Cruise Company Provides Five Starlinks for Sitka

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Category: News

Created on Wednesday, 11 September 2024 15:32

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By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff
    Royal Caribbean Group announced today that the company is working with the Sitka Dock Company (Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal) and other businesses to install five Starlink terminals to provide Sitkans – and presumably cruise ship passengers – free satellite-based internet service during the GCI cable outage.
    The first two terminals were installed at the cruise ship terminal, and are now live. The others will be installed at Sitka Bazaar, 215 Lincoln Street, and at Harrigan Centennial Hall, the announcement said.
    A Starlink terminal for public use is already set up at the Sitka Public Library. Most of Sitka lost internet service when the GCI fiberoptic cable broke in the Salisbury Sound area Aug. 29. The vessel Cable Innovator has been at the scene for repairs since  Sept. 8.
    Royal Caribbean brings thousands of visitors to Sitka each year aboard the vessels Quantum of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas and Brilliance of the Seas.
    Chris McGraw, owner of the cruise terminal, said he is grateful for Royal Caribbean’s support to the community during the cable outage.
    “Over the years their collaboration and willingness to step in have made a difference in Sitka and this time is no different,” McGraw said. “The locations of the terminals will alleviate coverage needs for our residents and businesses until internet services are restored.”
City Administrator John Leach also is  quoted in the announcement: “Access to reliable internet is essential for our community’s daily life and economic activity. We are grateful for the collaboration of Royal Caribbean Group and Sitka Dock Company in providing vital internet access during this time. This partnership highlights the strength of our community and our ability to come together to find solutions in times of need, not only during emergency outages but also during times of high network congestion.”
Preston Carnahan, associate vice president, West Coast destination, Royal Caribbean Group, acknowledged the important role internet access plays in staying connected as a community and business.
“We deeply value our partnerships and ability to collaborate with local leaders to provide solutions and redirect resources that can help our friends in Sitka,” he said in a statement.
    GCI told the Sentinel today that technicians on the cable repair ship Cable Innovator are hard at work to get the cable reconnected and internet back up.
    “Recovery, repair, and testing operations at the site of the damaged fiber have been progressing and are ongoing,” GCI said today. “Once we have confirmed the cable is repaired, our technical teams will begin the complex process of migrating services back onto the fiber from the backup methods we have been using since the break occurred.  This process may take some time, and we will provide more information as it becomes available.”

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