Navitas Offers Communication Services as a Solution to Crew Retention Issues in Shipping Industry
10 September 2007
Navitas is to publish findings from a crew morale and retention study at Seatrade Europe, on Wednesday 26th 2007. Crew retention is a major issue facing the shipping industry and improved, accessible communication services can help to enhance crew wellbeing. The study will be available at the exhibition and will be accompanied by a conference, where key speakers will debate the value of mobile communication while at sea.
In the highly competitive shipping market, experienced and loyal crew are a valuable resource, yet the industry has done little to address the isolation that crew members often face when at sea. Recent technological and infrastructure changes have made way for convenient and affordable communications services on board.
Navitas delivers the solution by creating an on board GSM mobile phone network and offering a pre-paid mobile service, Navitas Freedom. Its systems employ the latest miniaturised radio base stations and switching technology to replicate the core functionality of land based mobile networks. Installation is rapid, results in no downtime and has minimum impact on existing communications infrastructure.
For crew members, accessing the on board network could not be easier. Using a standard mobile phone, crew can either be given, or may purchase, a SIM pack and then top-up-credit using scratch cards. Navitas Freedom offers two-way communication, meaning that crew can be easily contacted by family and friends whilst at sea, by both calls and text messages.
"Cruise and ferry operators are under increasing pressure to retain existing staff and providing accessible and flexible communication services is becoming increasingly important," explains Bo Pinel, Navitas Telecom's Director of Business Development. He continues, "crew members who can easily communicate with family and friends manage their home life and deal with a crisis remotely are likely to be happier in themselves, focussed on the job in hand, more productive and loyal to their employer."
Please visit Navitas at stand 117, during Seatrade Europe.
