When communication stops

One of the most consistently stressful aspects of being a seafarer family member is the silence — the periods when contact stops with no explanation, and there is no way to know whether everything is fine or something has gone wrong. The good news is that the overwhelming majority of communication gaps have a routine technical cause. This page explains the common reasons for silence, gives a practical framework for deciding when to act, and lists the right contacts for each level of concern.

Common reasons for silence — all routine

Mid-ocean signal gap. Geostationary VSAT coverage has gaps in some ocean areas, particularly at high latitudes and in the eastern Pacific. Starlink is more consistent but also has polar coverage limitations. No signal means no calls and no messages — this can last several days.
Monthly bandwidth quota. Many ships operate on a data cap for crew personal use. Once the quota is exhausted, personal internet access is cut until the new month starts. A seafarer may be able to notify their family in advance if they see the cap approaching — but not always.
Equipment failure. VSAT terminals, routers, and handsets all fail at sea. Repairs can take days if parts are not on board. This can cut all personal communication with no warning.
Heavy weather or intensive operations. In a storm, the priority is ship safety — a seafarer on watch during heavy weather has no time for personal calls, and equipment may be powered down or inaccessible. Port calls, cargo operations, and inspections create similar workload surges.
Watch rotation and sleep cycle. A seafarer on night watches may be asleep during family daytime hours and on watch during family evening hours. Combined with a time zone difference, there may simply be no overlap window for days at a stretch.

How long to wait before escalating

A useful framework — calibrated to how long you have been out of contact and what you already know:

0–24 hours: No action needed. Missed calls and gaps of less than a day are entirely normal.
1–3 days: Still within the normal range for most vessel types. Check AIS position (see below) to confirm the ship is on its expected route. Send a message in case it is received when connectivity returns.
3–5 days with no prior warning: Contact the manning agency by phone or email — not to raise an alarm, but to ask them to pass a message to the master and confirm all is well. This is a routine request and agencies handle it regularly.
5+ days and agency unresponsive: Contact ISWAN SeafarerHelp (24/7 free: +44 20 7323 2737) or the flag-state maritime authority. The ITF inspector network can also assist.

Verifying the ship's position via AIS

AIS (Automatic Identification System) is a maritime navigation system that broadcasts a vessel's position, speed, course, and destination. Shore-based receivers collect this data, and two free public platforms aggregate it for anyone to search:

MarineTraffic — marinetraffic.com. Search by vessel name or IMO number. Shows last reported position, destination, ETA, and vessel photos. Free tier covers the essentials.
VesselFinder — vesselfinder.com. Similar free AIS data with a clean map interface. Useful as a cross-check if a vessel is not appearing on MarineTraffic.

AIS data mid-ocean depends on satellite AIS receivers — not all ships report continuously far from shore. A vessel not appearing on the map may simply be out of AIS receiver range, not in distress. See also ship tracking on Seafarer Index.

Who to contact and in what order

Manning agency — 24-hour emergency line. First call for any escalation. They can relay messages directly to the ship.
Vessel operator / shipowner duty officer — if the agency is not reachable or not helpful.
ISWAN SeafarerHelp — +44 20 7323 2737, 24/7, free, multilingual. Can help coordinate and escalate.
ITF (International Transport Workers' Federation) — itfseafarers.org — for serious concerns or if the operator is unresponsive.
Flag-state maritime authority — the formal regulatory contact in serious incidents. Contact details vary by flag; ISWAN can help identify the right authority.

See all welfare helplines for a full directory.

Frequently asked questions

How long is normal to go without contact at sea?
One to three days without contact is very common and usually has a routine technical explanation — mid-ocean signal gap, a storm, a bandwidth quota reset, night watches, or simply a very busy operational period. Twelve to seventy-two hours of silence is not unusual even on well-connected ships. If a scheduled call is missed, a gap of twenty-four hours before escalating is reasonable. If you have not heard anything in five or more days with no prior warning of a connectivity issue, it is reasonable to contact the manning agency.
How do I find out where the ship is right now?
Public AIS (Automatic Identification System) tracking is available free at MarineTraffic (marinetraffic.com) and VesselFinder (vesselfinder.com). Search by ship name or IMO number — the IMO number does not change and is the most reliable identifier. AIS shows the last reported position, speed, and destination. Note that AIS coverage is limited mid-ocean — ships may not appear on the map if they are beyond the range of shore-based receivers. Some ships use satellite AIS, which has near-global coverage, but this depends on the provider.
Who should I call if I genuinely cannot reach a seafarer?
The manning agency is the first call. They have direct communication channels to the vessel and can ask the master to pass a message. If the agency cannot be reached or is unresponsive, the vessel operator's duty officer is the second contact. For serious welfare concerns where neither is helpful, ISWAN SeafarerHelp (24/7, free, multilingual at +44 20 7323 2737) can help coordinate contact with the appropriate authorities. The flag-state maritime authority is the formal regulatory contact for serious incidents.
Could there be a serious incident and I would not be told?
In a significant incident (serious injury, fire, grounding, man overboard, ship in distress), maritime law and the company's welfare obligations require next-of-kin notification as quickly as practicable. The vessel operator, P&I club, and flag state are all involved. No company has an incentive to conceal a serious incident — the regulatory, legal, and reputational consequences of doing so are severe. If you cannot reach anyone and have a specific, concrete reason for serious concern — not just a communication gap — ISWAN and the ITF can help you escalate through official channels.

Primary sources

One to three days without contact is very common and usually has a routine technical explanation — mid-ocean signal gap, a storm, a bandwidth quota reset, night watches, or simply a very busy operational period. Twelve to seventy-two hours of silence is not unusual even on well-connected ships. If a scheduled call is missed, a gap of twenty-four hours before escalating is reasonable. If you have not heard anything in five or more days with no prior warning of a connectivity issue, it is reasonable to contact the manning agency.

How do I find out where the ship is right now?

Public AIS (Automatic Identification System) tracking is available free at MarineTraffic (marinetraffic.com) and VesselFinder (vesselfinder.com). Search by ship name or IMO number — the IMO number does not change and is the most reliable identifier. AIS shows the last reported position, speed, and destination. Note that AIS coverage is limited mid-ocean — ships may not appear on the map if they are beyond the range of shore-based receivers. Some ships use satellite AIS, which has near-global coverage, but this depends on the provider.

Who should I call if I genuinely cannot reach a seafarer?

The manning agency is the first call. They have direct communication channels to the vessel and can ask the master to pass a message. If the agency cannot be reached or is unresponsive, the vessel operator's duty officer is the second contact. For serious welfare concerns where neither is helpful, ISWAN SeafarerHelp (24/7, free, multilingual at +44 20 7323 2737) can help coordinate contact with the appropriate authorities. The flag-state maritime authority is the formal regulatory contact for serious incidents.

Could there be a serious incident and I would not be told?

In a significant incident (serious injury, fire, grounding, man overboard, ship in distress), maritime law and the company's welfare obligations require next-of-kin notification as quickly as practicable. The vessel operator, P&I club, and flag state are all involved. No company has an incentive to conceal a serious incident — the regulatory, legal, and reputational consequences of doing so are severe. If you cannot reach anyone and have a specific, concrete reason for serious concern — not just a communication gap — ISWAN and the ITF can help you escalate through official channels.