Canadian independent containership lessor Seaspan is to equip its fleet with the OneWeb low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite offering from Rhode Island-based KVH Industries.

This marks the next step in Seaspan’s drive to deliver shore-like internet connectivity at sea, supporting its digital transformation strategy and augmenting its fleet’s existing LEO services.

As an early adopter of LEO technologies, Seaspan is the first major owner or operator of containerships to partner with KVH for its OneWeb service. Seaspan’s OneWeb rollout will strengthen the fleet’s data connectivity infrastructure, enabling Seaspan to leverage technologies and high bandwidth-demanding applications, including cloud-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) technology, that were previously unsuitable for maritime use.

“Our partnership with KVH for OneWeb services aligns with our strategy of providing a best-in-class communication experience across our fleet,” said Garret Wong, Seaspan vice president. “This initiative brings us closer to realising shore-like connectivity at sea while enhancing efficiency, safety and seafarer welfare.”

Adrian Alb, senior manager at Seaspan, added: “LEO satellite technologies have set a new benchmark for vessel communications, offering high-bandwidth, low latency and reliability far beyond traditional marine satellite options. This collaboration with KVH aligns with our goal of enhancing provider diversity and minimising geographical blackout zones, further bolstering the robustness of our satellite communications infrastructure.”

And Chad Impey, senior vice president at KVH, said: “We are proud to support Seaspan with the planned deployment of OneWeb service and hardware as part of our integrated KVH One multi-orbit, multi-channel network.”

Seaspan (seaspancorp.com) is a maritime asset-owner and operator focussed on long-term, fixed-rate leases to prominent shipping lines. Its operating fleet consists of 218 vessels, with a total fleet capacity of approximately 2.3 million TEUs.

KVH Industries (www.kvh.com), founded in 1982, is based in Middletown, Rhode Island, with research, development and manufacturing operations, and more than a dozen offices around the globe. It provides connectivity for commercial maritime, leisure marine, military, government and land mobile applications on vessels and vehicles, including the TracNet, TracPhone and TracVision product lines, the One OpenNet programme for non-KVH antennas, AgilePlans connectivity-as-a-service (CaaS), and the KVH Link crew wellbeing content service.