01-Jul-2024

Starlink Revolutionises Comfort in Long-Distance Fishing

Starlink, the satellite internet constellation operated by SpaceX, has enhanced life at sea for crews on trawlers fishing in the North Atlantic. Helmsman on the Berlin NC newbuild says the connection with Starlink is a “game changer” for the crew.

Prior to the introduction of Starlink, internet connectivity at sea was sometimes slow and expensive due to the dependence on traditional satellite services with limited bandwidth and high latency. Slow internet connection at sea restricted the crew's ability to stay in touch with their families, access real-time weather updates, and enjoy digital entertainment, sometimes contributing to the isolation and stress associated with long voyages. The high-speed, low-latency internet provided by Starlink has changed this. With a constellation of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, Starlink offers speeds comparable to those on land. For crewmembers, this means they can now video call their families, stay connected through social media, and access online entertainment platforms at sea.

Life at Sea is Completely Different

Starlink access has already been set up on two vessels operated by companies in Alda Seafood’s group. Kirkella, a long-distance trawler operated and owned by our subsidiary UK Fisheries, installed a Starlink connection last winter, and DFFU’s Berlin NC 107 newbuild has it as well.

Valbjörn Ingvar Valbjörnsson, a helmsman on the Berlin NC 107 newbuild, says Starlink is a “technological revolution” and a “game changer” for the vessel’s crew. “Life at sea is completely different with a high-speed internet connection. For example, I communicate much more with my children during fishing trips because I can speak with them on Facetime in full image quality, and there are no interruptions to the connection,” says Valbjörnsson.

Maintaining a Stable Connection No Longer a Struggle

Sigurbjörn Sigurdsson, the captain of Kirkella, shares a similar story about the Starlink system. When Kirkella was trawling in the northern hemisphere, maintaining good communication was a struggle. Sigurdsson says Kirkella has never lost an internet connection after Starlink was installed. “The data speed is such that the communication with the family via the Internet is the same as with a 4G connection on land. It’s a completely different life for the crew,” says Sigurdsson. He mentions that if the Kirkella would not have had Starlink, the crew would have had very limited entertainment options during a recent trip to the Flemish Cap because there is no traditional internet connection in that area.

Starlink was launched by SpaceX in 2019 and it currently consists of a cluster of 6,000 small satellites. Setting up a Starlink connection on a trawler involves installing a Starlink dish, or "Dishy," on the vessel. The system includes a mounting tripod, router, and power supply. The dish connects to the Starlink satellite constellation, providing high-speed internet with download speeds up to 150 Mbps and latency as low as 20 ms.