SHIPPING companies are becoming increasingly aware of the benefits of maritime communications technology, says Singapore Telecommunications Ltd executive vice-president of the business group Bill Chang.
By using the latest communications technology, companies can boost productivity and improve the lives of crew at sea, which will help them recruit and retain talent, he says.
For example, shipping companies can continually train staff - even at sea - through e-learning rather than wait for them to return to shore to go for classes.
"Maritime industry is growing fast and will continue to boom as trade increases. So SingTel has taken steps to help the next generation of maritime crew understand infocommunications technology and learn how to use it." says Mr Chang
This also lets seafarers spend deck time more productively by upgrading their skills through online modules and tests they can take to get re-certified and promoted.
E-learning on ships is possible through SingTel's Maritime VSAT (very small aperture terminal) service which was launched last year. The service provides high-speed, two-way IP broadband satellite communications between ship and shore. So ship operators can fully integrate IT applications onboard vessels with those in their offices on shore easily and cost-effectively.
The service supports e-mail, Web browsing, fax and voice, allowing seafarers to easily keep in touch with family and colleagues while at sea.
This can make a maritime career attractive even if the job does mean being away from home months on end, and helps companies recruit and keep staff.
Mr Chang says the new service also saves companies money by offering more bandwidth at a lower cost.
Maritime VSAT offers access speeds of between 256 kilobits per second (kbps) and six megabits per second (mbps) for fixed monthly fees, whereas traditional maritime services offer bandwidth of only up to 128 kbps with time-based charges.
With maritime VSAT, seafarers can also make phone calls while sending email or surfing the Net, because it allows for simultaneous voice and data communications between ship and shore. Previously, seafarers could do only one thing at a time.
Another application allows passengers and crew on ships to use GSM mobile phone services, which means they can make calls and send text messages from their handphones, rather than share the few telephones on a ship.
Mr Chang says cellphone coverage is made possible by installing and operating a ship-borne base station network that links the vessel with public networks via satellite.
Passengers and crew can also have group meetings and conferences with others on shore, as well as at sea. And this can be done using almost any digital enabled device, such as a 3G enabled mobile phone or a laptop computer and Web camera.
Shipping companies can also get other services, such as e-surveillance of their vessels and cargo. This is possible with a remote wireless IP video surveillance camera and maritime broadband. Companies can have a real-time view of ship operations, detect potential fires or even look out for piracy. All ships, including smaller vessels, can enjoy the VSAT service because they need only to install Sing-Tel's 1.5 metre C-band antenna on deck, which is co-designed by SingTel and SeaTel Inc. Mr Chang says the maritime industry is growing fast and will continue to boom as trade increases. So SingTel has taken steps to help the next generation of maritime crew understand infocommunications technology and learn how to use it.
The company, US-based company Globe Wireless and Singapore Polytechnic have set up a Maritime Satellite Communication Centre for $500,000. The centre will simulate the setting-up of satellite communications between vessels at sea and the shipping company's office, and introduce developments for maritime communications at the Singapore Maritime Academy.
"We are training a new group of maritime students who will become leaders of the industry," Mr Chang says. "We help them to be very conversant with our satellite technology."
