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E-mail: systemdiv@orcajpn.co.jp【ORCA Report】 Summary of Failure Cases about Starlink
The use of Starlink vessels began in 2023, and as of January 2024, we have connected about 40
Starlink units for vessels.
Among them, reports of failures have also been raised. It will be useful for the operation of Starlink
on vessels in the future, so we will introduce a summary of failure cases.

Case 1: Damage to the antenna installed on the compass deck
Fault Details

The antenna of Starlink Maritime was installed on the compass deck,but the base of the antenna (bolted part) was damaged by sailing in bad
weather and strong winds. The antenna has fallen out of the mount.

Explanation

The antenna of Starlink Maritime is fixed by bolts, but the bolt anchor
is embedded in the plastic antenna body, and the main body side isdamaged due to insufficient strength on the plastic side.

Measures to prevent

According to the common knowledge of satellite communications, mostrecurrence

vessels install antennas higher than the compass deck.
However, due to the characteristics of low-orbit satellites, the satellite
to which the communication is to be communicated is always high inthe sky, and the communication destination is always close to the top.
For this reason, there is not much need to worry about antenna
blocking, for example, by radar masts.
Considering the above characteristics, as well as the strength of theantenna itself, Starlink's antenna is not necessary to install it in a highposition, and it is better to install it in a low position (but in a place
where you can see directly above) so that it will be behind the wind.

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Case 2: Starlink Maritime power supply unit failure (2 cases)
Fault Details

Fault of the board in the power supply unit. Since the antenna ispowered, Starlink is online from the shore, but the Ethernet interfaceof the unit is faulty, so communication with the onboard LAN is notpossible.

Explanation

There have been two cases of this failure. If this fault occurs, the main
unit power supply unit must be replaced. Starlink communications will
not be restored until replacement equipment reaches the vessel.
SpaceX seems to be aware of this type of failure, and it is possible that
there will be similar failures depending on the production lot. The
company's support made it easy to arrange replacement equipment, but
the time lag before it arrives on the vessel is a problem. Also, keep inmind that each Starlink device is basically not designed to be repaired,and in the event of a breakdown, the entire unit must be replaced.

Measures to prevent

The easiest way to ensure that Starlink is always effective is to haverecurrencea spare that can be used in the event of a breakdown.

Please refer

to "ORCA REPORT Recommendation to install two Starlink units" fora method of operating two Starlink Maritime and Starlink Roam, andcompensating for the remaining one in the event of a failure. It is
possible to realize a two-unit operation system at the minimum cost.
Of course, if the budget allows, it is effective to operate with a Starlink
Maritime two-unit system. In this case, Starlink on the standby side
can usually be suspended. Starlink can be suspended and resumed
freely, so there is no operating cost during standby.

In the future. we would like to continue to introduce cases of failures and countermeasures.
2024/01/18

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