How Internet on Ship has Improved the Life of Seafarers On Board Ships?
A Good Communication is the fundamental backbone of any business entity to survive, prosper and grow. It is the lifeblood of every relationship both professional and personal, especially for the distant ones, across the seas. Internet on ship has definitely changed the lives of seafarers working on board.
When the Inmarsat Fleet Broad band 500 on board ship becomes active, it gives a great relief and improves the quality of life of the crew on board. Primarily because it is FREE! Connecting to their families and friends 24/7 whether in port or at sea is superb. It makes sailing fun.
The once gloomy lives of the seafarers have changed. To access Social Networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, Friendster is just at their fingertips. They are now at par with their land-based counterparts. They can connect through WIFI anywhere with-in the ships’ accommodation. They can keep track of the updates of the likes and comments of their status, posts, and pictures in Facebook. Most of all, they can have a real time exchange of ideas and comments with what is going on in the lives of their families and friends worldwide through chats, emails, and voice calls through Skype.
Gone are the times when the seafarers needed to use prepaid cards to call their families back home through the ships Iridium phone. On an average, a Seafarer spends around $75.00 to$150.00 per month for voice calls. Although, they can receive emails thru their company employee address before, it was limited to messages only. It does not allow photo and file sharing because of the increased traffic of Business Communications from the Office, Charterer and Agents. It is only when the vessel gets into port that they can use a dongle and buy prepaid cards to access the internet. Nevertheless, these are all passé now, thanks to internet on ships. The Fleet Broadband has improved remarkably the vessel operations because of fast message exchanges between shore and shipboard staff.
In this regard, even shipping companies have realized the importance of internet on ships to improve the quality of life on board. The availability of a free broadband service on board ships is adding a new dimension and meaning to the life at sea. This is also one way of motivating the Officers and Crew to stay with the company for a longer period without having to go on moonlighting or career-shopping spree during their home leave. By doing so, the company achieves a higher retention rate for the pool of highly qualified, trained and reliable Merchant Marine Officers, Engineers and Crew in the fleet. It is also financially rewarding, adding an amount of savings to their pockets.
Indeed, the Fleet Broad band has shortened the distance between the Seafarers’ on board ships and their love ones ashore because for now, they are just a “click” of the mouse away! The smiles you see in their faces are morally uplifting indeed.
You may also like to read – 10 Simple Things That Make Seafarers Happy On Board Ships
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Whilst it is true that it has improved the life of seafarers, it also brings with it the capability of micro-management from the shipping companies. The Captain no longer is the ultimate authority on board, and his ability to make decisions based on the local conditions he is experiencing has been severely restricted. The Chief Engineer can no longer make decisions, instead referring back to shore for even fairly trivial events. For both of them, losing the internet means the decisions they make will be based on a fraction of the experience that seafarers with the same length of service but no internet would make. This may reduce instantaneous costs but lead to higher maintenance costs further down the line.
Hi Colin,
On the contrary, the Company respects the Master’s over riding authority on board the ship.The internet on board made “Technical Assistance” from Shore readily available to both the Captain and the Chief Engineer only when they sought for and needed it. Otherwise, the day to day management of the engine and the ship is left to the exercise of best of their abilities according to the procedures laid out in the Company’s Global Safety Management System.For the vessels’ upkeep and maintenance, it even made the follow up for supply of stores and spares requisition easier. The availability of the internet on board strengthened the shore support to the vessel and will eventually make operation cost efficient instead.
Yes Indeed, as a seafarer and i experienced it well… internet onboard makes the crew happy and not in a moody mode… so no hatred between the crew cause they are all not in a moody mode… cause they were just at home talking to there love ones after the working time.. so it means to say internet onboard is a STRESS RELIEVER…
Internet brings happiness on board ship because,Mariners can spend time to chat with their loves over the world keep them update concerning social life,economic,polititical etc
I think The internet facility on all ships should be mandatory ,,,,,,,,,
Internet on board is not free they charge us 18usd for 100mb. well life isnt fair.