Hafnia is thrilled to announce its completed rollout of the cutting-edge Starlink Satellite System across its entire fleet by the end of 2023.
Developed by SpaceX, Starlink, is a satellite internet constellation providing high-speed internet access to remote and underserved areas globally. Starlink’s innovative technology sets out to improve connectivity across various industries, including maritime for its lightning-fast internet connectivity (over 200 Mbps), – transforming the at sea experience for seafaring teams – where crew for the first time will be able to consistently connect with their loved ones via enhanced connectivity.
After completing successful pilots between 2022 and 2023, Starlink is now up and running on 35 Hafnia vessels, with a full roll out across all Hafnia vessels currently being deployed and expected for completion by the end of 2023.
With the rollout of Starlink, a pioneering initiative – Project Hologram has simultaneously been rolled out, an initiative aimed at improving connection with seafarer families and loved ones – which has been piloted with remarkable success.
Project Hologram enables seafarers to spend quality time with their loved ones remotely in a group setting – bridging the gap between life at sea and life on land. This was first piloted on the Hafnia Atlantic in August 2023, using Microsoft Teams as a virtual hosting platform for a virtual dinner with ship staff and their families.
Since then, eight more vessels have trialed this initiative, fostering closer and deeper connections between seafarers and their families within a peer setting.
The feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive, underscoring the impact of both the Starlink rollout and the benefits of Project Hologram.
Juzer Vasi, Head of Fleet Solutions & Cyber Security at Hafnia, emphasizes the significance of this initiative, stating, “We are very excited to be able to provide state-of-the-art connectivity to our seafaring team. The high-speed connectivity will help foster deeper connections with loved ones far away, alongside the many other technical advantages that evolve the digitalization of our vessel operations.”
Captain Samir Wagh of the BW Cheetah additionally shared his enthusiasm for the project, stating, “The crew onboard and our families spent a wonderful time during these get-togethers. It is not a given that we can talk to so many of our family members simultaneously. This is a very good platform and initiative to connect and become closer with not just our own families, but also the loved ones of our onboard family. We all look forward to the official launch of this across all our vessels.”
In line with Hafnia’s commitment to innovation and digitalization to improve its operating systems, the deployment of Starlink and Project Hologram across all Hafnia vessels additionally reinforces our People-First values which continuously seeks ways to improve working conditions for our seafaring teams.