Smart cited for supporting seafarers, maritime industry

WIRELESS services leader Smart Communications (Smart), through its satellite services arm, was recently cited by the Filipino Association for Mariner’s Employment, Inc. (Fame) for its long-standing support to Filipino seafarers and the country’s maritime industry.

Fame is the largest organization of manning agencies and shipping companies in the Philippines with 127 members, accounting for 75 percent of the annual maritime employment in the country.

In celebration of its 40th year, Fame recognized Smart for its “valuable support and exceptional generosity to programs contributing to the growth and development of the Philippine seafaring and maritime industry.”

Smart is the only telco recognized at the event, attended by the biggest names in the Philippine maritime industry, and graced by representatives from the Department of Labor and Employment and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.

“We are deeply honored and inspired by this recognition. Indeed, Smart Satellite Services has led not only in supporting relevant programs that honor Filipino seafarers, but has also pioneered in providing affordable and reliable communication services that allow them to stay in touch with their families,” said Tina Z. Mariano, Smart global access head.

“We look forward to providing more of these services and supporting more of Fame’s efforts, which are essential in boosting the morale of our mariners, who comprise 35 percent of the global seafaring workforce – a fact that our whole nation should take pride in,” she added.

Smart Satellite Services has been actively deploying Smart Marino PhonePal terminals in vessels carrying Filipino crew across Asia-Pacific, Europe, Africa, Australia and the Middle East.

With Smart Marino PhonePal, seafarers can call their family even while they are sailing at an affordable rate of P18 per minute for PLDT, Smart, Sun and Talk ‘N Text subscribers, and P30 per minute for other mobile networks.

Smart is able to deliver this wide and reliable satellite service because of its strategic deal with worldleading mobile satellite services provider Thuraya Telecommunications Company, whose cover- age includes two-thirds of the world or around 140 countries and major sea lanes around the world.

Aside from Marino PhonePal, Smart also offers Marino TextMate, a special SIM that allows seafarers and crew members to send to and re- ceive text messages from the Philippines at very affordable rates, even when they are off-vessel in foreign ports, anchorages or wherever there is GSM signal.

Using the special SIM, seafarers may send a text message to their loved ones for only P2 for Smart, Sun and Talk ‘N Text numbers, and P4.50 for other networks. In 2014, there were about 363,000 Filipino seafarers deployed across the world, according to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.