine satellite solutions," said Seaspan head of IT operations, Adrian Alb. "This collaboration with KVH aligns with our goal of enhancing provider diversity and minimising geographical blackout zones, further bolstering the robustness of our satellite communications infrastructure.”Seaspan container ships already have terminals for communicating with SpaceX’s Starlink LEO constellation, very small aperture terminals for connectivity with geostationary orbiting satellies and L-band back-up services.
Source: Riviera Maritime