Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Atlantic is enhancing the quality of life for civilian mariners aboard Military Sealift Command's (MSC) government-operated ships with the rollout of a cutting-edge wireless network.

The new Civilian Mariner Wireless Network (CivMar WiN) will provide secure internet access for personal electronic devices, bridging the connectivity gap at sea and in port.

NIWC Atlantic partnered with MSC to develop and implement this next-generation communication and network system, a significant improvement in shipboard connectivity.

“We've been doing great work with MSC,” said Arnel Castillo, NIWC Atlantic project lead. “This capability will allow the crew wireless internet connectivity throughout almost the entire ship while in port and, most importantly, at sea.”

The first two installations of CivMar WiN aboard the USNS Harvey Milk (T-AO 206) and USNS Joshua Humphreys (T-AO 188) have proven successful, exceeding expectations and generating excitement among the crews. The positive feedback has fueled high demand across the fleet.

“The crew aboard our initial ship in Mobile, Alabama, is elated,” Castillo said. “News of this system is spreading quickly, and we're receiving requests from ships not yet scheduled for installation.”

The CivMar WiN system is a significant leap forward from initial prototypes.

“Since the early prototype, the team has improved cybersecurity and advanced the mission's cloud adoption strategy while reducing technical risk and establishing the framework for production readiness,” said Kevin Thompson, NIWC Atlantic principal investigator. “In parallel with our rapid fielding efforts, we’re working to develop a robust configuration management plan for operations and sustainment.”

Thompson added that these efforts are paving the way for a transformed approach to data access, protection, and management for quality-of-life applications afloat.

The new capability will enable civilian mariners to access online resources for professional development, training and education, as well as personal communication, banking and entertainment. It's expected to significantly improve morale and contribute to better crew retention.

“The system includes robust cybersecurity measures to protect personal devices and monitor network activity for operational security and legal compliance,” Thompson said. “While all legal internet activity will be permitted, network activity will be monitored.”

Carl “Nick” Werner, a NIWC Atlantic on-site field subject matter expert intimately involved with the shipboard installations, highlighted the benefit of the collaborative effort.

“The objective is to deploy CivMar WiN across more than 50 MSC government-operated vessels within the next two years,” said Werner. “Achieving this ambitious target hinges on the seamless collaboration and expertise of several key teams specializing in engineering and design, IT installation and integration, and industrial support.

This initiative exemplifies NIWC Atlantic's dedication to delivering cutting-edge solutions that enhance the lives of Sailors and civilian mariners and bolster the Navy's mission.”

MSC plans to have CivMar WiN installed on 56 government-operated ships within two years, with estimated completion in the first quarter of fiscal 2027, subject to ship availability.