Seafarers' wi-fi connects international sailors with loved ones in Australian-first trial

Seafarers' wi-fi connects international sailors with loved ones in Australian-first trial
Erin Semmler, Jasmine Hines 4 march 2021 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-04/seafarers-connect-with-family-in-...

It is something many people take for granted, but for thousands of seafarers stuck on ships for up to 14 months at a time, internet connectivity is the only way to see their loved ones.
Key points:

A technology company is trialling wi-fi connectivity to cargo ships several kilometres offshore
The joint project is designed to improve the welfare and wellbeing of seafarers
The idea is to expand the project to other ports and remote communities in future

Before the coronavirus pandemic seafarers could access wi-fi at ports while cargo ships were docked, but now the vessels have been forced to anchor several kilometres offshore where a signal is non-existent.

An Australian-first initiative trialling wi-fi on cargo ships off the Port of Gladstone has allowed sailors to connect up to 20 kilometres from the shoreline.

Mission to Seafarers Gladstone manager Jessica Mulhall said internet access was difficult for workers due to the high cost of prepaid services and their low wages.

"The second they were able to access their phones they all stepped outside to have that private moment with their families and speak to them," she said.

Gladstone Ports Corporation (GPC) acting CEO Craig Walker was aboard the first ship to trial the device.

"When we turned it on we saw the excitement in some of their faces," Mr Walker said.

"Those are the little things and fundamentals that we all take for granted."

He said every Australian relied on seafarers, with more than 90 per cent of the world's trade moving via ships in and out of ports.

"Those people that are out on the sea all night, all day, away from their family and away from their homes, it's really important that they keep connected," he said.

The general manager of Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ), Angus Mitchell, said the project aimed to improve seafarer welfare.

"They are at sea in many cases 12, 14 months before they can get home," he said.

"It may seem small just to be able to provide wi-fi and internet connectivity for the rest of us, but for seafarers it is a really vital part of making sure that we're looking after their wellbeing and their welfare."
Expanding to remote communities

The managing director of Insite Communications, Pete Schmidt, said his team had worked with MSQ, GPC, Telstra and the seafarers' mission on the project.

Two 10-kilogram, suitcase-sized wi-fi boxes valued at about $10,000 can now been moved between ships off Gladstone.

"From my perspective it's the first we've seen in Australia," Mr Schmidt said.

"The box has a cradle point model which delivers enterprise security for mobile networks and two high gain antennas so that we can work out how to get the best signal.

"The range and security that we have on this solution is significantly better than I've seen before so we can go 20 kilometres out to sea."

Mr Schmidt said the plan was to reduce the cost, weight, and size of the boxes before expanding the project.

"We did this piece of work by invitation of Telstra and they've invited us to take the solution and expand it to anywhere in Australia," he said.

"We're focused on seafarers at the moment but there a lot of communities that are stuck.

"This is basically instant connectivity so I can see that we'll have a bit more work ahead of us to help people stay connected in remote environments."