Email at Sea

September 1, 2005 3:34 AM

How can you access the internet from a merchant navy ship via a laptop?

I've been asked by a friend to help them get a laptop and the equipment needed to connect to the internet while they are at sea - The friend isn't computer literate and I have no idea what sort of facilities the ship will have. Does anyone know if this is possible? Presumably they are using a satalite phone system or something for telephony - can this be used for internet access? Are there specialist ISPs for this sort of service?

posted by Leud to computers & internet (2 comments total)

Inmarsat are a major manufacturer of maritime communications technologies (the equipment and the satellites). Depending on how serious your friend wants to get with it, you could try one of their resellers on the "how to buy" list here:
http://maritime.inmarsat.com/
posted by DannyUKNYC at 4:33 AM on September 1, 2005

What part of the world will the ship be in? Does he want service for just his laptop or is he looking to equip the ship with internet access (including a maritime antenna, etc.)? I am going to assume he is interested in a portable satellite phone with data services (to use this at sea he might have to go above decks).

If he will be mostly in coastal waters, his best bet is probably the Globalstar network which operates at 9600 baud. To use the network he'd need a Globalstar GSP-1600 satellite phone ($730), Globalstar data kit ($70), and a Globalstar service plan (about $1 a minute).

The cheapest world-wide solution is probably the Iridium satellite network - it provides very slow (2400 baud) data services anywhere in the world. To use the Iridium data network he would need an Iridium 9505 satellite phone ($1495), an Iridium data kit ($180.00), an Iridium SIM card ($50), and either an Iridium service contract or a pre-paid Iridium calling card (more than $1 a minute).

High speed systems specifically designed for maritime applications are also available, but they cost tens of thousands of dollars. I haven't actually used any of the vendors to which I've linked so please don't consider them endorsements. There may well be cheaper and/or better vendors available. I found those with Google.
posted by RichardP at 4:40 AM on September 1, 2005