Inmarsat is ramping up its response to COVID-19 with additional initiatives to improve seafarer wellbeing. These initiatives include further collaboration with ISWAN (International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network) and maritime charities, the launch of a new chatcard and the wider roll-out of a COVID-19 video telemedicine call service.

FrontM, a collaboration software provider to the maritime and aviation industries, has collaborated with Inmarsat and maritime medical operations and healthcare solutions provider, VIKAND, to provide seafarers with immediate access to a COVID-19 healthcare hotline. This service will deliver frontline medical information to the shipping industries and seafaring workforce at a time when they need it the most.

In a direct response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on seafarer well-being, Inmarsat has formalised a sweeping 50 per cent discount for crew voice calling services available for up to 40,000 ships for three months until the end of June.