Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to enable seafarers to make telephone calls when they do not have access to UK mobile telephone services; and if he will make a statement.

The government has no plans to enable seafarers to make telephone calls when they do not have access to UK mobile telephone services.

However, seafarer welfare providers, such as Mission to Seafarers and Apostleship of the Sea, through their centres will often provide discounted phone cards and free wi-fi for foreign seafarers to use. This enables them to call or have ‘skype’ conversations, the preferred option for seafarers, with their friends and families at home when they are in UK ports.

Some major ports and shipowners also allow the seafarers to use their wi-fi for free.