Every day, more than 1.8 million seafarers keep global trade moving. They spend months away from their families, often in isolated and demanding conditions.

    Internet connectivity is no longer a luxury. It is a basic welfare need that helps seafarers stay in touch with loved ones, supports mental wellbeing, reduces isolation, and keeps them connected to the world beyond the ship.

    While many vessels now provide internet access, the quality, speed, and data allowances vary widely. Some crews enjoy reliable connectivity, while others receive little or none. Every seafarer, regardless of employer or vessel, deserves a reasonable minimum standard of internet access.

    We call on the IMO, ILO, ITF, IBF, national maritime administrations, shipowners, ship managers, and seafarers’ unions to work together to establish a global minimum onboard internet standard for all seafarers.

We recommend that every seafarer should receive:

• At least 15 GB of personal internet data per month, free of charge.
• A minimum internet speed of 3–5 Mbps per user during rest hours, sufficient for stable messaging, voice calls, daily video calls with family, and normal web browsing.
• Reliable connectivity that allows at least one uninterrupted 30-minute video call with family each day, subject to operational and safety requirements.
• No unnecessary restrictions on communication applications used to stay connected with family.

Why this standard is reasonable

Modern satellite technology has made onboard internet increasingly available.
A minimum allowance of 15 GB per month, combined with 3–5 Mbps connectivity, is sufficient for regular messaging, browsing, and meaningful video communication with loved ones without encouraging excessive bandwidth use.

This is not a request for luxury or unlimited entertainment. It is a request for a reasonable minimum standard that supports family connection, mental wellbeing, crew welfare, morale, and safer ship operations.
Seafarers should never have to choose between staying connected with family and saving a limited internet allowance.

What seafarers are saying

An independent survey of seafarers found overwhelming support for an international minimum onboard internet standard, with 90.8% of respondents supporting such a standard.
Many respondents described internet access as a basic necessity rather than a luxury, emphasizing its importance for family relationships, mental wellbeing, and daily communication.

We respectfully urge maritime regulators, industry organizations, shipowners, and governments to work together to establish a practical global minimum standard for onboard internet connectivity for all seafarers.
The people who keep world trade moving should not be disconnected from the people who keep them going.

Please sign this petition

If you believe every seafarer deserves a reasonable minimum standard of onboard internet access, please sign and share this petition.
Together, we can help make staying connected with family a basic part of seafarer welfare, not a privilege.