Inmarsat extends well-being commitments
(Posted on 08/06/20)
Inmarsat, the world leader in global, mobile satellite communications, continues to ramp up its response to COVID-19, with additional initiatives to improve seafarer wellbeing. These initiatives include further collaboration with ISWAN (International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network) and maritime charities, the launch of a new chatcard and the wider roll-out of a COVID-19 video telemedicine call service.
As the pandemic has unfolded, the leading maritime satellite service provider has worked closely with welfare organisation ISWAN and the major maritime charities to ensure that seafarers stay connected without the burden of additional financial anxiety. Inmarsat is now offering crew access to ISWAN’s SeafarerHelp portal and live chat function via the company’s new onboard WiFi portal, Fleet Hotspot, as well as continuing to offer free voice phone calls to the service. It also continues to provide satellite phones to Port Chaplains in ports where a number of seafarers are stranded and have no access to the internet.
SeafarerHelp is ISWAN’s free, confidential, multilingual helpline, which offers support and assistance to seafarers and their families around the world. The helpline service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and seafarers can get in touch via a range of contact methods including Live Chat, e-mail and telephone.
Roger Harris, ISWAN’s Executive Director, said: “We are delighted to be working with Inmarsat to bring our helpline service to even more seafarers during this crisis. As you can imagine SeafarerHelp has been extremely busy over the last three months as crew face the impact of being stranded onboard and the loss of employment. Offering free access to SeafarerHelp on Fleet Hotspot will make it easier for crew on board these vessels to access support and assistance wherever they are in the world, day or night.”
As announced at the beginning of April, Inmarsat is also working with crew healthcare specialist Vikand and software platform provider FrontM to provide a free COVID-19 video call service with a trained health professional. The service is now live and available on over 150 vessels with a further 1,000-plus vessels in the pipeline.
The new service ensures that users of Inmarsat’s high-speed Fleet Xpress service have 24/7 access to video call VIKAND’s expert staff for information to help navigate COVID-19 related, medical questions. By facilitating access to timely information for a vessel, client uncertainty is reduced, their decisions are more informed, and actions can be taken faster by clients to help mitigate and resolve risks.
Inmarsat continues to provide a voice call discount offer to its retail customers using FleetBroadband ChatCard voice services and to wholesale partners offering FleetBroadband voice calls under the legacy Crew Calling ‘SQT’ brand. In addition, it recently launched its ChatCard services for Fleet Xpress with an introductory discount that will be available until the end of July.
“Inmarsat recognises the unprecedented situation facing seafarers and their need for certainty in communication, as the global maritime industry responds to the challenges of COVID-19,” said Ronald Spithout, President, Inmarsat Maritime. “These new initiatives, together with those we have already launched, alleviate one of the core concerns crews face as they go about the business of keeping world trade moving day-in, day-out.”
Latest News
Torvald Klaveness sells Klaveness Ship Management AS to OSM Thome
(Posted on 26/10/24)Torvald Klaveness has announced the sale of 100% of Klaveness Ship Management AS shares to OSM Thome... Read more
Damen delivers first of three Combi Freighters to Reederei M. Lauterjung
(Posted on 26/10/24)Damen has delivered the first of three Combi Freighters (CF) 3850 that it is building for Reederei M... Read more
New leadership team elected at INTERCARGO
(Posted on 23/10/24)INTERCARGO, the International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners, has announced significant changes... Read more
Core Power ramps up Japan operations as US$500m funding round nears completion
(Posted on 19/10/24)CORE POWER is building the world’s first Maritime Civil Nuclear Programme in the OECD with a potential... Read more
Concern over RightShip's age limit reduction for Bulker vetting inspections
(Posted on 18/10/24)The International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners (INTERCARGO) members have voiced deep concerns... Read more
Four Damen Combi Freighter 3850s ordered by Reederei Bernd Sibum
(Posted on 18/10/24)German family-owned shipping company, Reederei Bernd Sibum, has placed an order with Damen Shipyards... Read more
ClassNK’s world first notation for ships using green steel for NYK Bulker
(Posted on 18/10/24)ClassNK has granted the class notation ‘a-EA (GRS)’ to ‘BRIGHT QUEEN’, the bulk... Read more
Veson: Decarbonisation regulations reducing average speed of bulker fleet
(Posted on 14/10/24)Estimated carbon emissions from bulk carrier vessels have fallen by 5 million tonnes, or 2.5%, since... Read more
Danica and IMEQ collaborate for safety and wellbeing
(Posted on 14/10/24)Danica Crewing Specialists has partnered with the Innovative Maritime Emotional Intelligence Centre (... Read more
Unprecedented insight into connectivity and wellness at sea
(Posted on 08/10/24)Unique data is being used to create a series of ‘snapshots’ into the state of the maritime... Read more