Astrium
Services has
just released the results of a recent crew communications survey.
According to the survey, a growing number of seafarers consider
on-board Wi-Fi connectivity to be indispensable. They are even
willing to pay for connectivity so that they can access social media
and other popular web destinations on their mobile devices
-smartphones, tablets, and laptops- while travelling aboard maritime
vessels.
Astrium
Services commissioned the Crew Communications 2012 Survey in order to
obtain the latest data data on crew communications requirements.
Stark Moore McMillan served as the Company's consultants during the
survey.
The
survey investigated the availability of communications for crew
during the third and fourth quarters of 2012. It questioned 960
Filipino seafarers, of 88 percent of whom where general crew and the
rest being officers.
According
to the survey, 68% of seafarers are now able to use some form of
communication service most or all of the time when at sea. In
addition, nearly the entire crew can use the shipboard SATCOM system
to make voice calls on occasion.
More
and more seafarers are requiring access to data communications these
days. The survey white paper opines that owners will experience
greater success in recruiting and retaining crew if they provide free
or low-cost Internet access aboard their ship through broadband
connectivity and Wi-Fi connections.
In
addition, the survey notes that there is a growing deficit in
qualified officers since 2005. To
both increase their chances of recruiting from the limited pool of
talent and improve staff loyalty, shipping companies need to offer
strong crew welfare packages that include connectivity.
Fortunately,
hybrid networks with VSAT and MSS can now provide reliable,
cost-effective connectivity required by shifting patterns of
communication usage. Satellite communications makes it easier for
shipping companies to provide such connectivity.
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