SIEM Shipping’s Seamless Connectivity: The Power of Starlink, 5G, Iridium, and Peplink Integration
Even when a ship sails into open waters, its connectivity demand doesn’t decrease. In fact, it only increases—whether for operational needs or crew use. But is there truly a connectivity solution that can guarantee fast and stable internet, no matter where the ship sails?
When SIEM Shipping faced this challenge, they turned to Peplink’s partner, Rio Innovations, for a solution. Rio Innovations delivered an advanced Peplink-based system that seamlessly integrates Starlink, Iridium, and 5G. This resilient, flexible, and cost-effective solution ensures the fleet stays connected wherever it goes, truly fulfilling the promise of continuous connectivity at sea.
Challenge
With routes crossing various regions, SIEM Shipping needed to ensure that their network could consistently support both mission-critical operations and daily life onboard, despite coverage limits. Additionally, their IT team also had to:
- Ensure the constant availability and integrity of ship systems
- Deliver controlled internet access to stay within maritime data plans and avoid excessive charges
- Provide backup connectivity in regions where any single internet source has limited coverage
- Enable remote monitoring and management of the entire onboard network
- Support crew communication with friends and family
Solution
Following a successful proof of concept on two ships, Rio Innovations began deploying a tailored Peplink solution across SIEM Shipping’s entire Ro-Ro fleet. The design featured multiple connectivity options, prioritized by location:
- 2x Starlink with Starlink Flat High Performance – Primary links delivering high-speed, low-latency connectivity for both operational needs and crew use.
- 2x 5G with Peplink Dome Pro Duo or 1x 5G with HD1 Dome Pro / Antenna MAX + BR1 Pro 5G – Provides connectivity up to 85 km offshore, automatically switching in when within range to enhance internet performance and reduce costs.
- 1x LTE with Peplink B One – Adds redundancy and failover capability.
- 1x Iridium with Iridium Certus – Serves as the final fallback, ensuring critical ship systems remain online even in the most remote zones.
All these connections are bonded with a Peplink SDX or SDX Pro router, creating an extremely reliable and intelligent onboard network.
Connectivity is distributed to the crew through multiple AP One AX and AP One Mini access points, replacing a previous brand that faced firmware adoption issues. This upgrade significantly improved onboard Wi-Fi performance while simplifying ongoing management.
The built-in captive portal enables centralized control of crew internet access, with each crew member allocated 1 GB of data per day. Once the data limit is reached, a separate, bandwidth-restricted messaging portal allows continued communication via WhatsApp, helping to support crew welfare.
The entire network is configured and managed via InControl, Peplink’s cloud-based management platform. With full visibility and remote access, IT teams now have comprehensive control and real-time insights—all from a single pane of glass.
Result
The outcome has been transformative. SIEM Shipping vessels now enjoy consistent, high-speed connectivity at sea—through a combination of Starlink’s low-latency LEO service offshore, robust 5G connectivity up to 85 km offshore via Peplink equipment, and Iridium’s global fallback coverage. This layered network approach has significantly reduced reliance on legacy satellite systems, while enhancing both operational efficiency and crew welfare.
The IT team maintains full visibility and control of all onboard systems through InControl, streamlining management across the fleet. SIEM Shipping reports smoother operations, significant cost savings, and improved crew satisfaction. With Rio Innovations supporting continued deployment, more vessels are set to benefit from this reliable, future-ready solution.
“The deployment of Peplink with Starlink by Rio Innovations on our ships has improved onboard connectivity. Benefits include enhanced connectivity speeds, reduced costs, and remote monitoring to ensure crews remain connected with their friends and family while maintaining essential ship connectivity operations. The rollout is planned to continue across the entire fleet in the coming months.”
Robert Bate, SIEM Shipping IT Manager
“Reliable internet onboard ships is essential for operations. If you’re looking for seamless connectivity with Starlink integration, Peplink offers a viable option. This project demonstrates SIEM’s commitment to providing reliable, redundant, and high-performance connectivity solutions for maritime operations. The collaboration with Rio Innovations in this project was characterized by creativity, cost-efficiency, and effective teamwork.”
Przemyslaw Wiczk, SIEM Shipping IT Engineer
Deployment
Dome Pro Duo / HD1 Dome Pro / Antenna MAX + BR1 Pro 5G
- Connected to the SDX in Synergy Mode
- Provides optimal 5G performance thanks to minimal cable loss
- IP67-rated enclosure suitable for harsh maritime environments
- Connected to the SDX
- Supports up to 24 connected devices
- Enables connection to wired peripherals
- Affordable and scalable router
- Designed for Fixed Wireless Access (FWA)
- Easy Integration with Starlink
- Linked to the switch
- Scales to provide Wi-Fi coverage across the ship
- Easy management via InControl
- Installed up to 100 meters away from the Domes for remote SIM switching
- Houses up to 8 SIMs from different mobile carriers
- Provides seamless carrier switching across regions
- Cloud-based management platform for all Peplink devices
- Enables network automation, usage monitoring, remote configuration and custom captive portals
- Reduces maintenance time and operational complexity
