Shipboard Wi-Fi is coming to Military Sealift Command’s Fleet of Government Owned, Government Operated Ships
21 April 2025
NORFOLK, Va. - The Civil Service Mariners (CIVMAR) who crew Military Sealift Command’s 56 government owned/government operated (GO/GO) ships will soon be able to use a shipboard Wi-Fi for internet access to conduct both professional and personal tasks while aboard their assigned vessel, via the Civilian Mariner Wireless Network (CivMar WiN).
The CivMar WiN project is a multi-year implementation effort to provide secure internet access for CIVMARs’ approved personal electronic devices such as mobile phones and computers.
“Wi-Fi is a wireless technology that allows devices to connect to the internet using radio waves,” according to Eliot J. Skinner, Military Sealift Command, Deputy Director, C4 Systems (N6A). “Once installed, CIVMARs aboard MSC’s GO/GO ships will be able to register their approved personal electronic devices to the wireless network for seamless internet access.”
“Providing internet access to support CIVMAR education, training, and quality of life is the goal of the CivMar WiN project,” Skinner added.
The first installation of the CivMar WiN was completed aboard the fleet replenishment oiler USNS Harvey Milk (T-AO 206), Feb. 21. The second installation took place aboard the fleet replenishment oiler USNS Joshua Humphreys (T-AO 188) and was completed, April 16. With both ships having reported successful installation and verification, the rest of MSC’s GO/GO fleet will now begin to receive the Wi-Fi capability.
“Once successfully installed [across MSC’s GO/GO fleet], all CIVMARs, licensed and unlicensed, will be provided accounts that allow them access to the CivMar WiN from their personal devices,” Skinner stated. “The intention of the CivMar WiN is to provide internet access for CIVMARs’ personal devices, while on ship and underway, in support of access to human resources, training, education and virtual pool capabilities such as Defense Travel System (DTS) and myPay, in addition to personal email, banking, insurance, e-commerce and more.”
CivMar WiN will have some built in cybersecurity measures, but CIVMARs will be responsible for the protection of their personal devices, e.g. installation of antivirus software. Additionally, network activity will be monitored for operational security, cybersecurity, and legal purposes.
“All legal internet activity will be allowed on the CivMar WiN,” Skinner added. “There will be activity tracking in place to provide a by-device and by-user record of activity on the network to deter illegal activity being conducted by an individual.”
“Additionally, CivMar WiN will be subject to the same operational security (OPSEC) and emission control (EMCON) policies as the operational network as it can and will be shut down during periods of increased levels of OPSEC and EMCON,” Skinner said.
Feedback from MSC’s CIVMARs has indicated that at-sea Wi-Fi access will improve crew morale and retention.
“The crew [of USNS Joshua Humphreys] is ecstatic with the thought of Wi-Fi aboard ship,” Capt. P. Todd Christian, USNS Joshua Humphry’s Ship’s Master. “Parts’ research in support of repairs will now be much easier, computer-based training requirements will also be much easier to accomplish. This in addition to social media access opportunities and staying in touch with family and friends.”
USNS Joshua Humphreys is crewed by 87 CIVMARs who will use the new shipboard Wi-Fi system.
Supply Utilityman Brooklyn Hunter, a CIVMAR aboard USNS Joshua Humphreys added, “I now have the ability to finish my daily work aboard ship and complete online college courses during my off time.”
Christian offered some advice for MSC ships who will receive the new shipboard Wi-Fi in the future.
“Please remember the CivMar WiN system will be very good for CIVMARs, but OPSEC must be maintained, so be responsible,” Christian stated. “Also leave your cell phone in your stateroom during working hours. Having Wi-Fi in our stateroom means there is no longer a need to search for a signal throughout the ship.”
MSC plans to install the CivMar WiN on 56 GO/GO MSC ships over the course of 24 months with completion anticipated in the first quarter of fiscal year 2027, pending ship availability.