Offshore peer-to-peer data transfer over satellite links
Move survey data from vessel to shore reliably, even when the link is slow, shared or intermittent.
Offshore survey vessels and platforms produce far more data than a satellite link can carry in real time. Darkocean Sync moves that data peer to peer between the vessel and the onshore team, in resumable pieces that verify themselves on arrival. Processing and review can start while the vessel is still on the job.
Works over whatever connection the vessel has
A dropped link resumes instead of restarting
Each file is confirmed on arrival
Large survey files and small logs alike
What is offshore peer-to-peer data transfer?
A modern survey vessel can record tens or hundreds of gigabytes in a single day. Multibeam echosounder (MBES) files, sub-bottom and seismic records, side-scan imagery, positioning logs and ROV video all accumulate faster than a typical offshore connection can move them. Shipping hard drives home at the end of a campaign is reliable but slow, and it leaves the onshore team blind until the vessel returns.
Peer-to-peer transfer connects the vessel and the onshore office directly, rather than routing every file through a central upload server first. Each file is split into chunks. The chunks travel independently, so a satellite handover, a rain fade or a vessel manoeuvre that blocks the antenna pauses the transfer instead of ruining it. When the link returns, the transfer picks up at the last confirmed chunk.
The link itself is usually the bottleneck. Geostationary VSAT links offer modest bandwidth and high latency, and the capacity is often shared with crew welfare and operational traffic. Low Earth orbit (LEO) services offer lower latency and more throughput, but still vary with sea state, antenna position and sky view. A sensible transfer system treats the connection as unreliable, schedules large jobs for quieter periods and gives operational traffic priority.
Before sending, the data is prepared for the link. Lossless compression reduces file size where the format allows it. Quality-control products, such as coverage plots and sample subsets, can travel first so the onshore team can confirm the data is usable well before the full dataset arrives. Every file is checked against a checksum at both ends, so what the processing team opens is what the vessel recorded.
It does not create bandwidth that does not exist. A very large raw dataset on a thin link may still take longer to move than the survey itself, and for some campaigns physical media remains the right answer for the bulk data. Peer-to-peer transfer is best used to bring forward what is needed early and to keep the rest moving in the background.
How it works
Assess
Check the vessel link, data volumes and which products the onshore team needs first.
Prepare
Compress, organise and checksum files on board, with quality-control products queued ahead of raw data.
Transfer
Send chunks directly between vessel and shore, with automatic retry and resume when the link drops.
Verify
Match checksums at the receiving end and flag any file that is incomplete or corrupted.
Hand over
Place verified data where processing and reporting teams can use it straight away.
What you receive
Transfer
a. Vessel-to-shore transfer of survey files
b. Resumable, prioritised transfer queue
c. Bandwidth-aware scheduling around operational traffic
Assurance
a. Checksum verification of every file
b. Transfer log with file status and timestamps
c. Alerts for failed or incomplete transfers
Reporting
a. Daily data-received summary for the project team
b. Early quality-control products ahead of raw data
Where it is used
Hydrographic surveySend MBES and sound velocity data ashore daily so processing can run alongside acquisition.
Seismic and geophysicalMove sub-bottom and seismic records for early quality control without waiting for the vessel to return.
ROV and inspectionShare inspection video and logs with engineers who cannot be on board.
Pipeline and cable route surveyLet route engineers review data between survey lines and adjust the programme sooner.
Offshore windKeep site investigation and geophysical data flowing to design teams during long campaigns.
Remote platformsMove monitoring and inspection data from sites with limited connectivity.
Network transfer or physical media?
| Peer-to-peer transfer | Shipping drives | |
|---|---|---|
| Time to first data ashore | Hours to days, depending on the link | When the vessel reaches port or a crew change |
| Problem detection | Issues seen while the vessel can still re-survey | Issues often found after demobilisation |
| Bulk raw data | Practical only with enough bandwidth | Suited to the largest datasets |
| Integrity | Checksum verified per file | Depends on handling and a separate check |
Frequently asked questions
What happens when the satellite link drops?
Files are sent in chunks, and the system records which chunks have been confirmed. When the connection returns, the transfer resumes from the last confirmed chunk rather than starting the file again. Short outages from handovers or antenna blockage cost very little.
Can large multibeam and seismic files really be sent from a vessel?
Often yes, but it depends on the link and the data volume. Compression and prioritising quality-control products ahead of the raw files help considerably. For very large datasets on thin links, we plan which data goes by network and which goes by physical media.
How do you know a file arrived intact?
A checksum is calculated on board before sending and compared with one calculated after receipt. If they differ, the file is flagged and re-sent. This catches silent corruption as well as incomplete transfers.
Does it work over LEO satellite services?
Yes. Transfer is not tied to one provider or link type, so it can use VSAT, LEO, cellular or a mix. LEO links usually give better throughput and lower latency, but sea state and antenna placement still affect them, so resumable transfer remains useful.
Will transfers slow down the vessel's other traffic?
They should not. Transfers can be rate-limited or scheduled so that operational and welfare traffic keeps priority, with larger jobs using spare capacity.
Need survey data ashore before the vessel returns?
Tell us about your vessel link and data volumes, and we will outline a transfer approach.
