Maritime
Seafarers Strongly Influenced By
Internet Access When Choosing
Where to Work, According to
Futurenautics Survey
survey three years ago. Futurenautics Maritime
conducted the first survey in 2012, in an effort to
provide data of value to the maritime industry.
“It’s our belief that collaborating and
sharing information can accelerate the pace of
transformation in shipping and maritime, and
begin to understand and solve big problems,”
says Mr. Adamson. “The Crew Connectivity
survey is a clear demonstration of that process in
action.”
The report’s findings show a change in
mindset among seafarers regarding many
aspects of connectivity. Among the key findings:
92% of seafarers reported that Internet
access strongly influences their decision on
where to work, up from 78% in prior years.
95% of seafarers view connectivity as having
a positive effect on onboard safety, an increase
of 72% since the 2015 survey.
69% of respondents view the increasing
use of big data and analytics as a positive
opportunity for their jobs in the next five years,
versus 17% who see it as a threat.
“This is an extremely exciting time for the
Credits: The Mission to Seafarers
maritime industry, as digitalization begins
to transform ship operations and open up
many opportunities to keep this industry vital,”
notes Martin Kits van Heyningen, KVH’s chief
he Crew Connectivity 2018 Survey Report, sponsored by
executive officer. “We are delighted to support this report, which reinforces
KVH Industries and Intelsat, shows digital transformation
the importance of connectivity and how it is changing the life of the individual
underway in the maritime industry
seafarer.”
Roger Adamson, Futurenautics Maritime’s chief executive
“This report further emphasizes the need and desire—from shipping crews
officer, presented to a London audience yesterday the key
to passengers—to have robust, flexible networks that enable always-on
findings from his research organization’s newly released
connectivity,” says Shane Rossbacher, Intelsat’s director of maritime product
Crew Connectivity 2018 Survey Report, sponsored by KVH
management. “We are gratified to see that global high throughput services
Industries, Inc. (Nasdaq: KVHI) and Intelsat S.A. (NYSE: I). The
have further enhanced the ability for ship operators to improve the lives of
report is based on a survey of 6,000 serving seafarers, the largest sample to
crew members by providing additional services and the ability to stay in touch
date to complete the wide-ranging questionnaire covering onboard attitudes
with home as well as boost the efficiency of vessel operations.”
to the digital transformation sweeping the industry.
In addition to sponsorship by KVH and Intelsat, the report received support
According to the report, more seafarers than ever have access to
from leading maritime organizations BIMCO, Alpha Navigation, PTC, ISWAN
connectivity: Some 75% of seafarers can now use the Internet at sea, which is a
and InterManager.
https://www.kvh.com/Press-Room/Press-Release-
rise of 32% or over half a million more crew (520,000, to be exact) since the last
Library/2018/032818-Crew-Connectivity-2018-Survey-Report.aspx
T
“This report further emphasizes the need and desire—from shipping crews to passengers—
to have robust, flexible networks that enable always-on connectivity,”
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