CalMac Ferries has agreed a 12-month contract with Clarus Networks to provide satellite connectivity and fleet network management.
The agreement, awarded via Public Contracts Scotland, involves the deployment of Starlink technology across the operator’s fleet to improve data access for crew and passengers.
CalMac Ferries is the largest ferry operator in the UK, serving 29 routes and more than 50 destinations across 322 kilometres of the west coast of Scotland. The fleet completes approximately 136,000 sailings annually, providing transportation to remote island communities.
Under the contract, Clarus will provide Starlink using a pooled data model designed to allow dynamic bandwidth allocation. This will ensure that vessels on high-demand routes receive additional capacity when necessary while managing costs across the entire fleet.
The operator will also gain access to Aavora, a management platform developed by Clarus to allow IT and operations teams to monitor terminals in real time, conduct diagnostics, and manage data usage trends across the fleet.
“Reliable connectivity is a foundational element of the technology and digital infrastructure to run a modern ferry service that supports both crew operations and customer needs,” said David Gammie, IT director at CalMac.
“Clarus’ experience in maritime deployments and their fleet-wide connectivity management capabilities will help us deliver a better-connected service across the ferry network.”
CalMac is currently undergoing a wider fleet renewal programme, with five new vessels expected to enter service by early 2027.
