For Global Maritime Operations, Reliable Connectivity is Absolutely Critical
Customer Overview
Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company (GLDD) is the largest provider of dredging services in the United States, with a history and portfolio of significant international projects as well. They own and operate the largest and most diverse fleet in the U.S. dredging industry, with approximately 200 specialized vessels, including Dredge and Drill Boats, Tugs and Work Boats, Boosters, Barges, Support and Auxiliary Vessels, operating in a wide variety of environments – from inland and coastal waterways and ports to deep offshore energy sites.
The Challenge
Across a large fleet of vessels and geographically remote and disparate environments, reliable connectivity is absolutely critical to Great Lakes’ operations. To identify, develop, implement and manage a comprehensive communications network strategy, they enlisted iNet.
The Solution
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock partnered with iNet to deliver fully integrated Starlink Managed Services, purpose-built for maritime connectivity and project-driven remote operations. Through a combination of customized Starlink service plans, integrated network management, and 24/7 Customer Support, iNet enables reliable LEO satellite connectivity across their fleet of specialized vessels and dynamic job sites.
A key differentiator in the deployment is iNet’s strategic use of Starlink Data Pools and individual Global Service Plans. For land-based and nearshore assets, iNet provides a Local Starlink Data Pool, enabling multiple sites to share bandwidth through a centralized allocation – improving utilization, reducing waste, and minimizing unnecessary overage costs.
For offshore maritime operations, where Starlink requires Global service plans, iNet extends this model by managing Global Starlink capacity across vessel-based assets.
“iNet always comes through.
I really appreciate our partnership with iNet.”
Trond Ellefsen
VP & Chief Technology Officer
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock
The Results
By aligning service architecture, iNet ensures Great Lakes achieves consistent performance and cost control across both inland and offshore environments. This dual-model approach highlights data pooling as one component in a broader, fully managed service strategy – not a standalone offering.
Beyond connectivity, iNet provides continuous network management and performance optimization, conducting regular network and usage reviews to give Great Lakes full visibility into consumption trends and system performance. These proactive collaborations ensure service plans are continuously optimized, controlling monthly spending and maximizing the value of communications investment.
Operational responsiveness has been a defining element of the partnership. iNet has consistently supported next-day equipment shipments and rapid deployment services, executing within compressed timelines to bring connectivity online quickly and minimize disruption to active operations.
Looking forward, iNet and Great Lakes are actively testing iNet’s Captive Portal, an advanced network management platform that provides granular user control, policy enforcement, and real-time usage visibility. This capability is expected to further enhance bandwidth optimization, reduce unnecessary data consumption, and drive additional cost efficiencies.
Key Takeaways
The partnership between iNet and Great Lakes reflects the value of working with a proven managed communications provider. By combining Starlink Managed Services, Local and Global Data Strategies, Proactive Network Management, and Rapid Deployment capabilities, iNet delivers a solution that extends far beyond ISP-style connectivity.
About iNet
iNet designs and manages communications infrastructure for critical operations across energy, utilities, maritime, and industrial sectors. By integrating terrestrial wireless, satellite connectivity, and edge networking technologies, iNet helps organizations extend their networks to the most remote and demanding environments.
Organizations exploring new approaches to global enterprise connectivity are encouraged to speak with iNet’s engineering team to evaluate how our hybrid architecture solutions can support their operational objectives.