Page 60: of Maritime Logistics Professional Magazine (Q3 2013)

StatsSTATISTICS MLC 2006: Will it Drive Crew On Board Comms? SAstrium Services, a global communications provider of commercial satellite networks in the maritime sector, recently took a survey of seafarer?s usage of crew communication solu- tions in the commercial shipping sector. The survey involved two Philippine crewing agents handling approximately 47,000 seafarers annually for more than 1,000 vessels in the cargo and passenger sectors. With the objective of establishing a clear picture of mariner communications requirements and other metrics, the survey was illuminating in more ways than one. By the Numbers, future results will be impacted by the now in-force MLC (2006) Code. The 2010 BIMCO / ISF Manpower update revealed that the worldwide supply of seafarers is about 1.37 million; with ? for the  rst time in 15 years ? overall supply and demand for seafar- ers reaching equilibrium. The total market size for satellite based crew communication solutions comprised about 925,000 seafar- ers, employed on board 45,000 vessels of 1,000 GT. The survey was completed by 960 Filipino of cers (12%) and ratings (88%). Access: Increased levels of access to communications infra- structure onboard are clearly demonstrated by the survey. 68% of seafarers can now access use some form of crew communication while at sea, hence approximately 629,000 seafarers have access to crew communications. MLC 2006, in theory, should increase those numbers, meaning that this market is wide open for provid- ers who can deliver the right package to shipowners. Only 2% of seafarers currently never have access to crew communications. Text only email with no attachments was the free crew com- munications solution most widely provided, but this was only provided to 20% of respondents. The Passenger sector provides the lowest levels of free crew communication of any sector and Of cers were provided more free communications than ratings. Service Delivery & Methods of Access: In service delivery terms respondents rated call quality most important followed by price, security and privacy. The preferred method of ac- cessing pc-based crew communications solutions was via the respondents? own laptop using a wireless connection. 60 | Maritime Professional | 3Q 2013MP #3 50-63.indd 60MP #3 50-63.indd 609/10/2013 12:05:51 PM9/10/2013 12:05:51 PM