The maritime industry has long wrestled with the challenge of attracting and retaining skilled seafarers. But according to Eric Griffin, VP of Offshore Energy & Fishing, Maritime, at Inmarsat, one factor now
The maritime industry has long wrestled with the challenge of attracting and retaining skilled seafarers. But according to Eric Griffin, VP of Offshore Energy & Fishing, Maritime, at Inmarsat, one factor now sits firmly at the center of the conversation: seamless connectivity.
- On October 22, Maritime Reporter & Engineering News will host a webinar entilted Crewed Up or Crew Cut? Rethinking retention and recruitment at sea. Click here to register and to learn from vessel owners their own experience in utilizing connectivity for seafarer recruitment and retention.
“Traditionally, seafarers were used to being away for long periods without internet—maybe a phone call or two while at sea,” Griffin explained. “But today’s younger crews aren’t wired that way. They expect the same level of connectivity at sea that they get at home. Social media, streaming services, gaming, video calls—it’s no longer a luxury. It’s a need.”
A Recruitment and Retention Imperative
The generational shift in crews has reshaped expectations. Griffin calls it the “Starbucks experience” – always-on, reliable connectivity from the middle of the ocean to the middle of a coffee shop. And it has quickly become a recruiting tool.
“If vessel owners don’t invest in connectivity, they
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