An overwhelming 92% of seafarers now say that internet access “strongly influences” their decision on where to work, according to the latest Crew Connectivity 2018 Survey Report published by Futurenautics Maritime this week. This compares to a 75% figure reported in the last edition of the same survey in 2015.
Connectivity at sea is also now viewed by 95% of seafarers as having a positive effect on safety, compared to only 72% three years ago.
The latest survey, sponsored by KVH Industries and Intelsat, polled 6,000 serving seafarers for their views on a broad range of issues surrounding the digital transformation affecting shipping. Inter aliait found that some 75% of seafarers now use the internet at sea, 32% more than in the last survey.
In addition, 69% of respondents viewed the increasing use of big data and analytics as a positive opportunity for their jobs in the next five years, and only 17% as a threat.
“It’s our belief that collaborating and sharing information can accelerate the pace of transformation in shipping and maritime, and begin to understand and solve big problems,” said Futurenautics chief executive Roger Adamson, explaining the rationale behind the survey.
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