Crewtoo, the online social network for seafarers and a part of KVH Industries, has published the results of its third Crewtoo Seafarers Happiness Index report.
Designed to monitor and benchmark seafarer satisfaction levels via 10 key questions, this third quarterly report shows a seafarer satisfaction level of 6.37 on a scale of 1 to 10, which is virtually unchanged from the 6.44 overall level reported in August. However, the questions about connectivity and shore leave emerged as key issues among seafarers.
With connectivity, seafarers’ responses indicated that there is growing disparity in internet access.
A number of respondents feel that insufficient investment is being made in ensuring ongoing, high-speed, and quality connections, and that those without internet access liken conditions to being in the “stone age.”
The poll chimes with a survey carried on this site earlier this year as part of a joint publication with Inmarsat on satellite communications. 87% of voters in a survey this April said all ships should offer proper connectivity to all seafarers.
I have been sailing as an engineer for almost 40 years now and have seen the advent of internet on many vessels to varying degrees, from a good fast connection to really slow where a webpage or an email takes half an hour to load ! Even large shipping companies will not invest money on good internet on a vessel as they consider it not essential to the actual running of the vessel. Others provide the facility, but charge the crew for its usage, which i find very petty in the scheme of things. In today’s day and age internet is a necessity, not a luxury !
Well said Kersi — if you fancied expanding these thoughts to, say, 5oo odd words it would make a great Contribution to this site