7 Responses to “Wi-fi in ports is a must for seafarers”

1. James Von Dreele
   September 1st, 2010 @ 8:09 pm

   Clay,
   Maritime ministries in Philadelphia, Houston and Newark are providing such services to ship crews. It is a very popular service. Another reason for the maritime industry to support these ministries in their local ports.
   Jim Von Dreele

2. Clay
   September 1st, 2010 @ 8:21 pm

   Jim,
   Thanks for your swift reply and it’s good to hear that you are on top of the situation.

3. Glen
   September 1st, 2010 @ 10:18 pm

   Clay,
   Completey concur with the notion of WiFi in ports. With the increase of social media connectivity, including when in the air, the mariner is being left behind. Even naval forces see the importance of maintaining contact with those at home. In fact, a basic operational capability that is being used in the Gulf of Aden by the coalition forces, uses the principle of social media connectivity.
   OCEANUSLive is looking to promote WiFi at sea in the near future. Ports must have the similar capability to airports. Why not?

4. Archie
   September 25th, 2010 @ 8:33 pm

   We should be thinking of WiFi at sea and not just in ports only. This is a major factor that most mariners now take into account when deciding on whom to work for. With experienced and qualified seafarers being sought for (especially more so in some trades like Gas), its time that the seafarers started demanding things.

   On the other hand there are manning agents who promise the world and put crews on board ships where all the promises are castles in the air.

   (Off the track, why don’t we have a website for manning agencies who promise things that they don’t deliver? – Somthing like a “Manning agencies – List of shame”)

   Coming back to the topic, yes WiFi should be common place on all ships. There is nothing that boosts a seafarers morale more than being able to video chat with his family everyday.

5. Clay
   October 3rd, 2010 @ 7:59 pm

   Archie, broadband at sea is obviously the panacea but in my experience it’s still very costly to install Inmarsat Fleet or VSAT and in a downturn it is oft seen as non-critical. Wi-fi in port is a lot cheaper for owners and managers and can be set up quickly.

6. Archie
   October 4th, 2010 @ 11:15 pm

   Well Clay,

   I’m working for a ship manager who has installed the internet on all their ships. Available on board in Wifi and uses the Cruise-IP system. There are times when the usage is high and speeds can be slow but on the whole the system is satisfactory.

   So, the equipment is there out there, but the question is,

   How many ship owners want to invest in it?

   In an industry where poaching is common place, things like these can be the deciding factor when it comes to crew retention. I am a firm believer that crew retention is the solution to lower operating costs and safer ships. Imagine spending money on training a new Chief Mate of a 2nd engineer every 3-4 months on a Gas carrier. On the other hand if the same officers continued with the same operator, there would be in most cases an increase in familiarity with the vessel and its systems, thereby increasing safety in operations.

7. Veeresh Malik
   November 11th, 2010 @ 8:40 am

   Good Afternoon, here’s an article I wrote on the subject for SAILOR TODAY, submitted with permissions.

   Just one single aspect of life at sea:- the busiest time for people on board ship is when the ship is either in port or close to a coast. One would expect that is the time when all other issues are set aside, and people concentrate on work, like they do in any other job ashore.

   The maximum number of phone calls and emails I get from friends at sea is when they are in port or coasting. This includes Masters going through pilotage waters, Chief Engineers when they are receiving bunkers, and others. It is almost as though the sanctity of “only work” when in port is almost lost on the present generation of seafarers, and this was one of those important aspects drilled into our heads way back when mail came in packets – of paper, not bytes

   But then, fact remains, for a 24×7 connected generation, this is also
   the only time when seafarers get “connectivity”. Both for mobile
   phones as well as wireless broadband. And as a result what do you
   have? People on duty in charge of navigation issues, pollution
   prevention, dealing with shore staff and most of all, snatching a few
   hours for rest – these very people also have to somehow find time to
   communicate with family, friends and other beloved ones.

   This is being repeated because it is so important now, and there are
   whispers that accidents were caused because the watchkeepers were busy
   “doing personal mail”. Whether on laptops, netbooks or simply mobile
   phones. And fishing vessels get run over, amongst other things. For
   lesser crimes, car drivers go to jail – for long durations.

   Likewise, the availability of news, information and other updates,
   while at sea. Go back to memories of people buying ultra-powerful
   “world radios”, with short-wave capabilities that ensured they managed
   to receive news from their homelands even in the middle of the Pacific
   Ocean. I just received news that a batchmate of mine revived his old
   Grundig World Radio – and the Customs Officers were amazed at seeing
   this vintage piece, took photos next to it. Almost as big as a
   suitcase, but then luckily, he was entitled to 60 kilos of baggage.

   Now match this with this big move afoot, keeps ebbing and surging
   actually, to try and improve matters for seafarers. Especially in
   “Year of the Seafarer”, whatever that may imply to the rest of the
   world, since many or most outside the orbit of shipping are still to
   figure out what to do next about it.

   Yes, we are repeatedly told that the Maritime Labour Convention 2011
   will address and improve matters, but despite that, there will be a
   shortage of any number of thousands of trained seagoing personnel -
   especially on deep sea tanker, both liquid and gas.

   Would it, then, be asking for too much that ships complement be
   provided with the facility of something everybody has at home – 24×7
   internet, through VSAT on satellite and similar?

   To my simple mind, and having headed a technology company where the
   same generation of youngsters needed full-time connectivity as a
   given, this is a holistic solution to a lot of issues at sea. It
   provides a low-cost benefit, it certainly keeps seafarers more in
   touch with the world and most of all, it is a step that actively
   promotes safety by freeing the body and mind of the seafarer when the
   ship needs it the most.

   Ship-owners of a slightly more aware nature have already started
   providing this onboard, some for more than a few years now. Having
   revalidated my “ticket” with a whole new generation of young seafarers
   in their 20s and 30s, I am aware how internet onboard is now on of
   their major parameters when deciding where and who to sail with.

   And most of all, in The Year of the Seafarer, denying them what is
   almost a basic requirement is like shipowners and managers making an
   issue of providing air-conditioning and radars on ships in the “old
   days”.

   Good luck. And this article typed out on a netbook while riding the
   Delhi Metro underground, sent out through a small little USB port
   linked device, which goes through repeaters and boosters on this
   train. In some trains, the wi-fi is free, too.

   About time ships followed what trains provide?

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