French telco Orange has deployed a Starlink antenna on one of its subsea cable laying ships.

Maritime communications firm Thalos recently announced the integration of the new Starlink Performance antenna into its maritime connectivity portfolio, with the company testing the offering aboard one of Orange Marine’s cable-laying ships.

“Currently undergoing operational testing aboard the Pierre de Fermat Orange Marine, this antenna is being put to the test in real-life offshore conditions,” Thalos said on LinkedIn. “These onboard trials are essential to ensure that the system meets the high standards of reliability, robustness, and efficiency required in the maritime environment.”

Launched in 2014, the cable-ship Pierre de Fermat is designed to manage the installation and maintenance of both fiber optic cable for the telecommunications sector and energy cables. It is equipped with a submarine robot, aka a Remotely Operated Vehicle.

It is one of seven ships that Orange Marine operates; two dedicated lay vessels, two maintenance ships, three capable of both, and one survey vessel.

“Proud to collaborate with Thalos on the real-life testing of the new Starlink Performance antenna aboard the Pierre de Fermat!” Orange Marine said in its own post. “Our vessels operate in some of the most demanding offshore environments, where reliability, robustness, and performance are non-negotiable. This new antenna, integrated into the OceanBox solution, is being thoroughly tested by our crew at sea. A great example of how we’re advancing maritime innovation together to improve onboard connectivity.”

Starlink antennas have been deployed on numerous vessels, including container ships, yachts, cruise vessels, and riverboats