Starlink: Bigger Boats Can Use Personal Maritime Plan, Too

SpaceX has tweaked its new Starlink plan for boat owners to cover slightly larger vessels. 

The new Personal Maritime plan can now support vessels 60 feet or less in length, up from 40 feet, as noted by a Facebook user who spotted the revision to a service plan agreement document on Starlink.com. "Use on larger craft or yachts (e.g., watercraft exceeding 60 ft. in length overall) is prohibited," the document now says.

Last week, SpaceX rolled out the Personal Maritime plan, following complaints about changes to its satellite internet service that risked pricing out digital nomads at sea. The plan is designed for small boat owners who sail internationally and rely on Starlink from country to country. 

When Starlink first introduced the plan, the boating community was quick to point out that it didn't cover boats longer than 40 feet. The restriction also created confusion. Some users reported successfully signing up for Personal Maritime, even though their vessel was technically longer than 40 feet, but others say they were denied.

The Personal Maritime plan isn't advertised on Starlink.com. Instead, eligible boat owners are invited to sign up via an email from Starlink. They have to submit documentation, including the vessel's registration certificate. Other boat owners have to file a customer support ticket to switch. 

"The Personal Maritime plan is available exclusively for personal, small watercraft use," the company's service agreement adds. It costs $185 per month, a $10 increase from Roam Unlimited. But as part of the new plan, SpaceX has also hiked up the rate for Ocean Mode to $6 per GB, up from $2 per GB. Ocean Mode offers Starlink access beyond 12 nautical miles from the coast and in international waters.

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