PRESS RELEASE: : A new report looking at crew connectivity on ships has revealed the emotional and operational impact on professional seafarers who are often away for up to six months at a time with limited opportunities to interact digitally with friends and family.
International maritime charity Sailors’ Society, which helps seafarers and their families with welfare and practical support, and Inmarsat, the global mobile satellite company, have worked with researchers from Royal Holloway, University of London, to examine the effect on seafarers who have limited or non-existent digital access.
Researchers for this latest study, “Navigating Everyday Connectivities at Sea”, used an immersive study approach on board two container ships for 10 days, one with on board Wi-Fi capabilities and one without. They looked at how seafarers use mobile phones and other digitally enabled devices in their daily lives during long periods at sea, and the opportunities and risks that such usage introduces.
The results revealed the fundamental importance of reliable connectivity and the impact it has on mental well-being, operational efficiency and safety, as well as its critical role in attracting new talent to the industry.
