2.1.2. CONNECT Plan FAQ's

1. What is the FrontM CONNECT Plan?

The CONNECT Plan is a subscription solution from FrontM designed for ship owners and operators to comply with the 2022 MLC Amendments and enhance communication and collaboration between ship and shore. It transforms ships into floating offices, ensuring seamless, private, and secure communications.

2. Why is the CONNECT Plan relevant now?

The 2022 MLC Amendment, effective from December 2024, mandates enhanced social connectivity tailored for seafarers. The CONNECT Plan meets these requirements and supports maritime operators in improving crew morale, retention, and overall operational efficiency.

3. How does the CONNECT Plan address crew retention issues?

The plan provides mobile-enabled, secure collaboration tools, bridging the digital gap for seafarers. It helps mitigate factors contributing to human error, such as fatigue, poor communication, and low team morale, by offering a specialised platform that goes beyond generic cloud collaboration tools.

4. What makes the CONNECT Plan different from generic cloud tools?

Generic tools aren’t optimised for maritime conditions and often fail to scale effectively. The CONNECT Plan is tailored specifically for maritime use, offering seamless integration with third-party applications, reduced complexity, and a unified user experience.

5. What are the key features of the CONNECT Plan?

• Communication: Encrypted and secure text, voice, and video calls optimised for maritime satellite internet.
• Collaboration: Integrated platform supporting third-party apps, reducing the need for multiple standalone applications.
• Security: Private encryption for data and GDPR, HIPAA, and SOC-2 compliance.
• User Management: Support for Single Sign-On (SSO), integration with existing user management systems, and role-based user organisation.

6. What are the 5 C’s of the CONNECT Plan?

The CONNECT Plan is designed around Connection, Communication, Contribution, Compliance, and Commitment, focusing on comprehensive workforce management.

7. How is the CONNECT Plan set up?

• Each customer is onboarded with a private Corporate Account.
• Users (ship and shore staff) are managed under this account with privacy and data security.
• Options for manual user management or integration with existing crew management systems.
• Secure communication is enabled via private encryption keys.

8. What microapps are included in the CONNECT Plan?

• Loft Meetings: For video conferencing between ship and shore, optimised for low bandwidth.
• Sea Surfer (Upcoming October 2024): For managing personal data allowances and purchasing add-ons.
• Emma AI Assistant: An AI chatbot for connectivity and productivity, offering real-time support.

9. How does the CONNECT Plan improve operational efficiency?

The plan ensures timely communication and collaboration, reducing downtime and preventing delays. It supports efficient role-based contact management and offers a private, secure communication environment.

10. What is the pricing for the CONNECT Plan?

The CONNECT Plan is available at $40 per ship per month, covering a typical crew size of 20, equating to approximately $2 per crew member per month.

11. How does customer onboarding work?

FrontM offers a straightforward service introduction process, with full onboarding and rollout within 72 hours. Continuous support is provided through customer success frameworks, newsletters, and 24x7 support channels.

This FAQ should help clarify the main points of the FrontM CONNECT Plan for potential clients or internal stakeholders. Let me know if you need any more specific sections converted or further details!