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Inmarsat offering 50% discount on crew voice calls until end June

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Ronald Spithout, standing down as head of Inmarsat's maritime business
In response the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for crew to stay in touch with their families Inmarsat is giving a 50% discount on crew voice calls to the end of June.

The three-month discount on crew voice calling will be available for up to 40,000 ships for retail customers using FleetBroadband ChatCard voice services and to wholesale partners offering FleetBroadband voice calls under the Crew Calling ‘SQT’ brand.

In addition calls made to SeafarerHelp service provided by welfare organisation ISWAN (International Seafarers’ Welfare Assistance Network) will be free of charge during the period.

Inmarsat is also working with crew healthcare specialist Vikand and software platform provider FrontM, to provide a free COVID-19 video call service with a trained health professional. 

“We have been providing free additional call time for ChatCard voice service users since February but we have also been talking and listening to shipowners and managers and long-standing partners such as ISWAN, Sailors’ Society, Seafarers UK, Mission to Seafarers and Apostleship of the Sea. It has become clear that, above all other forms of contact, being able to talk to family, friends and colleagues is critical for the health and well-being of seafarers during these difficult times,” said Ronald Spithout, president, Inmarsat Maritime.

“Today we are formalising the 50% discount for seafarer voice calls for three months. FleetBroadband retail customers are eligible immediately and even if they currently don’t use the ChatCard service, they can sign up today to provide the offer direct to their crews and we will make the process as easy as possible. We are also rolling this through to wholesale partners via our Crew Calling (SQT) service and strongly recommend they pass on the full saving to crew.”