Sailors get wave of Wi-Fi hotspots

New wireless hotspots at 18 UK marinas will give sailors web and email access for checking on the latest weather reports and sea conditions.

The Port Solent Marina, part of the Premier Marinas group around England's south coast, will be the first location to go live with the wireless broadband network offered by service provider Square Mile.

Tim Mason, MD of Premier Marinas, said in a statement: “This is tremendous added value for our customers. We are delighted to be leading the way in the marina environment."

Seafarers wanting to use the service can connect using a wireless 802.11b card for their laptop, for an £80 upfront fee. Annual subscriptions are priced at £250, which gives unlimited access to any Square Mile Wi-Fi network, while vouchers for unlimited 24 hour access can be bought from marinas for £15.

Dominic Killinger, MD of Square Mile, said the service will allow yacht and motor boat users to gather the latest maritime information on the internet, keep in touch with the office and search for local information at the marina they are visiting.