Vessel Connectivity: Cellular, Starlink and Satellite

MANTRAZ uses whatever link a vessel has to get its data ashore: cellular near the coast, Starlink out at sea, and a satellite mode for vessels with neither. This page explains how vessel connectivity with Starlink, cellular and satellite works in MANTRAZ, and what reaches the dashboard on each. It is for owners and operators planning how their vessels will stay connected to the office.

A vessel does not stay in one coverage area

Vessels move in and out of coverage all the time. A system that only works with a strong signal near port leaves the office blind for most of the voyage, while one that assumes a perfect link everywhere does not match how vessels actually operate. Operators need to know what they will see, and when, on each kind of link.

Three ways data gets ashore

Cellular near the coast. When the vessel is in cellular range, the onboard gateway sends full data over cellular.

Starlink at sea. Out at sea, Starlink on board carries the same full data, so a vessel with Starlink reports just as it would near the coast.

Satellite mode in the app. Vessels with neither cellular nor Starlink can still report through the app's satellite mode. It brings in position, RPM and auxiliary engine data only.

What changes in satellite mode

Satellite mode keeps a vessel on the map and keeps the basic picture of how it is running, but it does not carry everything. Flowmeter fuel, temperature and power meter readings resume once the vessel is back in cellular or Starlink range.

The online status also adjusts. A vessel on full data is counted as online if its GPS arrived within 10 minutes. In satellite mode, a vessel counts as online if its GPS arrived within 6 hours, so a vessel reporting less often is not wrongly shown as lost.

When the link drops

The onboard gateway collects readings from the sensors and keeps them when the link drops. MANTRAZ does not need a constant internet connection to keep working on board: the vessel falls back to what its current link can carry.

Planning connectivity for a vessel with Starlink

For owners deciding how to connect their vessels, the practical question is what data they need and where. Vessels that spend most of their time near the coast can rely on cellular. Vessels that spend long periods at sea get full data through Starlink. Vessels with neither still stay visible through satellite mode, with position, RPM and auxiliary engine data.

Starlink, VSAT or cellular near the coast can all serve as the link that sends data ashore.

Who uses it

Owners and operators use this to plan connectivity per vessel. Fleet managers use it to understand why a vessel shows full data one day and a lighter set the next. Technical teams know which readings to expect from each vessel depending on where it is.

See it on the map

The connectivity chapter on the MANTRAZ homepage lets you pick a link and compare what reaches the dashboard. To plan connectivity for your own vessels, contact the team for a demo.