Tag: internet onboard

Digitalization can provide the ferry industry with both a reduction of operational costs and revenue increase, along with increased safety and crew efficiencies, a new report by global satellite communications provider Inmarsat reveals. 

An Australian-first initiative trialling Wi-Fi on cargo ships off the Port of Gladstone allows seafarers to connect up to 20 kilometres from the shoreline, boosting communication capabilities with their loved ones. 

Appearing in court on Tuesday, the Captain of the ill-fated MV Wakshio, which ran aground and split in two causing a major oil spill off Mauritius less than seven months ago, confirmed that he navigated the vessel closer to the shore to look for internet connection for the crew. 

The retention of seafarers is a major issue that shipping industry is currently dealing with. In regard to this matter, the most common factor that makes seafarers quit their job, is the lack of communication while onboard.

It is known that internet has dynamically entered into our daily lives within the years. In fact, internet has among others changed industries, business, education, communication, and the ways in which we interact with the others. However, when it comes to shipping industry, connectivity onboard has proved to effectively improve seafarers’ mental health and their overall wellbeing.

Isolation has always been an aspect of life at sea and one of the main arguments for all those refraining from a potential seafaring career. What are the main drivers of this isolation and how has this been redefined in the era of COVID-19?

As part of this year's #SeafarersDeliveringChristmas campaign, Inmarsat is offering free extra time for seafarers to catch up with their loved ones from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day. 

While seafarers’ satisfaction seemed to increase in the pre-COVID period in several sections of everyday life onboard, limited internet connection remains a main area of concern. Even before the global lockdown, the SAFETY4SEA Crew Wellness Survey unveiled connectivity as the most prevalent demand across a total of 9,768 seafarers globally. 

UK-based union Nautilus has backed calls for crew internet, data and satellite calls to be made free for three months to cover the peak infection period of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nautilus 24/7 provider ISWAN, on behalf of Nautilus and other trade unions, seafaring charities, the UK Chamber of Shipping and international maritime medical experts, have urgently requested global satellite provider Inmarsat and shipboard high-speed internet solutions provider KVH Industries to enable free calls. In separate letters to the service providers, ISWAN executive director Roger Harris asked Inmarsat to grant additional free data and free satellite calls, and for KVH Industries to grant additional free data and free satellite calls for seafarers aboard vessels on international voyages for the next three months: Seafarers on board vessels are being badly affected, often unable to leave their ship because of port state and other restrictions. They are having to stay on board for a lot longer than they signed up for and are being prevented from going ashore. Many seafarers are also stranded and unable to return to their home countries. Mr Harris said communication back home is the 'number one welfare concern of seafarers, and the link with home has become even ...

The US Navy recently launched a new program in order to advise sailors and their relatives of potential adversarial threats in the digital field. In fact, the program will focus on the cyber vulnerabilities, including adversaries' ability to target and track individual sailors on social media.