We are excited to announce the winner of the Mobile Beacon Moments Storytelling Contest.
Congrats to our #MBMoments winner, Dynamic Community Solutions! Thanks to everyone who shared, voted, and learned about the organizations we serve!
Anchor House's Mobile Beacon Moment
If awarded with a Mobile Beacon Community Grant, how will your organization use the monetary donation?
We will use the grant to increase our presence onboard the ships which come to Port Manatee. With these essential workers and the short turn around times the seafarers can connect with their families while in port. Those family connections keep them happier and mentally healthier. During this Covid - 19 we have been able to provide them access by phone, visual messaging and even regular email. With their extended contracts and fewer times allowed to leave the ship seafarers are always looking for a way to call or connect even for the briefest moments. We are excited to provide a way for these critical connections.
How will your organization use the 10 mobile hotspots with free internet service?
The 10 mobile hot spots will more than double our presence onboard ships while they are in port. At present we are able to serve one or two ships at a time. With 10 hot spots we could provide better coverage on individual ships and cover four or five ships at one time if we needed to. We could also add a hot spot to our trucker center which currently has no internet service. We provide free wireless internet service at our center 24 hours a day for port workers and also for seafarers when they are able to get off their ships. Everyone is so thankful for this service.
Share Your Story
About 2 months ago a Filipino seafarer was on a large bulk carrier. This seafarer was on his first voyage and contract. He had been onboard for 5 months without contact with his mother back home. With the mobile beacon hot spots we placed onboard he was able to contact his mother for the first time since he left home. The ship was in port for almost a week. His smile was so rewarding for us. At present the crew of the ship is not allowed to get off the ship due to the Pandemic. The hot spots made a huge difference for them.
We have Del Monte ships in port every week. Each week the majority of the crew cannot get off. Even the newest of vessels have limits to their technology access for crews. These crews (see attached pictures) eagerly anticipate the arrival of the hot spots. They often call even before arriving in port to be sure the Mobile Beacon hot spots are ready to come onboard. It is not unusual to see the crew huddled around the hot spots during their downtime to connect with family. For some of these crews it is a connection once every two weeks with family back home.
During the covid-19 shutdowns March through August 2020 almost none of the crews were able to get off their ships. But we were able to put hotspots onboard. One of the things which brings better mental health for seafarers is to know how their families are doing and to let their families know they are okay. Thankfully, cargo ships have had very little outbreak of the virus. Think for yourself how often you talk with family and friends. While at sea most phones have no cellular service or it is a cellular service not compatible for the phone service provider. We at Anchor House are glad to provide practical help to those who serve us as essential workers by transporting goods all over the world.