Maritime Crew Communication Software — Built for Life at Sea

What is Maritime Crew Communication?

Maritime crew communication encompasses all messaging, voice, video, and alerting systems used by crew members aboard vessels. Unlike office environments, ships operate in isolated network conditions — often without public internet — making traditional cloud-based tools like WhatsApp, Microsoft Teams, or Slack fundamentally unsuitable.

A purpose-built maritime crew communication platform must handle offline operation, role-based message delivery, SIP telephony integration, and compliance-ready incident journaling — all while running on crew members' existing mobile devices.

Why Traditional Solutions Fail at Sea

Consumer messaging apps require constant internet connectivity, depend on Apple and Google push notification infrastructure (FCM/APNs), and provide no role-based awareness or incident traceability. Legacy PBX systems are hardware-bound, expensive to maintain, and lack mobile access for crew on the move.

• WhatsApp / Teams: Internet-dependent, no offline mode, no compliance journaling
• Legacy PBX: Fixed terminals, vendor lock-in, no messaging capability
• Custom builds: High cost, slow iteration, technical debt accumulation

How Shipwize Solves Crew Communication

Shipwize combines encrypted messaging, real-time voice/video (WebRTC), SIP integration, and AI-augmented situational awareness in a single Progressive Web App that runs on any device with a browser — no App Store required, no new hardware needed.

Core Capabilities

1. Offline-first architecture: All communication works via onboard Wi-Fi. No internet required.
2. Autonomous push notifications: Built-in push system without FCM or APNs dependency.
3. Role-based messaging: Messages and alerts are delivered based on crew role, position, and watch schedule.
4. SIP / PBX integration: Connects with existing telephony infrastructure — FreeSWITCH, Asterisk and other PBX systems.
5. Augmented Communication: AI-powered contextualised alerts that explain situation, complication, and required action per role.
6. Incident journaling: IMO-compliant communication logs for every incident and alert chain.
7. High-availability clustering: Redundant server setup for uninterrupted operation.

Architecture Overview

Shipwize is built on open protocols: Matrix for messaging, WebRTC via Janus for real-time media, SIP for telephony, and Keycloak for identity management. This open architecture ensures no vendor lock-in and enables deep integration with existing maritime software stacks.

Who Uses Shipwize?

Shipwize serves cruise ships, cargo vessels, ferries, offshore platforms, river cruise operators, and maritime software vendors (ISVs) who need to embed communication capabilities into their own platforms.

FAQ

Does Shipwize require new hardware?

No. Shipwize runs as a Progressive Web App on existing smartphones, tablets, and laptops. No new devices, no App Store installation — just open the browser and log in.

Can Shipwize work without internet?

Yes. Shipwize operates fully offline using the vessel's local Wi-Fi network. All messaging, voice calls, video, and push notifications work without any public internet connection.

How does Shipwize handle push notifications without Google or Apple?

Shipwize uses a built-in autonomous push notification system based on Web Push and a custom signaling server. This eliminates dependency on FCM (Google) or APNs (Apple) entirely.

Is Shipwize IMO-compliant?

Shipwize provides compliance-ready incident journaling and communication logging aligned with IMO and ISPS Code requirements for traceable onboard communication records.

What SIP systems does Shipwize integrate with?

Shipwize integrates with any standards-compliant SIP infrastructure including FreeSWITCH, Asterisk, and other PBX systems, preserving existing telephony investments.