The clamour for trials of Elon Musk’s Starlink Maritime service among vessel operators is showing no signs of abating, with Cyprus-based Intership Navigation and Thenamaris of Greece among the latest to sign up for the low earth orbit (LEO) satellite connectivity package.
Intership Navigation will initially test the service on three of its ships following the agreement of a deal with Tototheo Maritime, with the intention of implementing it across its entire fleet should the system impress during the trial.
Intership’s owned and managed fleet consists of approximately 70 vessels of various types, with the company also responsible for crew management on approximately 50 additional ships.
“We are constantly seeking ways to enhance the onboard experience for our crew members and improve operational efficiency,” said Dieter Rohdenburg, CEO of Intership Navigation.
“The Starlink service provided by Tototheo Maritime is a major step in that direction, and we are pleased to be testing it on our ships. We are confident that this service will enable us to stay connected and optimise our operations.”
Athens-based Thenamaris has also expanded its agreement with its satcom provider Marlink to integrate Starlink services into its vessel networks.
Thenamaris manages a total of 88 vessels, including 50 crude oil and product tankers, 23 bulk carriers and containerships, as well as seven LNG carriers and eight LPG carriers. The company is an existing user of Marlink’s Sealink VSAT with L-band backup on part of its fleet and plans to add the Starlink system to provide an additional layer of capacity.
“The success of Thenamaris is a testament to our philosophy that safety and quality permeate every aspect of our operations, and that every member of our team is a trusted partner,” said George Tsivgoulis, Electrical Supervisor, Thenamaris.
“To be a leader in commercial and technical ship management requires us to constantly be exploring new ways and utilising cutting-edge technology, to improve efficiency and enhance life onboard ship. It is believed that Marlink’s hybrid approach, now incorporating Starlink, will enable us to achieve these objectives. This belief drives the decision to test the new satcom architecture.”
