The introduction of new technology designed to save money by restricting crew access to email and the internet, has ‘worrying implications’, Nautilus International stated. Such systems help managers cut costs, monitor data usage, apply tougher security and control onboard connectivity.
Through these systems fleet managers and owners have complete control of communications, instead of needing to be on board the vessel. They can also set data limits and real-time usage alerts and block individual applications.
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Nautilus head of strategy Debbie Cavaldoro flagged the monitoring of seafarers’ communications as a concern for the union:
The ship is the seafarers’ home and their privacy should be respected. Our Connectivity at Sea survey of 2017 highlighted instances where seafarers’ personal emails were sent to the master before being passed on or access to the internet only being granted in public spaces, denying individuals the ability to contact their families in privacy
She added that when using such technology, ship owners and sat com providers must respect the need for internet access for personal use for those onboard and should agree fair usage policies which recognise the ship as the seafarers’ home.
However, Ms. Cavaldoro said that there are positive uses of these systems:
Monitoring crew communications has ‘worrying implications’
