Ship's Communications

E-mail

E-mail is the least expensive of all ship to shore communications. It is transferred four times per day Monday-Friday and three times per day on weekends. For details see the E-mail information page .

Telephone & FAX

A copier/FAX machine is located in the aft end of the main lab. The marine tech will help you send your FAX. Faxes go out over Inmarsat B and are charged at rate of $3.00 per attempted FAX page. Please fill out a FAX report form prior to sending a FAX. The form serves as a receipt for your expense reporting as well as for our records.

Download a copy of the FAX Report Form (Adobe PDF format)

Download a copy of the Thompson FAX Cover Sheet (Adobe PDF format)

VOICE calls can be made over the SeaWave Communication system. The Seawave system consists of a GSM cell phone and Iridium satellite phone (as well as email services). The system automatically selects the "least cost" method of voice communication for you. The current rates are 45 cents per minute over GSM cell and $1.50 per minute over Iridium. In order to use the SeaWave phone you must set up an account with SeaWave LLC using a major credit card or automatic checking account withdrawal. To see instructions for creating a SeaWave account click here.

The SeaWave telephone is located in the computer lab. If you need assistance ask the Marine Tech on duty for help.

Note: The GSM cell range is limited, usually less than 100 miles offshore coverage, so most calls will be placed via the Iridium satellite phone.

An Inmarsat-B Telephone is also available but at a higher rate.

Ship to shore rates over Inmarsat-B are $3.10 US per minute during peak hours and $2.90 US during off-peak hours.
Ship to ship rates over the Inmarsat-B are $6.20 US per minute during peak hours and $5.80 during off-peak hours.

Note: These rates only apply to Zone 1 (United States and Canada). Please contact the Inmarsat operator for rates pertaining to Zones 2, 3 & 4 (See Zone information below).

Off-peak hours are as follows:

      • AOR-E, AOR-W & IOR: 19:31-05:30 GMT
      • POR: 10:01-20:00 GMT

 

Inmarsat Zone Information:

      • Zone 1: United States and Canada.
      • Zone 2: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Faeroe Islands, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and Vatican City.
      • Zone 3: American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua, Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Falkland Islands, French Antilles, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Jamaica, Japan, Malaysia, Martinique, Netherlands Antilles, Nevis, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paragua, Peru, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, St. Helena, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Suriname, Taiwan, Tortola, Trinidad & Tobago, Uruguay and Venezuela.
      • Zone 4: All the countries not listed in Zones 1, 2, or 3 above.

 

Contacting the Ship

Unless you are calling the ships cell phone, then calling the ship from the United States is considered an international phone call. Please be aware that the Inmarsat-B rates still apply.

Ships numbers:

Voice
011-(ORC*)-33-663-4510 (Inmarsat B)
1 (206) 799-6547 (Cellular - when in range)

Fax
011(ORC*)-33-663-4511 (Inmarsat B – on the bridge)
011-(ORC*)-33-663-4512 (Inmarsat B – in the main lab)

Telex  
(ORC**) 430311610 TGIN (Inmarsat C)

  * Ocean Region Code (See the direct dialing procedure below)
** ORC's vary depending on Telex carrier and ocean area. Too many to list here.
 

Direct Dialing:

          1. Dial the international access code 011 (from the U.S.).
          2. Dial three digit Ocean Region Code.

871 = Atlantic Ocean East
872 = Pacific Ocean
873 = Indian Ocean
874 = Atlantic Ocean West

          1. Dial ship ID (telephone) number. See example described below.

Example:

Calling the R/V Thompson in the Pacific Ocean (from the U.S).  
 1-011-872-33-663-4510 (Inmarsat B)

If problems are encountered:

          1. Contact the International Operator.
          2. Tell the operator you wish to place an International maritime satellite (Inmarsat) call to the appropriate Ocean Area.
          3. Give the operator the Ocean Region Code and the number of the R/V Thompson.

 

Created April 1997

Last Updated 30 January 2004
Please send your questions or comments to: Webmaster@Thompson