Goodwood Ship Management, a vessel management firm based in Singapore, has implemented Starlink satellite connectivity across its fleet through a partnership with Navarino.
The shipping company is using a 500GB Starlink data plan with a pooled bandwidth option to distribute connectivity among its vessels.
To manage the network, the fleet uses Navarino’s Infinity platform, and its Spectrum service for IT asset inventory and remote management. The existing VSAT systems on the ship will remain on board to be used alongside the LEO link.
“Starlink has completely changed the way we manage the IT support of our vessels,” said Balasubramanian Balamurugan, senior IT manager at Goodwood.
“We’ve gone from being able to resolve a few cases daily to closing almost all open cases each day – purely because of the improved connectivity.”
The company has used its new capabilities to introduce real-time syncing for its Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software, which manages business activities such as accounting and maintenance. Other improvements include cloud-based patch management and the live updating of government and charterer forms directly from the ships.
The company has additionally rolled out Microsoft Teams for instant messaging and video calls between shore offices and the fleet. Technical training, which was previously provided through static documents, is now conducted via interactive video sessions.
Approximately 50% of the Starlink bandwidth is allocated to crew members for their own personal communications.
