Seaways All hands on tech - June 2026
Connectivity and the STEER Project
by David Patraiko FNI Director of Projects, The Nautical Institute
It could be argued that the work of Marconi and the invention of the wireless radio around the beginning of the 20th century had as much impact on shipping as the advent of steam or diesel engines. Before the radio, once a ship left port it was largely unheard of until the next port. With the advent of the radio, however, ships and their crews could be contacted at any time and for anything. Some will argue that this has brought huge benefits in safety and commercial effectiveness – others will argue otherwise.
Perhaps an even greater change than the invention of the radio over 100 years ago has come with the vast acceleration in the capacity of onboard wireless communication in the past few decades. As little as 10 years ago, we heard from a Master where onboard connection was provided by a mobile phone ‘dongle’ in a plastic box taped to the mast. Today, most ships are ‘always on,’ with shared office systems, and many mariners having frequent online access via shipboard wifi or through private mobile phone networks.
As these systems have proliferated and offer more bandwidth at ever cheaper prices, debate has intensified about how to use them appropriately. Of course, this debate is not confined to shipping and seafarers. All aspects of life and connectivity are rapidly changing, with some generations not even remembering life without constant connectivity. Some debates are linked specifically to shipping though, ranging from whether crew should be allowed internet in their cabins, or only in onboard ‘internet cafes’, to the pros and cons of being in constant touch with their families – something that has only been possible in the last few years of our thousands of years sailing history.
Last year, the International Maritime Forum published a report on Sustainable Crewing Guidelines. Among other things, they addressed the ‘need’ to provide seafarers with ‘free, stable, and reliable internet connectivity’, going on to recommend at least 1GB per seafarer per day. Is this reasonable, achievable, useful? In addition to the need to communicate with friends and family, they identified options for entertainment, banking, e-learning and even physical exercise.
The STEER project aims to help develop a maritime industry where technology enhances safety, wellbeing and professional judgment. To do this it is absolutely essential to listen to seafarers about how technology is transforming their lives, and what they need to make best use of it.
If you are at sea – or have been at sea – what are your thoughts on the levels of connectivity onboard both for commercial and personal applications? Is connectivity making life better onboard? What are some of the better examples/ policies of using connectivity on board? How are risks managed and mitigated? Does connectivity add to professional development, bring families and friends together, improve welfare (or not)?
And since connectivity goes both ways – what are the opinions of your family? Are their expectations of connectivity similar to or different to that of seafarers? Please join our conversation here as we #ListenToSeafarers